With the evolution rate of technologies, earthmoving equipment users are
establishing vision statements for their operation out to and in some cases
beyond 2000. Autonomous systems are receiving a lot of 'press' - and rightly so, as
they hold a potential for achieving quantum leaps in productivity and cost
gains. Caterpillar feels that it is important that the infrastructure of
on-board systems are understood and can be utilised more in the near
term to `grow' a user up to the stage of autonomous operation.