In this week’s video of the week, we are going to take a look at the SFINX, an imaginative concept excavator developed by the Swedish heavy machinery operator Volvo:
Volvo Excavator Concept Machine
The computer animated video shows what an excavator might look like at some point in the future. It includes a glass-encased cabin that is lifted hydraulically into place, a laser guided virtual safety belt, and an aerodynamic design. It also has independent-operating treaded tracks that can rotate 360 degrees, and high speed transport.
Most impressive, however, is that the cabin can be detached from the main vehicle and the operator can control the vehicle remotely. In the video, the operator sends his excavator to work in a biohazard area while he mans the controls from a safe distance away, monitoring the operation through video screens, but it could just as easily be operated in an alien atmosphere, such as on the surface of the moon or on Mars.
Although if that were possible, couldn’t the vehicle be operated remotely all the time? Sort of like a drone excavator? That would require less labor and would reduce the risk of injury and danger to the operators in the field because there wouldn’t need to be operators in field.
While the concept vehicle is still just an idea at this point, this type of futuristic imagining is what leads to innovation and the invention of new practices and accessories. Plus it’s always fun to think about what the future will look like.