The Future of Heavy Equipment Operation? Remotely Operating from ANYWHERE!

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  • Опубліковано 31 тра 2024
  • While visiting Westrac Caterpillar, the official Cat dealer in New South Wales, Australia, they let me play with one of their coolest toys - the Cat remote operator station.
    The station, comprised of the same seat and controls inside a machine, combined with a sports bar-level TV screens, can operate remote-enabled machines from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
    Cat first pioneered the technology for dangerous applications, like working near a high wall, unloading barges, and removing nuclear waste.
    I've seen the technology a few times before, but this was the first time I was allowed to operate a remote machine, thanks to Westrac's insanely cool technology experience center.
    You can learn more about Cat Command and Westrac's technology experience center at the links below!
    www.cat.com/en_US/products/ne...
    www.westrac.com.au/technology...
  • Наука та технологія

КОМЕНТАРІ • 124

  • @michaelwillson6847
    @michaelwillson6847 Місяць тому +13

    I think this technology is actually gonna be in alot more places sooner than people think. I used to work for a log yard in a mill and even they were looking into putting it into one of there cat loaders with yhe grapple that feed the mill. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍

  • @farmhanddiaries5422
    @farmhanddiaries5422 27 днів тому +5

    I could imagine this technology coming in handy for fighting oil well fires

  • @andrewmcfarland57
    @andrewmcfarland57 Місяць тому +20

    "Backhoe Simulator" available now on Steam. 🤣

    • @NoOne56488
      @NoOne56488 23 дні тому +1

      You think you're playing a sim, but in reality you're doing a job irl. Great way for companies to save some cash!!!

  • @ProudPapaw88
    @ProudPapaw88 Місяць тому +2

    Thanks, Aaron. Very interesting and it makes sense. Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend!!

  • @pete5044
    @pete5044 29 днів тому +6

    Take note America. That thing attached to the bottom of the stick is a called a tilt hitch with a quick coupler.
    Give it 20 years and you guys might start to see it on your equipment.

    • @MrBlueberry33
      @MrBlueberry33 12 днів тому

      uhh what? We already have this on thousands of machines. Tf? You thought some chinese made shit is some how special to you???

  • @davidwindsor4632
    @davidwindsor4632 29 днів тому +4

    There is something about being in command of a machine. Are feeling the machine. 👍

  • @ridhobaihaqi144
    @ridhobaihaqi144 Місяць тому +7

    Caterpillar in other country: 💪💪😎😎
    Caterpillar in my country: 🗿🗿🗿

  • @repaircollc
    @repaircollc 29 днів тому +1

    Thanks for another great video on an interesting topic. I can see the useage for the safety aspect as you say. At the same time we are talking about corporations that can and absolutely will exploit this technology to reduce their skilled labor force, outsourced and cheaper. I hope not but I know better. Thanks again for all you show us ✌️

  • @RRCCONSTRUCTIONMININGREC-tl8yf
    @RRCCONSTRUCTIONMININGREC-tl8yf Місяць тому +3

    Aaron thanks for the videos awesome stuff .😊😊👍👍🚜🚜🚛🚚🚧🚧🚧🚧

  • @snaggo6666
    @snaggo6666 26 днів тому +1

    Cool to see you at Tomago checking out the yellow stuff, wondering if you made your way up to any of the mines in the valley and / or the Mt Thorley Liebherr branch?

  • @guyneeser2029
    @guyneeser2029 Місяць тому +2

    Aaron you are a fine operator and that training computer would be great to get back into it for ME......

  • @dgsantafedave1
    @dgsantafedave1 Місяць тому +2

    Nice haircut Aaron! They do a lot of digging down under don't they!

  • @nikkogajowniczek7634
    @nikkogajowniczek7634 24 дні тому

    aaron, i respect your concern for our comments in the last video. I appreciate how you addressed our grievances appropriately demonstrating the very real and important use cases for technology like this when operator safety is compromised. However, you mention at around 8:00 one of CAT’s primary use cases, and it seemed like exactly the kind of thing we mentioned being problematic. I think it would be very interesting if you made a video and dug deeper into how the people on ground use and think of this kind of tech, on top of these impressive demos!

  • @barakcollins1506
    @barakcollins1506 29 днів тому +1

    I understand, but I I like the pucker of doing sketchy things with a 55 ton excavator.

  • @dallasbaiton371
    @dallasbaiton371 Місяць тому +5

    No matter why or who criticizes this technology is the way of the future and I can see it that AI will be part of this technology. Can you imagine just delivering a machine and with no operator or human in the area and the machine completely doing the required tast completely. That is the goal eventually and we are getting closer to that reality.

