IAI Gets Autonomous Dozer Contract

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) said it has won a contract for the conversion of Caterpillar dozers into autonomous machines that will be commissioned for complex engineering tasks in dangerous areas. The new autonomous system belongs to a family of robotic solutions developed by the Israeli company.

“The autonomous dozer takes us additional step further in providing the necessary readiness level for the future battlefield,” said Meir Shabtai, general manager of Robotic Systems Div., IAI. “It allows effective and efficient execution of complex engineering assignments over prolonged periods of time with no human intervention, thus significantly reducing the risk for humans. The unique technology was developed by IAI over the past decade, offering a major breakthrough in autonomous capabilities, in particular for challenging off-road conditions.”

The technology for unmanned vehicles can be integrated in a range of platforms based on the customer’s needs, said the company. The autonomous dozer will provide various degrees of autonomy for a range of applications including the removal of suspicious obstacles without risking lives. IAI said the system has object detection and avoidance capabilities and is designed to work in all weather and visibility conditions.