In recent years, the large skid steering category (ROC 2,200 pounds and above) may have lost some participants, but manufacturers have not lost interest in providing managers and operators with the latest technology to improve efficiency and productivity.

Since the construction equipment company last inspected the group in 2018, Takeuchi and Volvo Construction Equipment have stopped selling skid steer loaders in North America. A Liugong spokesperson said that they will not promote skid steer loaders here at this time.

Based on the products of some of the most active manufacturers, some of the latest technologies for large skid steer loaders are in line with the four major trends.

These OEMs have integrated technical functions for telematics, operator comfort, grade control and "smart" accessories.

"We have seen industry trends that favor remote access to critical machine information," said Luke Gribble, John Deere Solutions Marketing Manager.

Like many skid steer manufacturers, Deere provides its own telematics solutions to provide operators with important machine information.

"This type of solution helps our operators master machine monitoring and ultimately helps the machine run better and extend its service life," Gribble said. "JDLink [Telematics] also helps operators quickly contact local dealers for machine inspections and mark potential maintenance cycles in advance to improve overall uptime and productivity."

Gribble said that technology around operator comfort is another trending area.

"Operators want to feel comfortable and confident that they can work in any situation without sacrificing work safety. As comfortable cab conditions and improved camera technology become the standard for compact equipment, it will become a help to improve the job site An important factor in productivity," Gribble said.

Automating common repetitive tasks also fits the comfort equation. Functions that were once reserved for wheel loaders, excavators, graders and bulldozers have gradually been applied to skid steer.

“The EH boom performance kit on our large frame G-series skid steer can automate repetitive tasks and improve efficiency and safety on the job site,” Gribble said. "The software package provides a variety of functions that can help reduce cycle time, speed up production, and increase job site awareness by automating repetitive functions."

The two skid steer manufacturers have added ride control as their latest technology, with some notable changes. One is automatic, and the other increases the response of the loading arm.

"Autonomous driving control is our latest feature that improves operator comfort and convenience," said Adam Devins, Wacker Neuson skid steering product manager. "When activated, the ride control system will engage when the operator is driving and disengage when the operator moves the lift arm. Automatic ride control reduces material spillage, provides a more cushioned ride, and eliminates the need to repeatedly open and close the ride control need."

Blanke Burroughs, Kubota CE product expert, said the Kubota Shockless Ride (KSR) system reduces operator fatigue by softening driving and reducing the amount of load lost when driving on rough terrain. "When it is opened, the loader arm reduces its rigidity by entering a floating operation," Burroughs said. "KSR improves comfort by absorbing more terrain bumps and vibrations, so that more material remains in the bucket and less on the ground."

Deere’s two large skid steer loaders (330G and Deere 332G) provide slope control assistance because they have optional on-board slope indications that provide machine lateral slope (rolling) and main descent slope (pitch)-cab monitoring器display.

"These can be viewed in degrees or percentages and allow real-time slope checks from the machine cab, reducing the need for people outside the cab to check the slope," Gribble said. "This is a fully integrated solution, meaning that no additional hardware or software is required."

The latest Caterpillar skid steering model D3 series supports a series of so-called smart accessories.

"This advanced machine technology enables the machine to recognize when smart accessories are connected and customize control and operator information to match the tool and task," said Kevin Coleman, Cat Senior Product Specialist. "By providing simple and intuitive operation for these new grading and excavation accessories, this integration can increase machine utilization and better finished products."

Coleman said three things make smart technology and accessories work: accessory identification, customized control, and special information/control screens.

"Smart technology starts with'plug and play' accessory recognition, which means that the machine knows when the smart accessory is connected," Coleman said. "It also knows which smart accessory is connected. Press the button and the operator can enter accessory control mode.

"Once the accessory control mode is entered, the existing joystick control of the machine will change from the traditional drive/tool ​​control function, but now it is converted to meet the control needs of the connected specific smart accessory," Coleman said. 

"This allows the joystick control of the machine to be customized, and now it can provide specific control operations for the recognized smart accessories, and does not require additional controls or complex button/trigger/switch presses to control traditionally difficult to operate and control Content hydraulic mechanical tools," Coleman said.

"This intuitive control allows the operator to focus on using and manipulating accessories in a more natural way, instead of having to focus on complicated buttons and control buttons to operate accessories."

Coleman said other operator controls and information can be found on a special display on the advanced display monitor in the cab.

"Simply press the button again, and the operator will return to the machine control mode, and the joystick will return to the original drive and realize the control function."

Caterpillar smart accessories for skid steer loaders include smart backhoes and smart graders with assist functions.

For the backhoe, the joystick controls in the cab are converted to allow control of the boom, stick, bucket, swing, stabilizer movement, and side shift. "Operators can select their preferred control mode, excavator or backhoe, through the display in the cab," Coleman said.

Accessories can be added to the end of the smart backhoe, including hammers, thumbs, compaction plates and augers, all of which are controlled by the existing joystick in the cab.

"Because of this integration, the backhoe attachment can be operated without removing the door, allowing safer and more comfortable operation in the integrated, sealed and pressurized cab," Coleman said. "No more worry about rain, cold or heat."

Cat says the smart grader with assist functions is designed for grading dirt, gravel, sand and almost any other substrate. Once the accessory recognition allows the operator to convert the in-cab joystick to the identified accessory needs, the left joystick will maintain control of the machine's drive functions, while the right joystick will change to operate the accessory.

"The forward and backward movement of the right-hand joystick raises and lowers the blade," Coleman said. "When the operator moves the right joystick from the center to the left or right, to the left or to the right, the blade will tilt to the left or right, respectively. The thumb wheel tilts the blade to the left or right.

"In addition to being smart, the grader blade also enhances performance and functionality with cross-slope assistance," Coleman said. "After enabling the lateral slope assist, the operator selects the desired lateral slope of the blade by placing the blade in the desired position

“The advanced display in the cab provides the operator with information about the lateral slope of the blade and the angle of blade rotation,” Coleman explained. "The accessory will then automatically work to maintain the required slope. Smart Grader can also be used in conjunction with a 2D or 3D external reference system to obtain a higher level of grading accuracy."

Another technical achievement is the 8-inch display on Case Construction Equipment's B-series skid steer.

"Visibility is a very important consideration when operating on a busy job site," said George MacIntyre, Case Skid Steering and CTL Product Manager. "For this reason, we have adopted a split-screen 8-inch LCD multi-function color display with a reversing camera as standard equipment on all B series skid steers with EH control devices. The camera can be used for forward and The reverse operation can be viewed in a split screen together with other operating data and machine settings. This is the industry's first."

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