  • @farout448
    @farout448 Місяць тому +3

    Will there be any more content from Westrac ? been through the place a few times, very big operation

    • @AaronWitt
      @AaronWitt  Місяць тому +3

      plenty more coming soon

    • @WesTracCat
      @WesTracCat 27 днів тому

      We sent Aaron to both our operations - NSW and Western Australia. He got to see action on both sides of AUS. Plenty to come! ^CG

  • @halcon2134
    @halcon2134 Місяць тому

    It is a wonderful technology, I love driving excavators, going to construction sites that are far from home, often in cities with huge traffic jams, is the worst.

  • @SJR_Media_Group
    @SJR_Media_Group Місяць тому +4

    Thanks for another well produced video.... there are remote controlled machines operating in mines deep underground. They are used in places unsafe for humans to be near; uranium, coal, and precious metals. It is amazing to see how technology is changing the face of construction. Imagine being able to run 3 shifts 24/7 and not fatiguing human operators. It's like drones that are operated thousands miles away providing intel on a foreign adversary. In time, some of this work can be done by AI. This won't replace humans, but enhance what is already being done... cheers mate.

    • @DrTubeman
      @DrTubeman 16 днів тому

      Don't be so naive, SJR, sadly this technology will eventually replace human operators...

    • @SJR_Media_Group
      @SJR_Media_Group 15 днів тому

      @@DrTubeman well Dr with no content of his own you might want to re-think your premise and back it up with actual data

  • @UncleManuel
    @UncleManuel 29 днів тому

    Damn, this CONSTRUCTION SIMULATOR 2025 has incredible graphics, it almost looks like real ife! 😁😁🤘🤘

  • @OpenThisGate87
    @OpenThisGate87 22 дні тому

    You forgot the coolest part which is that the control system appears to be running Ubuntu.
    Linux FTW!

  • @jakegingrich7214
    @jakegingrich7214 Місяць тому

    Crazy that we can now do work in places we don't even have to be.

  • @builthogan
    @builthogan Місяць тому +1

    So true

  • @davidanalyst671
    @davidanalyst671 Місяць тому

    Just out of curiosity.... you know the drillers that do the drill holes for blasting in quarries, they have had this remote tech for like 10 years. I guess its easier to stream one camera and all it does is move 2 MPH and pushes down.

    • @AaronWitt
      @AaronWitt  Місяць тому

      yeah drills move a bit slower

    • @nickhutt6264
      @nickhutt6264 25 днів тому

      A lot of our mines in Aus have full autonomous blast hole drill fleets, no operators at just all just gps and a computer programme.

  • @tristenklein5940
    @tristenklein5940 Місяць тому +1

    As it should be! Labor is the highest expense and frustrating issue with any small business especially in the construction industry!

    • @solarissv777
      @solarissv777 13 днів тому

      *in the west. The so called "blue collar workers" in the US got used to getting ridiculous money for the jobs that a trained monkey can do (and that's why they are so afraid of immigrants). Yes, there are some highly skilled professionals and craftsmen with unique skills, but most of this jobs are nothing special and cost so much just because people doing them happened to be born in a certain country. On the other hand high cost of blue collars creates an insensitive for the white collars to innovate and eventually replace them.

  • @tomhoffman9729
    @tomhoffman9729 Місяць тому

    During the operation I can hear the "sound" of the swinging of the machine. Is that automated or is there microphones on the machine?

    • @AaronWitt
      @AaronWitt  Місяць тому

      nah you can't hear anything from it typically -- that's just the editing

  • @bartyparty8521
    @bartyparty8521 29 днів тому

    just wanna say, love the videos. But i have a question about this, what would you do if the video cameras get dirty when you are at home operating the machine?

    • @deathaman1125
      @deathaman1125 28 днів тому

      Probably move the machine to a safe area then have someone at the facility clean the camera

    • @bartyparty8521
      @bartyparty8521 28 днів тому

      @@deathaman1125 i guess that makes sense, they probably have one employee that cleans all the machines.

  • @icey_b1562
    @icey_b1562 Місяць тому +2

    But what if I wanna get hazard pay??

  • @jondonron
    @jondonron Місяць тому +1

    Connect the machine to Indian call centre
    This will easily reduce the labour cost by magnitude

  • @cainrok
    @cainrok Місяць тому

    The only thing I see being a problem with some of the use cases are if you do lose a pice of equipment to sinkage or slip and it’s a hazardous area. Now you have to put even more people in to recover it.

    • @troysweet4038
      @troysweet4038 Місяць тому

      How is that any different than if there was an operator in the machine? Also you could just write off the machine as a loss and let your inusrance buy a new one.

    • @AaronWitt
      @AaronWitt  Місяць тому +1

      that's the whole point

    • @littlehippo5004
      @littlehippo5004 Місяць тому

      sooo, exactly the same scenario as if human operators were there too?

