Driving a major leap forward in autonomous technology, Caterpillar recently announced at CES 2026 the introduction of intelligent machines engineered to transform construction operations worldwide. The company will also spotlight its autonomy journey at the upcoming Conexpo 2026.

“By embedding autonomy into construction workflows, we’re reshaping the industry to achieve safer jobsites, better jobs and easy precision that redefines productivity for the modern jobsite,” said Jaime Mineart, chief technology officer of Caterpillar.

The intelligent product lines will include:

• Excavators: autonomous trenching, loading, grading and more.

• Loaders: material handling and truck loading, powered by autonomous navigation and real-time data processing.

• Haul trucks: off-road machines that carry and distribute massive amounts of materials like rock, soil and minerals.

• Dozers: precision grading and earthmoving for optimal efficiency.

• Compactors: automated surface preparation, ensuring consistent quality and safety for construction.

• Site optimisation: Cat VisionLink and Cat MineStar site systems connect fleets and enable coordinated, intelligent operations across the jobsite.

According to Caterpillar, its autonomous solutions are built on a foundation of AI, machine learning, computer vision and edge computing that process sensor data in real time and serve as a digital nervous system for customers’ jobsites. Integrated LiDAR, radar, GPS and high-resolution cameras provide a 360-degree, constantly updated digital view of the jobsite, enabling precise and reliable autonomous operations – even in complex and chaotic environments.

A journey of over three decades

Caterpillar has been at the forefront of automation for more than 30 years. The company’s entry into autonomy began in the 1980s with a partnership with Carnegie Mellon, developing software, GPS and perception systems that led to Caterpillar’s first autonomous truck tests.

In the 1990s, Caterpillar teams advanced capabilities in sensing, positioning and control that became the foundation of autonomous operations today. By the mid-2000s, the company advanced real-world testing under extreme conditions, and, as a result, Caterpillar is one of the first to deliver Level 4 autonomy: machines that operate independently.

Today, Caterpillar’s autonomous mining fleet is one of the largest and most proven in the world, having safely moved over 11 billion t of material and travelled more than 380 million km. “Together with our customers, we’re transforming the industries we serve –one jobsite, one breakthrough, one bold idea at a time,” said Ms Mineart.

All images and video: Caterpillar