SeaMac
Senior Member
What I have heard from both Trimble and Topcon as well as a few equipment manufacturers, it won't be too long until the antenna's are gone altogether. Seems the industry is actually heading towards full-automation and full-autonomy, meaning in 20 or 30 years their won't be Operators.
CAT, Volvo and Liebherr reps have told me they're working towards complete machine integration controlled by both US and Russian GPS with millimeter precision and the mast mounted antenna's will be a thing of the past. The antenna's will be atop the cab and barely visible. It appears that US and Russian military's are improving their systems to the point where the private sector will soon have access to what they consider "old" technology. This same old technology allows for GPS guidance of missles and bombs and affords pinpoint accuracy on delivery.
You'll no longer need grade stakes for anything, Dozers, Wheel Loaders, Excavators will all know where they are and what they need to do. Yes, I know they can do this now but not to the degree that's coming. There'll come a time just before full-autonomy when Operator's sit in a Command Center and remotely control all machines. That should be very interesting...
CAT, Volvo and Liebherr reps have told me they're working towards complete machine integration controlled by both US and Russian GPS with millimeter precision and the mast mounted antenna's will be a thing of the past. The antenna's will be atop the cab and barely visible. It appears that US and Russian military's are improving their systems to the point where the private sector will soon have access to what they consider "old" technology. This same old technology allows for GPS guidance of missles and bombs and affords pinpoint accuracy on delivery.
You'll no longer need grade stakes for anything, Dozers, Wheel Loaders, Excavators will all know where they are and what they need to do. Yes, I know they can do this now but not to the degree that's coming. There'll come a time just before full-autonomy when Operator's sit in a Command Center and remotely control all machines. That should be very interesting...