All language subtitles for Tomorrows.World.Today.S04E04.Empty.Drivers.Seat.720p.WEBRip.x264-KOMPOST_track3_[eng]

[narrator] Welcome.

You may have seen autonomous
cars driving on the road.

But, did you know that
autonomous mining vehicles

have been around for decades.

On this episode of
Tomorrow's World Today

we'll visit
the world of production.

Where we will learn about
the past, present,

and future of autonomous mining.

Here's our host, George Davison.

When I was a kid my brother and I were always
playing with our toy construction vehicles.

You know, we were always pretending
we were building these superstructures.

And then we went high tech.

And we went from analog
to digital and remote control.

Well, today the world of remote
control vehicles has grown.

Literally. I'm talking
huge mining machines.

Trench diggers.

Loaders, rock trucks.

All operate remotely,
with nobody in them.

I wanna know all about it.

So what we're gonna do is, send one
of our creative correspondents to Illinois,

to talk with the people
at Caterpillar.

We wanna know about their
history and see how they decided

to get into making driverless
construction vehicles.

We're gonna go explore.

How they develop and test
different autonomous vehicles.

For use in the mining industry.

And how they can be used
in fields like construction.

We're gonna shed some light

on where this technology
is headed

and what the future of
autonomous vehicles might look like.

It's gonna be a big job.

But I'm sure we can handle it.

[David] I'm so excited to
be here, at one of the oldest

most iconic companies
in the world.

This is Caterpillar.

I'm here at the visitor's
center in Peoria, Illinois

where we'll be learning
construction and mining

are leveraging innovations
to promote safety

and the precision of
the machines

that can utilize
autonomous technology.

I'm going to meet with
Denise Johnson,

the group president
of Caterpillar.

She'll be taking us through
a history lesson

to help us understand
this evolution.

Denise. It's so good
to meet you.

Dave, welcome.

We're so happy to host you at
the visitor's center in our home town.

So when I think of Caterpillar
I think about big machinery.

I don't necessarily think
about autonomous vehicles.

Could you kinda walk me through the
innovations in the history of your company

and how you've gotten here.

Well, David, Caterpillar's had
over a 100 years

of experience in innovation.

And those innovations are very
focused on adding customer value.

So, I would love to take you through
that history. Why don't we go see it?

Let's go.

So, we were created by two
pioneering founding fathers.

C.L. Best and Benjamin Holt.

They came together to form

what is now known today
as Caterpillar.

Okay, so you start with a
company Best and a company Holt.

How does that combine
to be Caterpillar.

Well, it's a really
interesting story

and it's one that involves
innovation.

Okay.

So, as Caterpillar was
developing on new products

one of the first most innovative

and never seen before products
was the track.

That track was used to push
the machine across the field.

And a photographer saw that.

Thought it looked like
a caterpillar.

And the name stuck.

Well, he was right. It
does look like a caterpillar.

[Denise] It does.

I'd like to continue to show you
some of the newest innovations.

Some of the best innovations
we have at Caterpillar today.

- Sounds great.
- Let's go.

So, Dave, this was the innovation
that I wanted to show you.

This is our 797
large mining truck.

Where's the truck?

It's right here.

- What? This?
- Look up.

This building?

[exclaiming]
This building is a truck.

Well, it's a life-size replica
of our large mining truck.

And it is an enormous machine.

Oh, it's huge.
It's an absolute monster.

Is what it is.

Well, it's leveraged
in mining markets

everywhere around the world.

And it really is an enormous
piece of equipment.

In fact, you know, if you look at some of the
specifications, from a gross power perspective

over 4,000 horse power.

Operating weight of over
a million pounds.

It stands 25 feet high
and 32 feet in width.

So, it is an enormous machine

used around the world
for mining applications.

And it's really exciting.

But what's even more exciting is the innovation
that we are putting inside this truck.

So, let me show you exactly
what I'm talking about.

- Let's take a little walk back here.
- All right.

So, Dave, the innovation
that I wanted you to see

was autonomy,

as a technology that we placed
on this large mining truck.

As you look at the truck,
from the front,

you see that there's a lot of
blinking lights and sensors.

At the top,

the blue blinking light means
that is in autonomous mode.

No people are in the machine
when it's blinking blue.

That's insane to think that
somebody is not driving

this massive truck.

Well, in order to integrate
the technology,

there's a lot of sensors
that are located on this

in combination with software.

