Joel Honeyman, Bobcat’s vp for world innovation, talks candidly in regards to the groundbreaking new know-how the OEM is engaged on and explains why, nevertheless superior the machine is, it’s necessary by no means to lose sight of its main capabilities – digging holes and transferring issues round
We meet Joel Honeyman, Bobcat’s world 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 the glass doorways onto the balcony we nonetheless can see, in addition to hear, the spectacular Bobcat car demonstration.
Because the skidsteers and observe loaders that kind the center of the Bobcat lineup carry out unbelievable vehicular acrobatics to the delight of the crowds, Honeyman tells us in regards to the considering and revolutionary processes behind these machines, in addition to revealing a few of the OEM’s plans for the longer term.
With 28 years of expertise at Bobcat, Honeyman is aware of the OEM in addition to anybody. He has been vp for world innovation for over 9 years, however he began his profession within the firm’s coaching group in 1997, earlier than transferring into gross sales. “I really feel like I’ve a very good perspective on our clients and what they’re on the lookout for – what’s necessary to them,” he says.
On the core of his ethos isn’t just dreaming up revolutionary ideas, however constructing them and making ready the know-how for the market he is aware of so properly. “What we do is, we make issues plausible. That’s the primary factor,” he says. “I’d put our crew up towards anyone’s round, only for taking an idea and making it plausible, not only a PowerPoint presentation, however bodily having the ability to current one thing as a possible resolution.”
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 have been first showcased on that machine should not merely good concepts, however are actually truly discovering their means into manufacturing automobiles.
“That car confirmed an idea we name Collision-Warning and Avoidance. That’s the identical know-how that we’re now commercializing,” says Honeyman. “These idea machines are actually necessary for us. We have a look at a variety of completely different applied sciences. Now we’re going again and saying, ‘Okay, what are the items that we are able to apply to our present merchandise?’ The system implies that if a machine is backing up and it senses an object, it can detect that and robotically cease.”
A second main innovation for the longer term includes autonomous know-how for landscaping: “We’re going to have an autonomous zero-turn mower in the USA as a restricted launch subsequent yr in direction of the top of 2026.”
The 62in extensive business mower will differ from residential robotic mowers acquainted in Europe. “Europe has a variety of Roomba-style, random mowers,” Honeyman says. “This one, although, you possibly can set a sample that isn’t random. This implies it might probably mow in stripes and patterns, which is necessary 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 course.”
On observe for autonomy
Whereas the brand new mower will probably be Bobcat’s first business, totally autonomous and cabless machine, it gained’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 might function in guide, distant or autonomous mode, all managed through a cellular software.
Developed as a part of an ongoing collaboration with San Francisco startup, Agtonomy, the battery-powered AT450X is designed particularly for compact functions like vineyards and orchards. Utilizing AI, it might probably find out about and react to its atmosphere – distinguishing crop stems from weeds for exact spraying and detecting objects that require operation to cease.
An revolutionary function of the AT450X is its means to function repeatedly by managing its personal energy wants through a battery-swapping system. When the battery runs low, it robotically returns to its residence base and a completely charged battery will be swapped out for the depleted one, which may in flip be placed on cost.
The AT450X goals to handle 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 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 are actually evolving, too, and in such a means that might additionally assist to deal with a scarcity in staff.
“We’re including some completely different options to distant techniques,” says Honeyman. “We’re engaged on a gaming controller, which we’ve had a variety of requests for. Younger folks don’t need to simply sit within the machine, however they need to do building – so we need to mix gaming with that.” This might even in the future 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 a variety of issues that act like autonomy that may possibly simply assist a present operator be higher, particularly new and novice operators.”
Electrification with objective
In relation to electrification, Bobcat’s T7X tracked loader, which is obtainable immediately, is one thing of a market chief when it comes to going totally electrical and fully hydraulic-free – changing not solely the engine with a battery but additionally 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 know-how for know-how’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 may be?
“Sustainability is necessary, however it has to come back with another advantages as properly, as a result of the client is making some trade-offs, like price and charging. So, you’ve bought to provide them one thing a bit extra. That’s why T7X is so widespread – clients say, ‘I can get extra completed, and I can get it completed far more comfortably, with out noise.’”
Trying 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 steadiness 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 realistic strategy – even whereas coping with a few of the most superior know-how accessible, he doesn’t lose web site of the identical easy targets that each 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 basically what they’re all doing. So, what do they need? Nicely, they need to dig the opening 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 at all times sensible, and that it stays grounded in reaching helpful duties extra effectively. He’s additionally in a position to deliver clear understanding to an accelerating charge of change. “It’s not that tough,” he smiles.
The innovation course of
Joel Honeyman is predicated at Bobcat HQ in North Dakota however his world tasks take him all all over the world. 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 street journeys. Actually, my crew is in Omaha, Nebraska, this week. Over three days we’re displaying completely different teams of consumers plenty of new improvements that we’re engaged on.”
These classes assist prioritise improvement efforts: “Possibly we’ll present them 10 various things after which we ask them for his or her high three, and ask what they may be keen to pay for them. We will’t fall in love with our personal thought. It’s bought to have a objective, and clients need to need it.”
Simplicity is one other important issue: “It additionally must be easy for the operator, as a result of if it’s not, they only gained’t use it. It doesn’t matter how nice the know-how is. Innovation and know-how isn’t just in regards to the know-how, however it’s about that human interplay. The intersection of these two parts is critically necessary.
This text first appeared within the June challenge of iVT Worldwide