    • @deathaman1125
      @deathaman1125 28 днів тому +1

      ​@@littlehippo5004But without the chance that the operator get hurt or worse

  • @kersa1995
    @kersa1995 28 днів тому +1

    Just feeding the system information & analytics so AI can work more efficiently in the future

  • @carlfalt174
    @carlfalt174 29 днів тому

    Eventually the oil sands at Ft. McMurray will be totally automated which will increase profits and decrease costs. That means more profit for owners and shareholders.

  • @user-vy6kk9or4i
    @user-vy6kk9or4i 29 днів тому

    Who is that new host he's seems smarter than the other one 😂

  • @marksellinger3736
    @marksellinger3736 Місяць тому +1

    Brought to you by Australia. Same country that just hired a guy to serve as the "Parlimentary Secretary for Mens Behaviour Change. Welcome to being neuter

    • @anthonyj7989
      @anthonyj7989 Місяць тому

      Australia happens to be a country that has always been at the cutting edge of new technologies. Australia is a country with a small population and a small economy, therefore people in Australia have to look at other ways of doing things.
      No matter what piece of equipment Australia buys, it is not long until Australian companies or government pulls it apart and rebuilds it to operate in Australia and you can see this with American trucks (Mack and Kenworth) and aircraft (Boeing E-7 Wedgetail). There are many other examples of equipment being built in other countries and not being able to be used in Australia because of safety issues or not being able to operate in the Australian harsh environment and this includes people from America and Europe who can’t tolerate spiders and snakes, you know, the little things Australians keep as pets and let them wonder around their homes. And I have found that a tiger snake is better than a gun - they works autonomous.

    • @markfryer9880
      @markfryer9880 17 днів тому

      ​@@anthonyj7989Kenworth trucks are custom designed and manufactured here in Bayswater, Melbourne, Australia.
      Not sure about Mack?

  • @zaryadnik
    @zaryadnik Місяць тому

    Great

  • @dan__________________
    @dan__________________ Місяць тому

    So that is roughly $20 worth of tech siting there. Is the price half a million?

  • @davidanalyst671
    @davidanalyst671 Місяць тому

    John deere has a tractor that will follow a GPS line through a field, and just recently, they introduced a tractor that turns as well. I could tell you all what the next step for this remote cat operator station is, but i think you already know

    • @AaronWitt
      @AaronWitt  Місяць тому

      Caterpillar's had autonomous equipment working for literally decades already

    • @nickhutt6264
      @nickhutt6264 25 днів тому

      We have full fleets of autonomous Caterpillar dump trucks cruising around mines here in Aus. Caterpillar (U.S) actually developed and perfected the technology at a site here called Solomon (FMG), When I was there they had a fleet of about 70 full autonomous 793F's. Most O.E.Ms have the tech now.

    • @markfryer9880
      @markfryer9880 17 днів тому

      As for tractors, check out tractorspotter here on UA-cam. The tractors in Europe have been using GPS for sowing and harvesting but the farmers still drive the tractors. For some farmers it won't be long before they have at least slave tractors following down the field rows performing the same or next function as the lead tractor.

  • @jdiggindirt
    @jdiggindirt Місяць тому

    I understand the concept but when you lose your feel of the machine it's self all your doing is causing way more wear and tear on that machine. This is clear in his operation. I'm old school trained I fine grade off fill as well string line doesn't line

    • @solarissv777
      @solarissv777 13 днів тому

      Guess, a proper software can smoothen all the moves and make them as efficient as possible

  • @christucker1886
    @christucker1886 Місяць тому

    I work on a farm we have demo some of this new driverless equipment set ups and additions and they aren’t taking jobs for a looooonnnnhgggggg time trust that still 100% more effective to put a dude in there and way cheaper

    • @markfryer9880
      @markfryer9880 17 днів тому

      That would be especially so when dealing with John Deere I would think!

  • @Tmjpwns
    @Tmjpwns 28 днів тому

    Next pandemic, work from home operators.
    Only mechanics & ground workers left on site :P

  • @duran9664
    @duran9664 29 днів тому +1

    This can work on the moon or Mars 🤔

  • @huntz3215
    @huntz3215 29 днів тому

    Dangerous conditions, that's what apprentices are for. 🤪 Thunderbirds with all there gadgets influencing design 60yrs on.

  • @laurier3348
    @laurier3348 Місяць тому

    Bro, this technology is really stoopid.

  • @SmashingBricksAU
    @SmashingBricksAU Місяць тому

    Mate what's WesTrack doing in the wrong state 🤣

    • @WesTracCat
      @WesTracCat 27 днів тому

      Ewww drop that "k" please ^CG

  • @Chris_Shipping
    @Chris_Shipping 29 днів тому

    No thanks,I dont ever ever ever want this happening!

  • @shabo857
    @shabo857 Місяць тому

    Shocked they haven’t just ditched the screens and gone with VR goggles.

    • @astecheee1519
      @astecheee1519 Місяць тому +1

      Goggles are very limited currently. Not the greatest resolution compared to like 6 screens in front of you.