You see the spinning Lidar.

And here at the bottom you see
three radar.

So, there are number of other sensors
throughout the large mining truck,

which keep it in position and
object detection is known.

But I really want you
to learn about autonomy

from the ground up.

And so, I'm gonna send you to
the Mossville validation center,

to meet with
a few of our engineers,

to talk a little bit about remote
control. Are you up for that?

Yeah, that sounds great.

Okay, let's go.

Alan, great to meet you.

David, welcome to the design
visualization center.

Are we playing video games
today?

Not today. Today we're gonna
talk about remote control

and this is
the first building block

on the path to autonomy.

- So come with me.
- Yeah.

David.

What we have here

is our remote control console.

Here you're gonna see

Geoff running

a small wheel loader
in North Carolina live.

- So we're in Illinois.
- That's correct.

- That's incredible.
- [Alan] It is.

As you'll see he's using the high
definition machine mounted cameras,

with very few blind spots
to operate the machine.

He has a better view than
he would inside the cabin.

Well, some of the benefits that
I'm seeing is enhanced safety,

uh, the fact that
Geoff has a very cool job,

and the fact that he has
a better home life.

Because he can go home at
night instead of being a state away.

Absolutely. Would
you like to give it a try?

Yeah, that's what I've been
looking forward to.

- [Alan] Let's do this.
- All right.

[David] Well, Geoff, thank you
so much for the training.

I, uh...

Look forward to seeing you that
my training actually helped you here.

[chuckles]
We're about to find out.

So, I'm gonna have you do
your challenge to see

can you get a good full bucket.

-All right. Challenge accepted.
-[Geoff] Good.

All right. So, I'm gonna go
in forward here.

All right.

Okay, let's back up
just a little bit.

[David] Okay.

Backing up.

[Geoff] That's good.

[David] All right.

[Geoff] Bucket down.

Bucket down.

I think that's a winner.

[Geoff] I think so.

Nicely done.

- Thank you, guys.
- [Geoff] Absolutely.

- All right.
- Ready for a new career?

[David chuckles]

[narrator] So far we've looked
at the history and innovation

that has led to the development

of CAT command
remote control technology.

Now we're ready to take it
to the next level.

Autonomous vehicles.

So, welcome to our
virtual minestar control room.

This is a very impressive room.

What actually happens here?

Yeah, so you just saw
remote control machines.

Um, in here, the system runs
the machines,

and we just monitor them.

[David] So, what actually are
you monitoring?

[Andrew] We're monitoring
autonomous vehicles.

And we actually have a couple running out at
our test track, if you'd like to see them.

- Yeah, absolutely.
- All right.

- [Andrew] Welcome to the test track.
- [David] Oh, thank you.

So, this is where we first start to bring
the autonomy building blocks together

for the first time.

Uh, we've got autonomous SUV's
back behind the building here.

And they are basically running like
autonomous trucks would in a mine.

We've got support equipment
like a...

like a loader here who's
pretending to load the truck.

And we've got different
dump areas around the mine.

So, why do you use the SUV's
instead of a full size vehicle?

[Andrew] Yeah, so the SUV's
burn less fuel,

Uh, they're smaller,
easier to use.

And we can test about 90%
of the functionality

of autonomy on them, before
we ever put it on a machine.

The systems you're testing here

same as you use on the
full size vehicle in the field.

It is. It is the exact same
software and hardware

that you'd find on
an autonomous truck.

Now, do these have drivers?

So, you'll see check drivers in
there. They're really just passengers.

They're just there
if we need them.

- So, you wanna go take a ride?
- Yeah, I guess.

- Let's do it.
- All right.

[David] So, it's a little crazy.

[Andrew] They look a lot more
graceful

- in there than they actually are in here.
- [David] Yeah,

you actually get in, there's a
little bit of a bronco buck going on.

[David chuckles]

[David] How does the Lidar
and the radar work together?

[Andrew] Yeah, so, the Lidar can
see further and it's higher up, right?

And so it's basically putting together
a 3-D map of everything around it.

And then, the radars are used
for a little shorter distance.

Um, also they can see
in different... scenarios.

Like, the Lidar doesn't see
very well in fog,

because you wouldn't expect
light to see very well through...

But, the radars can see right through
that. It doesn't bother them at all.

So, they work together.
Basically, they're kinda...

To kinda complement each other.

[David] So, what's happening
right now?

[Andrew] So, we're back into
the loader.

