Joel Honeyman, Bobcat’s vp for international innovation, talks candidly concerning the groundbreaking new expertise the OEM is engaged on and explains why, nonetheless superior the machine is, it’s essential by no means to lose sight of its major capabilities – digging holes and shifting issues round
We meet Joel Honeyman, Bobcat’s international director of innovation, on the busy and noisy Bobcat stand at Bauma 2025. After introductions, we retreat to the relative quiet of the first-floor hospitality suite for our chat – though by way of the glass doorways onto the balcony we nonetheless can see, in addition to hear, the spectacular Bobcat automobile demonstration.
Because the skidsteers and monitor loaders that type the center of the Bobcat lineup carry out unimaginable vehicular acrobatics to the delight of the crowds, Honeyman tells us concerning the considering and modern processes behind these machines, in addition to revealing a number of the OEM’s plans for the long run.
With 28 years of expertise at Bobcat, Honeyman is aware of the OEM in addition to anybody. He has been vp for international innovation for over 9 years, however he began his profession within the firm’s coaching group in 1997, earlier than shifting into gross sales. “I really feel like I’ve a superb perspective on our clients and what they’re in search of – what’s essential to them,” he says.
On the core of his ethos isn’t just dreaming up modern ideas, however constructing them and making ready the expertise for the market he is aware of so nicely. “What we do is, we make issues plausible. That’s the primary factor,” he says. “I’d put our workforce up towards anyone’s round, only for taking an idea and making it plausible, not only a PowerPoint presentation, however bodily with the ability to current one thing as a possible answer.”
Industrial improvements
One eye-catching idea, and former iVT cowl star, is Bobcat’s cabless Rogue X, which was first unveiled at ConExpo in 2023. In step with the OEM’s ethos the applied sciences that had been first showcased on that machine usually are not merely good concepts, however at the moment are really discovering their means into manufacturing autos.
“That automobile confirmed an idea we name Collision-Warning and Avoidance. That’s the identical expertise that we’re now commercializing,” says Honeyman. “These idea machines are actually essential for us. We take a look at lots of completely different applied sciences. Now we’re going again and saying, ‘Okay, what are the items that we will apply to our present merchandise?’ The system implies that if a machine is backing up and it senses an object, it would detect that and mechanically cease.”
A second main innovation for the long run includes autonomous expertise for landscaping: “We’re going to have an autonomous zero-turn mower in america as a restricted launch subsequent 12 months in direction of the tip of 2026.”
The 62in large industrial mower will differ from residential robotic mowers acquainted in Europe. “Europe has lots of Roomba-style, random mowers,” Honeyman says. “This one, although, you possibly can set a sample that isn’t random. This implies it will probably mow in stripes and patterns, which is essential within the US. It made sense for that platform to be first in our lineup with full autonomy, as a result of it’s a single software. Mowers are already going that route.”
On monitor for autonomy
Whereas the brand new mower will probably be Bobcat’s first industrial, absolutely autonomous and cabless machine, it received’t be Bobcat’s first foray into autonomous techniques. Already accessible is the battery electrical articulating tractor, the AT450X which was unveiled at CES in 2024 and may function in handbook, distant or autonomous mode, all managed by way of a cell software.
Developed as a part of an ongoing collaboration with San Francisco startup, Agtonomy, the battery-powered AT450X is designed particularly for compact purposes like vineyards and orchards. Utilizing AI, it will probably find out about and react to its setting – distinguishing crop stems from weeds for exact spraying and detecting objects that require operation to cease.
An modern function of the AT450X is its capacity to function repeatedly by managing its personal energy wants by way of a battery-swapping system. When the battery runs low, it mechanically returns to its residence base and a completely charged battery could be swapped out for the depleted one, which might in flip be placed on cost.
The AT450X goals to deal with labour shortages and improve sustainability. “Farmers work lengthy hours in all kinds of situations,” says Honeyman. “Options just like the AT450X assist make farming significantly extra sustainable and environment friendly by way of digital developments.”
