Cat^® Command: Technology from Cab to Console

In a big step forward for demolition work, Caterpillar's Cat® Command remote-control system has been successfully paired with a Cat 340 UHD (Ultra High Demolition) excavator. The result? A machine that offers a whole new level of safety, control, and flexibility on high-risk job sites.  

This world first came about thanks to a request from construction firm BS Tiefbau AG, which had just purchased a new Cat® 340 UHD from Cat Dealer Avesco and wanted to know if it could be equipped with Cat Command LOS (line-of-sight).

Michael Ziegler, Project Manager at Avesco, based in Langenthal, Switzerland, led the project. As LOS on a UHD machine had never been done before, a few additional functions needed to be programmed. "In addition to the hardware, we received test software, which was further developed and refined based on our feedback." The whole process took several months but was a complete success. 

"The finished setup includes a Caterpillar retrofit kit with everything needed: console, receiver, antennas, and control interfaces," Ziegler explains. "It gives the operator full control of the machine from a safe distance outside the cab. That's a huge boost for safety."

But safety is only part of the story. With remote control, Ziegler says, comes a whole new approach to site planning. "You can use the machine in spots that used to be off-limits. And you've got more options for where the operator can stand to get the best view of the work. It makes the whole process more flexible and efficient."

For Kilian Walpen, Avesco's Service and Sales Consultant, it is the collective teamwork and collaboration that he's most proud of. "This shows that Caterpillar, Avesco and our customers are very innovative. Amazingly, it is now possible to order a machine with such a remote control solution that works perfectly."

BS Tiefbau AG put the system to the test for the first time at a particularly tight demolition site in Zermatt. 

Remote control was especially useful; narrow spaces and unstable ground conditions presented a daily challenge. Luis Pinto, one of the operators on the site, not only appreciated how easy it was to adjust to using remote control but also how much safer it made his job. "The project in Zermatt was dangerous because of its proximity to the railroad station and the main road. You have to be very careful that no debris falls on either. But with the remote control, I was able to view the difficult situations from different perspectives and assess them better while working."

Both Avesco and BS Tiefbau AG see significant potential in Cat Command. "For us at Avesco, this shows we're serious about leading the way in practical innovation," says Ziegler. "And we're looking forward to shaping where this tech goes next."

Schaller agrees. "We expect it to really help drive productivity on future jobs. It lets us work through dust, noise, even bad weather, without stopping."

And what about future improvements? "We're happy with it as it is," Schaller says. "But we're excited to see what Caterpillar adds next. This already feels like a game-changer."