And the loader operator is gonna
put a couple of loads of, um...

material in the back of us.

[David] So, this is simulating what
would actually happen in the field.

[Andrew] That's right.
That's right.

So, he's got a panel in there
that allows him to tell us

exactly where
he wants us to stop.

And then, the system actually
tracks the material that gets put in.

And then when he sends
this out, the system says okay

I need that material
taken to this dump and then

- the truck heads out to that dump.
- [David] Okay.

Are these vehicles
communicating to each other?

Or is this all pre-programmed?

[Andrew] So, they all
communicate through the main office,

and the main office
is telling them where to go.

The system also monitors how
close they can get to each other.

Each truck is monitoring what
the other trucks are doing.

And if anything looks like it could
potentially cause a collision, they'll stop.

[David] The process of
the safety driver

in case something would go
haywire with the system,

is it difficult for him
to grab a hold of this system?

[Andrew] It is not. He's got...

He's got one button
he has to press

and then he's got full control
of gas, brake and the steering.

[David] All right. When you
get out to the actual field,

are there always a
safety driver in the vehicle?

[Andrew] There's not. Um...

At the customer site, you
very seldom put a driver in

unless we're specifically
asking them to test something.

[David] How long can these
systems run without stop?

[Andrew] Um, they can run
until they need fuel.

Basically.
So, a mine site will, uh...

pull them into a fuel bay,

about every 24 hours to fuel them
up and send them right back out.

[David] So, your system
can run non-stop.

It's the vehicle that determines
the length of the connection.

[Andrew] That's right, yeah.

[David] Where do you see
this technology heading

as we head into the future?

[Andrew] In mining at least,

the more we can get people
out of harm's way,

I think the better off we'll be.

So, if there's any kind of
role in a mine,

where there are safety issues.

We can automate that and get
those people out into a safer place.

Get them a...
Get them a different job,

having things in
a safer location.

I think that's where
I see us heading.

So, what do you think?

- Well, first, incredible technology.
- [Andrew] Thank you.

With that said, it was
a little weird to get used to.

But, I'm very impressed with
what that's you're doing here.

Nice. Well, if you thought
that was impressive, uh,

we're gonna send you
to our Tucson proving grounds.

Where you'll get to see
the actual mining trucks.

Big mining trucks driving
without a driver.

-[David] That sounds great.
-[Andrew] All right, yeah. Let's go.

- All right.
- Yeah.

David!

Michael, good to meet you
in person.

Great to see you.
Welcome to sunny Tucson.

Thank you, I'm enjoying it.
It's much warmer than Peoria.

Hey, we're glad you're here.

I got some great things
in store.

We can go see
some of our machines.

And I got a special surprise
So, come on. Let's go.

All right, let's go.

Autonomy is all about approved
safety, productivity and consistency.

The autonomous system allows us
to get the most out of our machines.

It allows us to get the data,

that allows people to make
good informed decisions

and run the mine.

Why don't we go take
a closer look at the machine.

Okay, this is the 793F
haul truck.

This thing is fitted with a CAT
autonomous haulage solution system.

Here is the monster
I've been waiting to see.

This thing is beautiful.

Absolutely. Let me tell you
a little bit about

how you'd know this is
an autonomous truck.

First of all, if you look up top,
you can see those GPS antennas.

That gives us the ability of
accurate position and heading.

Then if you look...
back around here

you can see
the equipment cabinet.

That's the cabinet with all the
computers and all the brain power.

Finally, if you look out front
we have the sensors.

There's radar and Lidar sensors.

Those give the machine the
ability to perceive the world around it.

So, why do you utilize
both Lidar and radar?

[Michael]
That's a good question.

We have to use both sensors
cause we need to be able to see far,

and we need it to be able
to see through dust,

fog, rain, snow, all
the environmental conditions.

That makes complete sense to me.

Absolutely. One more thing
you need to know.

There's mode lights on
the side of the truck there.

If there's a flashing blue light

that means this thing
is in autonomous mode.

Flashing green, manual mode.

You're gonna need to know that.

Because we're gonna go see
a machine operating right now.

You may even get a ride.

[David] Oh, come on, let's go.

Okay, Michael, I definitely did not
expect this when Denise sent me.

That huge machine...

It's moving just like
it has a driver...

a human driver, but there's no
human driver inside that right now.

[Michael] That's right, David. It's
fully autonomous the truck's doing all

the driving as the truck's
operating,

uh, it's managing all the things
that the operator would do.

