Autonomous machines are not merely the fanciful stuff of far-flung iron ore mines in Australia- they are slowly gaining advocates here in North America-where we will see smaller, familiar pieces of equipment run autonomously and find homes on the job sites of the not-too-distant future. The technology, a natural progression from the GPS, telematics, and machine-control offerings already helping fleets be more productive and efficient, is continually being refined, and early adopters willing to experiment with it report that autonomous machines show promise. As with all tech, proven performance and a positive effect on the bottom line will drive acceptance.
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