Bobcat claims that its latest release, the MaxControl Remote Control system, “gives us a vision of machine control of the future”.
Operators can now control Bobcat’s compact loaders remotely with the click of a button, using a mobile app.
With MaxControl, Bobcat loader owners do not need the latest machines or costly hardware updates to embrace remote control.
According to Bobcat, the system is compatible with all its loaders, with Selectable Joystick Controls dating back to 2004.
MaxControl system
The MaxControl system ensures that remote control capability is always at the operator’s fingertips.
They can reach for the phone in their pocket and start controlling their Bobcat compact loader remotely within seconds, “without having to worry about any extra gadgets”.
Being based on an app, it is easy to get the newest features “the moment they are available”.
Combining jobs
By combining jobs without having to jump in and out of the loader’s cab, the MaxControl system provides the operator with a different view of the job at hand.
This allows them to carry out tasks remotely, and to repeat the process with maximum comfort.
Being able to operate outside the cab provides a different angle of view, helping new and even less experienced operators in tight areas.
When transporting large loads, it eliminates blind spots in front of the load and raises awareness of the surrounding environment.
Being outside the cab also allows for face-to-face communication with co-workers on-site.
Vijayshekhar Nerva, head of innovation and acceleration for Doosan Bobcat, EMEA, said:
“MaxControl was born out of these ideals and changing preferences to address our ability to not just keep up but keep ahead of the competition in both ‘the Iron’ as well as the digital side of our business.”
“Bobcat has much wider plans for the MaxControl system. We are looking to make MaxControl a simple modular solution, with one hardware box for the groundwork, laying the foundation for other features.”
“Remote operation is the first feature. We are looking into adding more in the future, such as object avoidance and semi-autonomy.”
Transforming two-person jobs into solo tasks
Some two-person jobs can now be achieved solo, such as loading a Bobcat loader onto a trailer with maximum precision and without the need to rely on an additional set of eyes.
Operators can dig posts or install fences without getting in and out of the cab. Also, they can finish back-filling without having to switch between machines multiple times.
Bobcat listed benefits of the MaxControl:
- Providing an extra set of hands;
- Saving time and money in simple everyday tasks. These include opening and closing gates or loading bales in a shorter time and with a smaller crew.
Being outside the cab also comes in handy when operating close to livestock or cleaning inside barns.
Bobcat MaxControl is a new hardware kit, combined with an iOS application, with easy touch controls that are designed for smartphones so that remote control using the system is “just as intuitive” as using a phone app.
The system also allows an operator to carry out two jobs at once, using remote control to operate a second machine from the cab comfortably. For example, an operator can sit in an excavator and use a loader remotely for back-filling.
Features
The system uses a Wi-Fi signal to communicate with the customer’s iOS device and operates in a range of up to 100 m. In remote areas with poor connectivity, the system keeps the operator logged on for 12 hours of operation.
Other features include:
- Machine diagnostics to communicate all important information about the carrier.
- Peer-to-Peer Sharing – Multiple end-users can be given access to the machine, enabling a quick change of operators in case of any customer requirements.
- Error Codes – Identify errors with ease from the service codes popping up directly on the phone.
- Hours of operation – Track how many hours a machine has been in operation.
- Retrofittable to all SJC Loaders from J to R-Series machines.
- Upgradable software.
MaxControl is available now on iOS devices, and an Android version will be available “shortly”.
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