Teleo, a leader in heavy equipment automation, has partnered with Storm Equipment to introduce the United States’ first commercially available remote-operated and autonomous industrial snow plow. The system retrofits existing equipment—demonstrated on a John Deere 332G skid-steer with Storm’s Metal Pless blade—with Teleo’s Supervised Autonomy technology, enabling mass snow clearing in large commercial areas like parking lots.
Flexible Retrofit for Existing Fleets
The innovative solution works with virtually any make and model of heavy equipment, allowing snow contractors to transform their current fleets without purchasing new machines. Operators can control multiple plows remotely from a centralized command center, dramatically improving working conditions compared to traditional overnight cab operations. Initial deployments will feature remote operation, with full autonomous capabilities rolling out in early 2024.
Game-Changing Productivity Gains
“One operator can now manage equipment across multiple sites—even different states—with the click of a button,” explains Jordan Smith of Storm Equipment. The system potentially quadruples workforce productivity, helping contractors overcome chronic labor shortages. The intuitive controls may also expand the labor pool, allowing individuals without heavy equipment experience—including those with gaming skills—to operate plows remotely.
Year-Round Equipment Utilization
The technology enables dual-purpose use of equipment fleets—handling materials like gravel in warmer months and converting to snow removal in winter. Teleo CEO Vinay Shet emphasizes this creates “a realistic solution for companies of all sizes” by maximizing return on existing machinery investments. The scalable system maintains full manual operation capabilities when needed.
Expanding Autonomous Applications
Following successful deployments in construction and material handling, Teleo’s snow plow system represents the company’s latest innovation in heavy equipment automation. With a growing global dealer network, including partner RDO Equipment Co., Teleo continues demonstrating how supervised autonomy can transform traditional industries facing labor challenges and efficiency demands.
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