Oshkosh launches electric vehicles and other technologies for specialty vehicles with safety, quiet and cleanliness in mind

in Consumer Electronics Show 2025 For the first time ever, Oshkosh It has launched a number of niche vehicles with electric power, safety, quietness and hygiene in mind.

It is an example of The trend of non-technical companies Showing up with technology that makes products better but doesn’t take center stage. In this case, the 107-year-old company will bring us electric Postal Service trucks, collision avoidance for first responders, and garbage collection robots.

Oshkosh announced a collision avoidance mitigation system specifically designed to keep first responders and service workers safe while working in high-risk roadside environments. The Oshkosh, Wisconsin-based company also launched artificial intelligence and electrical solutions that improve waste and recycling collection in communities, and an innovative autonomous robot designed to collect waste on demand, reducing weekly chores.

“The value of technology is only as important as the positive impacts it has on our lives and communities,” John Pfeiffer, CEO of Oshkosh, said in a statement. “Oshkosh works closely with our customers to find solutions to the toughest challenges of some of the world’s toughest jobs – from protecting firefighters to reducing pollution to tackling weekly household chores. Our latest solutions use artificial intelligence, autonomous and connected driving, and electrification to transform our neighborhoods and put technology at the service of everyone to make our world Safer, cleaner, quieter and more sustainable.

The company is taking advantage of technology born on racetracks with its PrattMiller division, then taking it into areas such as reducing risk for those working on the road with one or two fire trucks, Pfeiffer said at a news conference.

Pfeiffer said that the company is working on technology for the future airport, the future work site and the future neighborhood.

Smarter airports, postal trucks, and garbage trucks

At airports, anyone can see the inefficiencies of airports such as sitting around due to long lines or delays. AI-driven docks, cargo handling and aircraft parking tools can reduce human errors or delays in getting planes and baggage where they need to be.

iOPS technology can digitally connect the entire gate process to the aircraft and can synchronize everything, reducing the aircraft’s turnaround time by two minutes per flight, based on a test with one airline of 200 aircraft. The cumulative savings in time, efficiency and cost become significant, Pfeiffer said.

To make jobsites safer, Oshkosh makes self-driving vehicles and similar centers that can manage the vehicles so they’re ready when needed. Oshkosh manufactures purpose-built vehicles, such as postal service trucks.

Electric vehicles have problems with unpredictable driving distances and scarcity of EV chargers. But the fleets used by the Postal Service have predictable routes and can be designed to make the most of EV infrastructure. Oshkosh delivers 165,000 vehicles to the USPS, 70% of which are zero-emission electric trucks, Pfeiffer said.

Reducing roadside risks for first responders

Oshkosh noted that first responders and service workers, such as tow truck drivers, are exposed to incredible risks every time they respond to a call involving an active road. more than 250 first responders died of being hit by a vehicle (mostly driven by distracted drivers) while working in the past four years.

To improve the safety of first responders and service workers, Oshkosh developed the Collision Avoidance Mitigation System (CAMS) – the first system designed specifically for roadside emergency scenarios. The CAMS system accurately detects the path, speed and proximity of oncoming vehicles compared to a parked response vehicle using advanced camera technology with artificial intelligence, advanced autonomous driving sensors and radar, Einger said. This technology came from racing company PrattMiller.

The CAMS system provides two to three seconds advance notice of an impending collision, greatly improving the safety of rank-and-file heroes during roadside operations, Einger said. The camera system also records a continuous video feed that supports incident reconstruction and insurance documentation, adding another layer of operational safety.

Whether responding to incidents, providing roadside assistance, or managing snow removal, a CAMS is an essential tool that enhances situational awareness.

Improving neighborhoods through better waste collection and recycling

Oshkosh also introduced three market-leading technologies that complement its McNeilus Volterra ZSL – the first all-electric garbage truck of its kind for waste and recycling collection in North America. Most garbage trucks are outdated in terms of modern safety, comfort and noise pollution, Jay Inger, Oshkosh’s chief technology officer, said at a news conference. But the new truck can do things like detect a trash can and reach it accurately, using a robotic arm to pick it up on the first try. Usually, the driver has to stop and use the joystick to pick up the trash through trial and error.

Oshkosh is working on ways to make electrification, autonomy and artificial intelligence technologies make trash and recycling collection more efficient, Einger said. There are problems such as cross-contamination of recyclables and waste. It is also designed for operator comfort and safety. It also has a new McNeilus Volterra ZFL front loader to complement its side loader.

New technologies include:

• Discover AI-enabled chests: This will allow waste to be collected in a safer and smarter way. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning to enable semi-autonomous bin handling, collection vehicles will detect waste bins autonomously. With the push of a button, the electric arm will be deployed to assemble the box with high precision. The streamlined process reduces human error, speeds up cycle times and is expected to reduce training time, Inger said. It also enhances safety since the arm will not deploy if it detects anything other than a trash can.
• Electrified arm: Oshkosh is replacing the traditional hydraulic arm on its waste and recycling collection vehicles with a new electric version. The electrified arm operates faster than hydraulic arms, saving up to 50 to 60 minutes per day and enabling collection companies to serve more families, Inger said. The electrified arm also operates quieter and helps control maintenance costs compared to its hydraulic counterpart, Inger said.
• AI-powered contamination detection of recyclable materials: Customers say contamination in the recycling stream causes extra work and cost. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, up to 25% of materials placed in recycling bins do not belong there. Oshkosh has developed an advanced vision system using artificial intelligence to overcome this challenge and identify contaminated materials. This includes advanced processing that helps divert as much clean, recyclable material from landfills as possible for a more sustainable future. It can also reduce thermal events and enhance safety when garden waste or flammable batteries end up in trash containers.

Eliminate weekly business for consumers

Oshkosh is also creating a new way to handle demanding weekly tasks: trash and recycling. At CES, it’s showing off an electric autonomous waste robot (HARR-E). HARR-E is an innovative, autonomous robot designed to collect garbage on demand. It provides a smarter, cleaner and safer solution than traditional door-to-door waste collection methods.

HARR-E allows residents to request trash pickup service using a smartphone app or virtual assistant smart speaker. The robot will then make its way from the central waste collection area within the neighbourhood. It will navigate to the resident’s home autonomously using a known map of the area and perceptual sensors, Inger said.

Upon arrival at a resident’s home, the HARR-E automatically opens its lid, and residents can place trash inside. An internal scale weighs the deposited trash, which monitors the load. This gives apartment complexes the option of charging collection fees based on weight.

After taking in the waste, the HARR-E closes its lid and returns to the central collection area to unload and recharge in preparation for the next truck, Inger said. HARR-E is designed to benefit all residents while also assisting with accessibility for people with disabilities and elderly individuals who have difficulty with typical curbside waste collection.

Additionally, HARR-E is expected to reduce waste management costs by 25% by eliminating labor expenses and reducing vehicle maintenance. It can improve the cleanliness of homes and neighborhoods by reducing the need to store waste in bins waiting for pickup.

Attendees can check out Oshkosh’s latest innovation And more in booth No. 5616 in the West Hall
Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).

Separately, Oshkosh leaders will participate in CES Tech Talks sessions at CES 2025, with insights into how they are deploying electrification, AI, autonomy and connectivity technology to transform their businesses, redefine customer experiences, increase productivity, enhance safety and sustainability, and empower employees. correlation.

Oshkosh has more than 18,000 employees and was founded in 1917. It achieves annual revenues of $9.7 billion.