Bobcat Unveils Autonomous Electric Tractor at CES, Evolves RogueX Concept Loader

Bobcat Co. will have a busy booth at CES 2024 in Las Vegas this week. Bobcat continues to unveil its latest and greatest tech at the show, which in the past included its electric skid steer and track loader. This week the famous compact equipment company is releasing loads of cool concept vehicles, including the industry’s first autonomous and electric articulating tractor — the Bobcat AT450X enabled by Agtonomy — and the reveal of its RogueX2 loader (another awesome electric autonomous vehicle). Let’s start with that tractor….

Strategic Partnership Combines Trusted Equipment with Emerging Technologies

Bobcat and Agtonomy, the latter a Silicon Valley-based ag tech software company, established a partnership in 2023 to develop autonomous equipment innovations that increase ag productivity and performance.

“Our mission at Bobcat Company is to empower people to accomplish more. Through strategic partnerships with companies like Agtonomy, we are committed to advancing our worksite solutions to help solve our customers’ toughest challenges,” said Scott Park, Doosan Bobcat CEO and vice chairman. “By combining our proven equipment with the latest technologies, we are reinventing how work gets done.”

Designed to Enhance Productivity, Safety and Farmer Profitability

The battery-powered AT450X combines Bobcat’s tough and versatile articulating tractor with Agtonomy’s software and embedded-computing technology to support emissions-free and autonomous operation, thus allowing farmers to automate labor- and time-intensive tasks.

The AT450X is designed to autonomously or remotely carry out critical farm tasks in compact applications, such as vineyards and orchards. Farmers can remotely direct the tractor to execute a wide range of tasks, including mowing, spraying, precision weeding, product and material transport and other labor-intensive activities.

The machine leverages AI to constantly “learn” and dynamically react to its environment. For example, through vision-based systems, it can detect known and unknown objects to auto-stop operation if needed. It can also detect crop stems from weeds, for more precise spraying applications and reduced chemical usage.   

The Advanced Technology and Sustainable Design of the AT450X

Capable of 24/7 operation, the AT450X can swap batteries when it needs to replenish its energy source. It does this by returning to its home base when its battery is low, switching to a fully charged battery and placing its drained battery back to its charging station.

Because it produces zero emissions, the autonomous tractor can also be operated in food storage facilities and other enclosed farm structures. The battery-powered tractor can also lower operating and maintenance costs for owners.

“By digitally transforming the equipment farmers know and trust, we can help them combat the daily challenges they face, such as labor constraints and the ever-increasing demand for sustainable farming practices in specialty crops,” said Tim Bucher, CEO and co-founder of Agtonomy. “The Bobcat AT450X with Agtonomy’s TeleFarmer™ technology makes the perfect end-to-end solution for agriculture and other industries allowing both companies to make a positive impact and that is what it is all about.”

To operate, users plot the machine’s mission path via Agtonomy’s mobile application. This allows the end user to easily plan, execute and monitor jobs running on an unlimited number of connected machines simultaneously which can yield a positive ROI for owners.

The AT450X can also navigate on slopes with attachments following the ground contour for professional results in one pass. Operators can control the machine to operate autonomously, via advanced remote control or manually, across various terrains.

“With our company’s beginnings in agriculture, we have a strong connection to the land and an appreciation for the farmers who work long hours in a wide variety of conditions to feed the world,” said Joel Honeyman, Doosan Bobcat vice president of global innovation. “As we innovate for the worksites of tomorrow, solutions like the AT450X will help make farming more sustainable and efficient through digital advancements.”

Visit Bobcat in the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall (Booth #5941)

The machine is on display during CES 2024, the world’s most influential technology event, in the Doosan booth (LVCC, West Hall – 5941). Commercialization details will be announced at a later date. The partnership between Bobcat Company and Agtonomy goes beyond the AT450X, as the two companies are collaborating to create more innovative ways to increase productivity and performance across a range of Bobcat equipment and markets. Learn more about how Bobcat is transforming the industry through its innovation leadership. To learn more about Agtonomy, please visit agtonomy.com. 

Bobcat Evolves RogueX Concept Loader, Revealing RogueX2 to Advance Future of Equipment

As shown at CES this week, Bobcat has also evolved its RogueX concept loader with the reveal of its RogueX2. RogueX2 is a second iteration of this Bobcat invention — the original RogueX was shown in 2023. The RogueX and subsequent RogueX2 were built as a proving ground to advance the Bobcat innovation roadmap, evaluate customer perceptions and challenge the paradigms of traditional kinematics and machine functionality. 

Both the RogueX and RogueX2 loaders are all-electric and autonomous concept machines that produce zero emissions, and feature a lithium-ion battery, electric drive system and electric actuated lift and tilt kinematics with no hydraulics.  Specifically designed and built without a cab, these concept machines explore the idea of how work machines of the future can be designed and optimized for new technologies and enable an entirely new work experience.

The original RogueX was designed with tracks, and it uses advanced workgroup kinematics to offer unique functionality that combines vertical-path, radial-path and variable-path lift capabilities in one machine. RogueX2 was designed with wheels instead of tracks to optimize the electric battery run time. It also features axial flux motors, which gives the machine incredible tractive effort. The machine delivers greater power output for demanding applications like grading, digging or powering attachments for heavy-duty work. 

Together, the RogueX and RogueX2 concept loaders have garnered many new patents pending.  

“These patents represent more than new features on a machine — they signify how we are breaking rules to define a new work experience,” said Joel Honeyman, Doosan Bobcat vice president of global innovation. “To build a smarter, more sustainable and connected future, we must ask the questions no one else has thought to ask before and invent new solutions that previously did not exist.”  

The machine capabilities will continue to advance to influence future Bobcat designs, identify equipment enhancements and demonstrate innovation leadership. 

In the research and development phase, RogueX and RogueX2 are not commercially available.