ON Topic - Work from home. LOL.

Thanks Deas. The article quotes ACMOC's own Sam Meeker who is a Cat engineer and collector.

Interesting. I have a bad feeling more dozers are going to get trashed if the operators don't have any "skin in the game"...

G

Hi, Gregness.
Yer know, I have had that same feeling since I first heard about the notion of remote control on dozers.

I want wunna these radio-control geeks to explain to me how an operator sitting under shady tree - or inna 'egg-nishunned' pickup - is gonna be able to feel if the high track is lifting when the machine is onna 40-degree plus slope (Are they gonna fit the track rollers with load-sensing cells?) - or when a slope is getting too steep to be able to reverse back up it, taking into account the existing traction conditions (Built-in soil testing department?) or where the fun is in NOT having the thrill of the feel of the machine under you doing all the things that dozers do and knowing that it was by YOUR guidance that it got did (Feel-good adrenaline-rush drug lab under the shady tree or in the 'egg-nishunned' pickup?).

A kew-ree-yuss mind would like ter know.

It wuz ME that did all the things that I have done with machines over the last 60 or so years, me and my judgement and 'feel' for the machine and the material I was working with. People working with GPS- and laser-controlled machines aren't going to be able to say that 'cos it'll be a computer that does it all. Wott are they gonna say - "Geez, my computer did a great job today." - or - "Hey, kids, the computer on my dozer/grader/excavator/scraper built that road."

Just my 0.02.

Well,

I saw one about a year ago and was given a tour. I don't think it's intent is to take away from an operator, or keep an operator from "Feeling In" on what's happening, but rather keep an operator in a Safe Environment. The machine can get work done without the operators safety concerned. The one I saw last year was to go into freshly shot rock in case charges were still live. Makes sense to me. Technology is upon us. Tools and high tech gadgets can make machines more productive. I don't think they are meant to take away or supplement skills of an operator, but assist them to be more productive. Changes are stressful, but without changing one becomes obsolete. Businesses have to keep up with the new technology or be surpassed. Lasers guided equipment came around, then Sonar, then GPS, who knows what's around the corner.

Hi, Glen.
I'm not saying that these 'technological advancements' aren't a good thing, only that they are taking a lot of the fun out of operating. Laser, sonic sensing and the various forms of GPS/LPS/etc., have done a LOTTT to increase production and have certainly made the operator's job easier. But I dearly love getting a D8H, a D9G or a D9N up on a good batter and cutting it to finished shape, or cutting to grades with a good dozer, scraper or grader. I love bulk loading with a loader or an excavator and trying to get my load times down with each load. while leaving a smooth clean floor behind me. One of my favorite things is to dig a dam/farm pond with a dozer and leave a neat, rectangular excavation with no loose dirt or windrows remaining.

And are you going to sit there and tell us that you don't get some enjoyment out of 'making it happen' with your favorite rump steak up there in the seat, surrounded by dust, smoke, noise, diesel fumes and using your own God-given eyes, hands and judgement to get the machine to do your bidding? Takes yer back, don't it?

Remember, some of us have watched you with a Cat-n-can, a scraper, a dozer and a blade. There ain't a whole lotta people who will chalk up 40,000 plus float miles just to have that kinda fun atta show and then the same to get all the gear back home again. For which I for one thank you very much.

Just my 0.02.

Hey Team,

Found a good video of an accident. This would be a good place to have a remote controlled Cat...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HfLyjK3XA64


Glen