The collaboration with Agtonomy, which guarantees to yield additional improvements sooner or later, is a pure extension of distant techniques that Bobcat has been providing for its machines since 2019. These at the moment are evolving, too, and in such a means that might additionally assist to deal with a scarcity in employees.
“We’re including some completely different options to distant techniques,” says Honeyman. “We’re engaged on a gaming controller, which we’ve had lots of requests for. Younger folks don’t need to simply sit within the machine, however they need to do development – so we want to mix gaming with that.” This might even someday result in one operator controlling a number of machines concurrently in a swarm.
“Our thesis on autonomy doesn’t essentially take away the operator,” says Honeyman. “There are lots of issues that act like autonomy that may possibly simply assist a present operator be higher, particularly new and novice operators.”
Electrification with function
Relating to electrification, Bobcat’s T7X tracked loader, which is out there at the moment, is one thing of a market chief when it comes to going absolutely electrical and fully hydraulic-free – changing not solely the engine with a battery but in addition fluid energy with electrical motors. Its companion, the wheeled S7X skidsteer is now being ready for full manufacturing.
However, as with all Bobcat machines, Honeyman is eager to level out that this isn’t simply expertise for expertise’s sake. “Frankly talking, I believe what we’ve realized on this transition to EVs is it must be extra than simply saying it’s sustainable,” says Honeyman. “What are the opposite advantages? Can I get extra energy? Can I get extra precision, extra torque, no matter that is likely to be?
“Sustainability is essential, nevertheless it has to come back with another advantages as nicely, as a result of the client is making some trade-offs, like value and charging. So, you’ve received to offer them one thing slightly extra. That’s why T7X is so widespread – clients say, ‘I can get extra performed, and I can get it performed far more comfortably, with out noise.’”
Wanting forward Honeyman sees the three megatrends of electrification, connectivity and automation converging: “Whereas three or 4 years in the past, there was an enormous give attention to EVs, now we’re seeing extra stability with different applied sciences. However we’ve been engaged on all of it, so I be ok with it.”
In the end Honeyman takes a practical method – even whereas coping with a number of the most superior expertise accessible, he doesn’t lose web site of the identical easy objectives that every one Bobcat clients have. “All our clients dig holes and transfer supplies,” he says. “They do it with completely different supplies and machines, however that’s primarily what they’re all doing. So, what do they need? Effectively, they need to dig the outlet sooner and extra precisely. Or they need to transfer issues safely, and extra comfortably.”
Damaged down like this Honeyman is ready to make sure that Bobcat’s innovation is all the time sensible, and that it stays grounded in attaining helpful duties extra effectively. He’s additionally in a position to convey clear understanding to an accelerating fee of change. “It’s not that onerous,” he smiles.
The innovation course of
Joel Honeyman relies at Bobcat HQ in North Dakota however his international obligations take him all world wide. In significantly Honeyman locations buyer suggestions on the coronary heart of the innovation course of, which entails many web site visits.
“We take out ideas in a short time to our clients to get suggestions straight away,” he says. “We do highway journeys. In reality, my workforce is in Omaha, Nebraska, this week. Over three days we’re exhibiting completely different teams of shoppers numerous new improvements that we’re engaged on.”
These periods assist prioritise growth efforts: “Perhaps we are going to present them 10 various things after which we ask them for his or her high three, and ask what they is likely to be keen to pay for them. We will’t fall in love with our personal concept. It’s received to have a function, and clients need to need it.”
Simplicity is one other essential issue: “It additionally must be easy for the operator, as a result of if it’s not, they simply received’t use it. It doesn’t matter how nice the expertise is. Innovation and expertise isn’t just concerning the expertise, nevertheless it’s about that human interplay. The intersection of these two parts is critically essential.
This text first appeared within the June situation of iVT Worldwide
