What Does Bobcat’s Remote Disable Feature Mean For Security?

Over the past year, we have seen Bobcat go all-in on Industry 4.0 with their autonomous loader concept, but a recent update that enables remote operation has generated a lot of attention and healthy debate within the sector.

As part of Doosan Bobcat’s Machine IQ telematics service, the Remote Engine Enable/Disable feature enables customers to remotely turn the engine of their Bobcat digger on or off as required.

It is available with some more recent compact models out of the factory, whilst others can be made compatible with an aftermarket kit.

It is potentially the most significant update for Machine IQ since its initial rollout in 2023, allowing not only remote monitoring and maintenance but also remote security.

When the Remote Engine Disable option is applied, it will stop any attempts to start the engine and shift it into a derate mode that significantly reduces power.

The most obvious benefit of this is to reduce theft, as the engine can either be shut off at the end of a working day or alternatively can be shut off as soon as the Bobcat is discovered to be missing, which alongside tracking information can make it easier to recover.

Alongside this, however, it can help enforce safe operation, as the engine can be turned off in response to unsafe or unauthorised use, halting potential danger before it starts.

This comes alongside tracking idle times, fuel consumption and maintenance notifications.

Whether it is worth it for owners and operators depends on the particular worksite. If there are already effective security procedures in place to prevent misuse then it might not be necessary, although it can help provide peace of mind for not only the people using it but also insurers.

It also highlights that the remote systems are not just a matter of providing real-time diagnostic information but also add the potential for remote connectivity, and bring the potential of the RogueX concept’s remote operation to fruition.