Scott Technology has announced an agreement to develop an automated connection system to support stationary charging of electrified machines.
Scott’s expertise in this space stems from its Robofuel project, which has successfully automated the traditional diesel refuelling process of mining vehicles.
Under the collaboration with Caterpillar, Scott will apply this technology to enable solutions to electrified applications.
The system supports Scott’s and Caterpillar’s commitments to a reduced-carbon future.
“At Scott we are passionate about pursuing a long-term sustainable future together with our customers and wider stakeholders,” Scott Technology chief executive officer John Kippenberger said.
“We are delighted to support Caterpillar’s efforts to provide its customers with solutions that help them meet their sustainability goals.”
Automating the recharging process is crucial, as electric mining vehicles require more recharging interactions than traditional diesel vehicles – automation would therefore ensure a safer and more efficient practice.
“Our world-leading vision-sensing and detection system, combined with our robotic technology, allows the charging process to be completed in a fraction of the time and without manual intervention, eliminating human risk and labour costs while maximising fleet utilisation,” Kippenburger said.
“The collaborative efforts will result in a safer and more efficient solution.”
The agreement follows Caterpillar’s unveiling of its first battery-electric 793 large mining truck earlier this week.
“This demonstration is a significant milestone, and we are excited for these trucks to get to work at customers’ sites around the world in the near future,” Caterpillar’s Resource Industries Group president Denise Johnson said.
The company said it is looking forward to working with Scott Technology on the new innovative system.
“This solution is a building block in our electrification and automation portfolio to provide safer and more efficient solutions to our mining customers,” Caterpillar vice president Brian Weller said.