ROBODOZER: Remoted Bulldozer for Training and Human Factors Evaluation

The FRC is teamed with the IUOE to develop a remoted Caterpillar D4 bulldozer (CAT 850C shown above) for the purpose of interfacing it to the ROBOCON system. The goal will be to use the platform as a heavy earthmovbing system to train IUOE operators and to experiment with human factors parameters to optimize human performance. The ultimate goal is to compare the performance of a human operator sitting in the same machine, to that of a remotely-located operator with simple visual and numeric feedback, motion-platform chair, etc. These results will be immensely useful to several agencies intending to perform remote excavation operations, and will aid in the training of future remote equipment operators.