Joel Honeyman, Bobcat’s vp for international innovation, talks candidly concerning the groundbreaking new know-how the OEM is engaged on and explains why, nonetheless superior the machine is, it’s essential by no means to lose sight of its main features – digging holes and transferring 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 guts of the Bobcat lineup carry out unbelievable vehicular acrobatics to the delight of the crowds, Honeyman tells us concerning the considering and revolutionary processes behind these machines, in addition to revealing among 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 transferring into gross sales. “I really feel like I’ve a great 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 revolutionary ideas, however constructing them and making ready the know-how 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 resolution.”
Business improvements
One eye-catching idea, and former iVT cowl star, is Bobcat’s cabless Rogue X, which was first unveiled at ConExpo in 2023. Consistent with the OEM’s ethos the applied sciences that have been first showcased on that machine usually are not merely good concepts, however are actually really discovering their manner into manufacturing autos.
“That automobile 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 essential for us. We take a look at numerous totally 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 signifies that if a machine is backing up and it senses an object, it should detect that and routinely cease.”
A second main innovation for the long run includes autonomous know-how for landscaping: “We’re going to have an autonomous zero-turn mower in the US as a restricted launch subsequent 12 months in direction of the top of 2026.”
The 62in large industrial mower will differ from residential robotic mowers acquainted in Europe. “Europe has numerous Roomba-style, random mowers,” Honeyman says. “This one, although, you’ll be able to set a sample that isn’t random. This implies it could actually 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 utility. Mowers are already going that path.”
On monitor for autonomy
Whereas the brand new mower might be Bobcat’s first industrial, absolutely autonomous and cabless machine, it gained’t be Bobcat’s first foray into autonomous programs. Already accessible is the battery electrical articulating tractor, the AT450X which was unveiled at CES in 2024 and may function in guide, distant or autonomous mode, all managed through a cellular utility.
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 could actually find out about and react to its surroundings – distinguishing crop stems from weeds for exact spraying and detecting objects that require operation to cease.
An revolutionary characteristic of the AT450X is its skill to function constantly by managing its personal energy wants through a battery-swapping system. When the battery runs low, it routinely returns to its residence base and a totally charged battery will be swapped out for the depleted one, which may 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 circumstances,” 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 programs that Bobcat has been providing for its machines since 2019. These are actually evolving, too, and in such a manner that might additionally assist to deal with a scarcity in staff.
“We’re including some totally different options to distant programs,” says Honeyman. “We’re engaged on a gaming controller, which we’ve had numerous requests for. Younger folks don’t wish to simply sit within the machine, however they wish to do development – so we wish to mix gaming with that.” This might even at some point 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 numerous issues that act like autonomy that may possibly simply assist a present operator be higher, particularly new and novice operators.”
Electrification with objective
Relating to electrification, Bobcat’s T7X tracked loader, which is accessible right this 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 additionally fluid energy with electrical motors. Its associate, 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 feel what we’ve discovered on this transition to EVs is it needs to 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 perhaps?
“Sustainability is essential, but it surely has to return 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 present them one thing slightly extra. That’s why T7X is so common – 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 deal with 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.”
Finally Honeyman takes a practical strategy – even whereas coping with among 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 totally different supplies and machines, however that’s basically what they’re all doing. So, what do they need? Nicely, they wish to dig the opening sooner and extra precisely. Or they wish to transfer issues safely, and extra comfortably.”
Damaged down like this Honeyman is in a position to make sure that Bobcat’s innovation is all the time sensible, and that it stays grounded in reaching helpful duties extra effectively. He’s additionally capable of convey clear understanding to an accelerating fee 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 international duties take him all around the globe. In notably 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 instantly,” he says. “We do highway journeys. The truth is, my workforce is in Omaha, Nebraska, this week. Over three days we’re displaying totally different teams of consumers quite a few new improvements that we’re engaged on.”
These classes assist prioritise growth efforts: “Perhaps we’ll present them 10 various things after which we ask them for his or her prime three, and ask what they is perhaps prepared to pay for them. We are able to’t fall in love with our personal thought. It’s received to have a objective, and clients should need it.”
Simplicity is one other crucial issue: “It additionally needs to be easy for the operator, as a result of if it’s not, they simply gained’t use it. It doesn’t matter how nice the know-how is. Innovation and know-how isn’t just concerning the know-how, but it surely’s about that human interplay. The intersection of these two elements is critically essential.
This text first appeared within the June challenge of iVT Worldwide
