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Q1 2023
PitchBook Analyst Note: Autonomous and Remote-Controlled Heavy Equipment
March 22, 2023
Startups have opening to break ground on self-driving heavy equipment
Self-driving vehicles bristling with sensors are no longer a surprising sight on the street, even in busy traffic. But what about on a construction site? While Caterpillar and other heavy-equipment manufacturing leaders have been exploring driverless systems for specialized use, startups have a broad avenue of opportunity to revolutionize the global construction industry and introduce solutions anywhere heavy equipment is used.
In our latest analyst note, PitchBook senior analyst Jonathan Geurkink lays out the potential, including how this technology could free up workers as the labor market tightens, enable more precise operation of machinery, and reduce injuries or deaths.
Table of contents
Self-driving vehicles bristling with sensors are no longer a surprising sight on the street, even in busy traffic. But what about on a construction site? While Caterpillar and other heavy-equipment manufacturing leaders have been exploring driverless systems for specialized use, startups have a broad avenue of opportunity to revolutionize the global construction industry and introduce solutions anywhere heavy equipment is used.
In our latest analyst note, PitchBook senior analyst Jonathan Geurkink lays out the potential, including how this technology could free up workers as the labor market tightens, enable more precise operation of machinery, and reduce injuries or deaths.
Table of contents
| Key takeaways | 1 |
| Stagnant productivity and contracting labor makes sector ripe for change | 2 |
| Autonomous technology is digging in | 3 |
| Startups in autonomous heavy equipment | 5 |