The AED Foundation announced the release of a research report on the impact of autonomous technology on the business models of Associated Equipment Distributors’ members and their customers.
“A Study of the Impact of Autonomous Technology” was created by Ontario-based CAVCOE, formerly the Canadian Automated Vehicles Centre of Excellence, on behalf of the AED Foundation. The research results show that there are multiple initiatives leading to automation and electrification in the heavy equipment space. The overall impact will not be the sudden arrival of automated heavy equipment in all sectors of the market. Instead, there will likely be incremental advances, such as driver assistance systems, and certain applications within each market being automated first because they are easier to automate.
Other key findings include:
- Transition from diesel engines to electric motors and batteries. In the next 10 to 15 years, based on exponential trends, it is estimated that more than 80 percent of heavy equipment machinery will be powered by electric powertrains and will have systems centric to autonomous operation.
- These technology disruptors will require the heavy equipment industry to develop a new type of technician.
- Rapid rate of technology advancement today, and in the future, will impact business and operational models for all AED members.
Download the full report here.