The firm says that its Joystick Controls (SJC) dates as far back as 2004. MaxControl is available now on iOS devices, with an Android version available shortly.
Vijayshekhar Nerva, head of Innovation and Acceleration for Doosan Bobcat EMEA said, “Our Innovation team has delivered a solution that is complex enough to improve productivity on the jobsite and at the same time, packaged to be accessible and simple to use.”
The MaxControl system allows an operator to control a Bobcat compact loader remotely within seconds, without having to worry about any extra gadgets. As the tool is based on an app, Bobcat says that it is easy to get the newest features the moment they are available.
The MaxControl system provides the operator with a different view of the job in hand, allowing them to carry out tasks remotely. Being able to operate outside the cab provides a different angle of view, helping new and less experienced operators in tight areas. When lifting and carrying large loads, the use of MaxControl 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 onsite.
Vijayshekhar Nerva added: “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 and we are looking into adding more in the future such as Object Avoidance and Semi-Autonomy.”
Some two-person jobs can now be achieved solo, such as loading a Bobcat loader onto a trailer. Operators can dig posts or install fences without getting in and out of the cab and finish backfilling without having to switch between machines. 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.