    • @blueman5924
      @blueman5924 Місяць тому

      @@astecheee1519tell that to DJI and the FPV drone op’s.

  • @Sirclassic
    @Sirclassic 2 дні тому

    You still need a person to operate the excavator?? So where are we losing job?

  • @mr.mistoffelees7188
    @mr.mistoffelees7188 29 днів тому

    Your machine is restarting to install Windows updates … ;)

  • @nickconnor8756
    @nickconnor8756 18 днів тому

    🤣🤣🤣🤣try digging around gas,water,sewer,power and communication with that…good luck

  • @killernat1234
    @killernat1234 29 днів тому

    Did he really pronounced centre as cent-ray? It’s pronounced center, but spelt different

  • @scottunderwood3481
    @scottunderwood3481 28 днів тому

    Thankfully you cant program a robot to work on a site that's basically organised chaos.🙏😉

  • @airlogic
    @airlogic 29 днів тому

    When you remove an operator regardless of the hazards or environment, You remove learnt methods and skills which come from experience.

  • @duran9664
    @duran9664 29 днів тому +2

    ⁉️What..
    Did he pronounce it “ centrai’”⁉️🤪
    It is center, dude, but English write it wrongly🤷‍♀️

  • @DrTubeman
    @DrTubeman 16 днів тому

    You're either incredibly naive or being facetious Aaron, if you think this technology won't eventually replace the majority of human operators...

  • @stevegeorge6479
    @stevegeorge6479 Місяць тому

    🤔🤔🤔🤘🤘🤘🤘

  • @guyneeser2029
    @guyneeser2029 Місяць тому

    Aaron grow your hair back!!!. Dude NO!!.

    • @blueman5924
      @blueman5924 Місяць тому

      Maybe he’s doing an episode of “undercover boss”, or going undercover to bust stray Cat dealers in high schools. 🤷‍♂️

  • @freedomrings1420
    @freedomrings1420 Місяць тому +29

    Sorry folks, but I actually enjoyed running heavy equipment. I'm glad that I'm retired. I'm not going to sit inside some office or building using that garbage. Where's the skill, oh that's right... the younger generations would just rather have some computer doing everything. While never learning anything. 😂😂😂😂😂. But who's going to run the jackhammer, set the the forms , tie the rebar ,pour the concrete, finish the concrete. 😂😂😂😂😂

    • @ChaseWatkins.
      @ChaseWatkins. Місяць тому +4

      1:12 this is you

    • @freedomrings1420
      @freedomrings1420 Місяць тому +1

      @@ChaseWatkins. This is you ..... Younger generations = SOYBOYCELLPHONEHOLDINGSOYBOYGENERATION

    • @freedomrings1420
      @freedomrings1420 Місяць тому +6

      ​@@ChaseWatkins.I'm happily retired. Have fun working. 😂

    • @icey_b1562
      @icey_b1562 Місяць тому +3

      Don’t worry. Someone will build a janky “Ai” to run these machines for you!
      And corperations won’t have to waste money on paying machine operators. They’ll give it to the people who really deserve it - the shareholders. r

    • @FloridaManConstruction
      @FloridaManConstruction Місяць тому +3

      Perhaps you should check out Boston Dynamics robots. They are coming for all of us. We had a good run…
      Good luck.
      🙏🏼🌴🐈🐈🐈🌴🏴‍☠️

  • @kencarlton9939
    @kencarlton9939 27 днів тому

    Lazy

  • @cdpgbc-mw2kz
    @cdpgbc-mw2kz Місяць тому +3

    More loss of jobs coming...

    • @shilohholtzman7988
      @shilohholtzman7988 Місяць тому +8

      did you even watch the video?

    • @stanonline7534
      @stanonline7534 Місяць тому +9

      you still need operators bruh

    • @llee220
      @llee220 Місяць тому +4

      Good stuff but u can't feel what the machine is doing and feeling it is a massive part of operating

    • @2mindful
      @2mindful Місяць тому +1

      Yep, you still need operators, so no loss of jobs for excisting operators. I think 3D vision will be great for better depth preception.

    • @shabo857
      @shabo857 Місяць тому

      @@2mindfulwas just saying. This really needs VR

  • @jonathantx
    @jonathantx Місяць тому

    If there is a opportunity to WFH doing this feel free to contact me, I wouldn't mind one bit😁

  • @markconrad4160
    @markconrad4160 28 днів тому

    sadly, company owners want more money, so they will eliminate the operating engineer. robotic equipment will take the humans out of the seat..the future is not bright, and the retirees will not have a pension payment..and if Republicans have their way, we won't have a social security payments also..millions of old operators will out on the streets homeless..

    • @solarissv777
      @solarissv777 13 днів тому

      And who gonna service all those even more complicated machines?
      Humans.