The world’s leading manufacturer of heavy equipment is getting serious about robotics!  Carnegie Mellon University just signed a three-year agreement with Caterpillar, Inc., to perform research in field robotics.  NREC will do the initial research in applying advanced outdoor sensors, operator assist systems, and autonomy to Caterpillar equipment.  The goal is to make Caterpillar’s construction, mining, and other equipment safer and more productive.

NREC Director John Bares believes that collaborating with Caterpillar will strengthen the robotics expertise of both organizations.  “This working relationship exposes Carnegie Mellon researchers to the rigors of applied science and engineering, and to leading-edge automation challenges,” Bares explained. “We’re confident that it also will provide Caterpillar with access to some of the best minds in the business.”

In addition to its work at NREC, Caterpillar is creating a Pittsburgh-based Center of Excellence for Field Robotics and Automation. This R&D office will collaborate closely with researchers at Carnegie Mellon and pursue its own
independent projects. 

This is just the latest joint venture between Caterpillar and Carnegie Mellon.  In the past, Caterpillar has funded major robotics and machine translation projects.  It’s also sponsored the university’s entries in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Grand Challenge races since 2003.  Currently, Caterpillar is one of the main sponsors of Tartan Racing’s Boss, the self-driving Chevy Tahoe that is a semifinalist for this fall’s $2 million DARPA Urban
Challenge race.