Machine Heads Video: Cat Command Trailer Visits CE Offices, We Operate Remotely Across the US
A typical Tuesday in the office recently turned into an awesome day of operation. The good folks at Caterpillar contacted us to share that they were in town promoting the Cat Command trailer, an impressive non-line-of-sight remote control system housed within a portable cab/office. Caterpillar marketing professional Alan Pumpkin drove the Cat Command trailer to our offices in Richfield, Ohio, allowing me to operate three different machines — an excavator, dozer and wheel loader — from Cleveland, Ohio, controlling units remotely in North Carolina and Arizona.
In the video above, Pumpkin explains the array of technologies and services under the Cat Command umbrella — including autonomous, semi-autonomous and remote control systems. I then get to jump behind the joysticks, giving a personal demonstration of the capabilities of Cat Command.
Cat Command for Compact Equipment
Back in 2022, Cat won an Innovative Iron Award for its expansion of Cat Command for Loading to its D3-Series skid steers and track loaders. A dealer-installed field kit makes any Cat D3 skid steer or compact track loader model Command-ready, allowing it to be operated comfortably from a safe location when the machine is working in hazardous environments like stevedoring, steel mill blast furnaces, industrial and waste, demolition and site decommissioning. Cat Command for Loading for skid steer and compact track loaders is available in two configurations — line-of-sight at the jobsite and non-line-of-sight operating via that sweet remote station pictured above.
The non-line-of-sight system includes indicator lights, microphone, wireless receiver and antennas with front, rear and side cameras for 360-degree viewing, all installed on the cabin roof. A command activation switch is mounted behind a lockable door with ground-level access.
Cat also offers Cat Command for mini excavators. All Cat minis can utilize Command line-of-site remote control technology, but only bigger diggers (like the Cat 313 and above) can capitalize on non-line-of-site systems.
The non-line-of-sight Cat Command solution includes a modular, customized Command station that positions users in a familiar and comfortable seated position that simulates traditional machine control. One user can connect to multiple machines from a single station, controlling one machine at a time. The station is also compatible with other Command offerings for Cat equipment, such as excavators, dozers and small wheel loaders.
By allowing the user to comfortably control the machine from a safe location, Command maintains high machine productivity in difficult and dangerous operating environments. Learn more by watching the Machine Heads video above.
Keith Gribbins is the publisher of Compact Equipment.
Compact track loaders are the most popular category of compact equipment in America. Learn why with loads of track loader features right here.
