Bobcat Will Focus on AI Operator and Diagnostic Systems (and More) at CES 2026
Doosan Bobcat will use CES 2026 to move artificial intelligence from the cloud to the machine, focusing on operator support, faster diagnostics and better situational awareness. The company’s lineup also includes a new display concept, a fresh compact machine prototype (exciting!) and a stackable electric power system built for compact equipment workflows.
What Bobcat Plans to Solve
Bobcat frames its CES 2026 technologies around three jobsite pressures: a retiring workforce, costly downtime and increasingly complex worksites. With a large portion of experienced operators expected to leave the field by 2031, the company sees a need to help new workers run machines with more confidence. Downtime also remains a persistent headache for small contractors and rental customers, while crowded jobsites introduce new safety challenges. These themes shape everything Bobcat plans to show in Las Vegas.
AI Assistance for Operators
Bobcat will preview AI features that live inside or near the machine to guide operators through challenging tasks. Instead of relying solely on hands-on experience, new operators gain on-machine instruction that breaks down difficult work into clearer steps. Experienced operators can use the same tools to fine-tune precision and maximize speed. Bobcat positions these features as a practical way to lift overall jobsite productivity despite uneven skill levels.
Faster AI Diagnostics
Bobcat will also show an AI-driven diagnostic system that reduces the time between a fault and a fix. This tool combines machine insights, repair history and guided troubleshooting to help technicians identify issues quickly. Small fleets and rental operations benefit most, since a single compact loader or mini excavator often carries the entire workload for a project.
Radar for Complex Jobsites
Modern jobsites pack in more people, machines and obstacles. To address this, Bobcat will preview radar-based hazard detection designed to boost operator awareness. The system monitors blind spots, calls out obstacles and intervenes when necessary. It adds another layer of protection when operators work in tight spaces or around multiple trades.
New Operator Display in View
Bobcat plans to introduce a new operator display experience that puts key data directly in the operator’s line of sight. This continues the company’s experiments with transparent OLED cab glass, previously used at CES to overlay camera views and work information while maintaining outward visibility. Bringing this information into the forward field of view helps operators stay focused on the job, not the dash.
Key CES 2026 Additions
Bobcat will also debut:
- A forward-looking compact machine concept
- A rugged, stackable electric power system for compact equipment
The concept machine serves as a test bed for new ideas, much like RogueX and RogueX2 before it. The stackable power system suggests a more flexible future for compact electric equipment, where users can adjust runtime and output by combining battery modules as needed. Bobcat will reveal full details during its Jan. 5 media event at 2 p.m. in Mandalay Bay I, followed by hands-on experiences in West Hall 5840 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Bobcat at CES: A Quick History
Bobcat has used CES as a proving ground for compact equipment innovation for several years.
CES 2024 Highlights:
- AT450X electric and autonomous articulating tractor
- RogueX2 all-electric, cab-less loader concept
- S7X all-electric skid steer
- Transparent OLED display glass demonstrations
The AT450X targeted vineyards and orchards with autonomous mission planning, battery swapping and vision systems built for tasks like mowing, spraying and material transport. RogueX2 continued Bobcat’s cab-less electric exploration with wheeled efficiency and strong tractive performance. Transparent display glass turned cab windows into augmented visibility tools.
CES 2022 Launch: Bobcat introduced the T7X (pictured above), the first fully electric compact track loader built without traditional hydraulics. The machine used electric actuators, electric drive motors and a large lithium-ion battery to deliver quiet, zero-emission operation with instant torque. Electric attachments — a broom, auger and grapple — followed. Bobcat also announced a major partnership with Sunbelt Rentals, putting electric loaders and excavators into rental fleets.
Watch Our Machine Heads Episode on OEMs at CES
If you want to understand why off-highway manufacturers keep showing up at CES, watch our Machine Heads episode breaking down the trend. The segment looks at how automation, electrification and AI pull compact equipment into the same conversation as consumer tech. It also shows why companies like Bobcat use CES to signal where the industry is headed.
Keith Gribbins is publisher of Compact Equipment.
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