Robotic Skid-Steer First Of Its Kind

Robotic Skid-Steer First Of Its Kind TRACTORS New Tractors 19-1-17 Two exclusive features separate Jim Dedrick's revolutionary Robo-Cat from all other skid-steer loaders: • It has no driver's seat. You control it with with a hand-held transmitter-receiver equipped with two "joy" sticks ù one to control directional movement of the Robo-Cat, and one to raise, lower and dump its front-mounted bucket. The transmitter is programmable with 7 different functions. • It's the smallest skid steer on the market, designed to go places you can't get to with conventional skid-steer loaders ù in-side buildings, and through narrow doors and alleyways. The pint-size Robo-Cat (34 in. wide, 54 in. high and 8 ft. long) uses a rear-mounted, low-emissions 16 hp Briggs and Stratton "Vanguard" gas engine to power a 3-gear sectional pump, one pump for each of the two hydrostatic motors and one pump for the lift bucket," explains inventor Dedrick. "With a TV camera mounted on the Robo-Cat, you can be up to 2 miles away and still be able to control the loader with precision accuracy and dexterity. It only takes a few hours of practice to get the hang of it," says Diedrick. `Your wife or teenage son or daughter can do it." With the Robo-Cat and remote control electronic guidance system he's developed, you can scoop snow, dirt or manure right from the comfort of your living room , or the cab of your pickup. What's more, you can steer the "driverless" loader into areas considered unsafe for conventional skid-steers because of steep terrain, toxic waste or gases, and other hazards. "What's nice about this guidance system is that it's totally fail safe. If anything hap-pens to the signal coming to it, or if an-other signal tries to take over command, the entire system shuts down automatically on the spot. If the operator would happen to trip and fall, sending the transmitter flying, the system would instantly shut down. " The front bucket raises to a height of 6 ft., 3 in. and mounts or dismounts in a matter of seconds, allowing you to match bucket size to the job. Other attachments you can use on the 2,000 pound Robo-Cat include snow blowers, post hole diggers, lawn mowers , grapple forks and cement mixers. Here's another key feature: Using the electronic guidance system he's developed for the Robo-Cat, Dedrick can equip your conventional skid-steer loader, regardless of make, model or vintage, for remote control. "With this technology, I can remote control other equipment as well ù anything from a lawn mower to an earth mover." The Robo-Cat, slated for commercial production by the fall of 1995, is expected to retail for $17,000 to $20,000, including about $7,000 for the guidance system. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jim Dedrick, Robo-Cat Dept., Hydraulic Specialty Co., 1131 72nd Ave. N.E., Minneapolis, MN 55432 (ph 1-800 622-0788, or 612 571-2330).

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