Joel Honeyman, Bobcat’s vp for international 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 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 kind the center of the Bobcat lineup carry out unimaginable vehicular acrobatics to the delight of the crowds, Honeyman tells us in regards to the pondering and progressive processes behind these machines, in addition to revealing a few of 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 an excellent perspective on our clients and what they’re searching for – what’s essential to them,” he says.
On the core of his ethos isn’t just dreaming up progressive ideas, however constructing them and getting 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 in opposition to 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. In line with the OEM’s ethos the applied sciences that had been first showcased on that machine aren’t merely good concepts, however at the moment are really discovering their means 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 have a look at plenty of 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 can 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 tip of 2026.”
The 62in extensive industrial mower will differ from residential robotic mowers acquainted in Europe. “Europe has plenty of Roomba-style, random mowers,” Honeyman says. “This one, although, you’ll be able to set a sample that isn’t random. This implies it will probably 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 software. Mowers are already going that route.”
On monitor for autonomy
Whereas the brand new mower will likely be Bobcat’s first industrial, totally autonomous and cabless machine, it gained’t be Bobcat’s first foray into autonomous programs. Already out there 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 cell software.
Developed as a part of an ongoing collaboration with San Francisco startup, Agtonomy, the battery-powered AT450X is designed particularly for compact purposes like vineyards and orchards. Utilizing AI, it will probably study and react to its surroundings – distinguishing crop stems from weeds for exact spraying and detecting objects that require operation to cease.
An progressive function of the AT450X is its means to function constantly by managing its personal energy wants through a battery-swapping system. When the battery runs low, it routinely returns to its dwelling 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 situations,” 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 at the moment are evolving, too, and in such a means that would 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 plenty of requests for. Younger folks don’t need to simply sit within the machine, however they need to do development – so we wish 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 plenty of issues that act like autonomy that may perhaps 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 accessible right this moment, 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 in addition fluid energy with electrical motors. Its accomplice, 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 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, however it has to return with another advantages as properly, as a result of the shopper is making some trade-offs, like value and charging. So, you’ve bought to offer them one thing a bit of extra. That’s why T7X is so common – clients say, ‘I can get extra finished, and I can get it finished far more comfortably, with out noise.’”
Wanting 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 steadiness with different applied sciences. However we’ve been engaged on all of it, so I be ok with it.”
Finally Honeyman takes a practical method – even whereas coping with a few of the most superior know-how out there, 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 need to dig the opening quicker 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 all the time sensible, and that it stays grounded in reaching helpful duties extra effectively. He’s additionally capable of carry clear understanding to an accelerating price of change. “It’s not that onerous,” he smiles.
The innovation course of
Joel Honeyman relies at Bobcat HQ in North Dakota however his international obligations 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 immediately,” he says. “We do street journeys. The truth is, my crew is in Omaha, Nebraska, this week. Over three days we’re exhibiting totally different teams of shoppers numerous new improvements that we’re engaged on.”
These classes assist prioritise growth efforts: “Possibly we’ll present them 10 various things after which we ask them for his or her prime three, and ask what they is perhaps keen to pay for them. We will’t fall in love with our personal concept. It’s bought to have a objective, and clients should need it.”
Simplicity is one other important 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 in regards to the know-how, however it’s about that human interplay. The intersection of these two elements is critically essential.
This text first appeared within the June problem of iVT Worldwide