And that's, you know, speeds
so engine speed, throttle control

the appropriate gear
that it needs to be in

whether it is descending
or ascending the hill.

And even the braking.
All that is managed, uh,

by the on board computers.

So, this is actually the largest
mechanical drive mining truck in the world.

Payload's 400 tons.

This thing sits 25 feet tall,
31 feet wide.

And it sits on six tires,
they're 13 feet tall.

So, this machine is gonna
operate all day and night,

Uh, not need to take any breaks.

And it obeys all the rules
of the road.

[David] So, there's no changes
to its schedule.

It does the same thing
every pass.

[Michael] That's right David.
It's consistent.

It does the same thing
day in and day out every time.

And it's completely safe to have a
vehicle that heavy and that massive

moving at 45 miles an hour.

[David] What makes it that safe?

[Michael] The machines themselves
are designed to run at that speed.

And now what we've done
with autonomy

is to made sure that we've
put on the right technology

to be able to perceive
the environment

far enough ahead.

So that we can run the trucks
at that speed

And still stop for any obstacle
that the truck might see.

[David] There's just so much
technology going on.

Not just the autonomy, but just
the technology of that vehicle itself.

I'm just very impressed
with everything.

[Michael] That's right, David. Actually
that's one of the largest robots in the world.

Caterpillar has packed
so much technology

onto this machine, to make it
a very smart machine.

That technology has to be hard

and we have to be able to
operate in harsh environments.

24 hours a day,
seven days a week

and make money
for our customers.

Michael, I got incredible news
from George.

I'm very excited about this.

I told them about everything
that I was doing on my trip.

And he wanted to hear more
from Denise.

So, he invited her
to Pittsburgh and she's going.

So, he gave me two more days
for whatever I wanna do.

And what I would like to do is
learn how to drive this big boy.

Wow, great. Well, hey,
based on you excavator skills

it may take us two days.
Let's do it.

[chuckles] Okay.

- Hi, Denise.
- Hi George.

I'm assuming that

you're the one
who sent me that truck.

Yes, I thought you would
really enjoy

getting to be a part
of the autonomy action.

Well, I don't think it's right
that David is the only one

that gets to play in
the autonomy world. So...

Thank you for sending it.

And by the way, I hear he's
staying out there for a while longer.

He wants to try out
every vehicle you have.

[chuckles] We're thrilled with
how enthusiastic he has been.

Learning about the company,

uh, and operating nearly every
piece of equipment that we build.

So, it's been a great,
great time.

Well, you know the deal right?

It's never stop learning.

[clicks tongue] Absolutely.

So, I understand you have
a few questions for me.

Yes, I do.

Um, I'd like to look
into the future.

I'm really curious about,

where the world is going
in autonomous mining.

Well, George, it's all about
innovation and integration.

And it's not one size fits all.

Hmm.

Well, I know everybody is

talking today about
the environment.

And... kinda where
is the world of

sustainability
and environment going?

Do you have some
thoughts on that?

Well, I tell you, large mining
companies are making very bold goals

around environmental
sustainability.

And so, powering
of the mines of the future

will be with renewables.

And mobile equipment
will run with flex fuels,

it will run with batteries,
it will run with

potentially hydrogen fuel cells.

And all that will be tied
together with autonomy.

So it's a super exciting space
to be a part of.

Wow. Well,
that's a lot of initiatives

to wrap my mind around,
right now.

It sounds like you're making
good advances

- on lots of frontiers. So...
- That we are.

I wanna thank you for coming.

I hope you enjoyed your tour
of Invention land.

The tour was amazing.

Thank you so much
for your hospitality.

You're well-- Hold on, before
you go, I have a gift for you.

[Denise] What do you have?

[George] My family and I
were out west this last year,

and we went into
an old antique store.

And I found this old
pocket watch,

with a Caterpillar award
on the front of it.

That is the medal
that they used to give

to their execs and workers,
as a gift.

And... I had the watch repaired,

when I thought this would be
wonderful to give

to your organization.

Well, it's an incredible piece
of Caterpillar history.

So, thank you so much, George.
I will ensure it

gets a place of honor at our
Caterpillar headquarters.

Thank you from everybody here
in Tomorrow's World Today.

Thank you. Take care.

[narrator] To learn more about
the content in today's episode

visit us online at
www.tomorrowsworldtoday.com