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BotCrew: Prioritizing Safety While Innovating Highway Maintenance
In the ever-evolving world of automation, BotCrew is leading the charge in transforming highway maintenance with semi-autonomous and fully autonomous mowing solutions. But let's set the record straight—our mission is not to replace workers but to enhance their safety and elevate their roles by removing them from dangerous roadside tasks.
A recent Star Tribune article highlighted the potential of autonomous mowing technology along Minnesota highways. As part of this movement, BotCrew has proposed a system that could revolutionize highway ditch maintenance, making it safer, smarter, and more efficient. However, one critical point must be made clear: this is not about taking away jobs—it’s about improving how the work gets done.
A recent Star Tribune article highlighted the potential of autonomous mowing technology along Minnesota highways. As part of this movement, BotCrew has proposed a system that could revolutionize highway ditch maintenance, making it safer, smarter, and more efficient. However, one critical point must be made clear: this is not about taking away jobs—it’s about improving how the work gets done.
«BotCrew’s robot has been used to mow or haul cables in solar panel fields, a job that is often too dangerous and too constrained for humans, said Al Johnson, the firm’s president.
He said the company, which has 27 employees, has been fielding inquiries from highway departments across the country about Gravion’s capabilities for roadside mowing.
The 2,000-pound diesel-operated robot can run for 48 consecutive hours before refueling — that’s roughly five trips between Duluth and Minneapolis. There are 18 cameras on the machine for 360-degree viewing. If the robot comes across an obstruction while mowing, it will either stop and notify the operator by sending a picture, or go around it.
“MnDOT would be blazing the trail in increasing mower operator safety,” Johnson said.
While the company is interested in bidding for the job should the bill pass, there’s no assurance it would win the contract.
Of course, being Minnesota, someone at the Senate hearing asked: What about roadside pollinators? Will they be wantonly mowed down by the robot?
Johnson said if there’s a known patch of, say, butterfly-loving milkweed, the robot can go around it. It can be adapted to spread pollinator seed, as well.»
He said the company, which has 27 employees, has been fielding inquiries from highway departments across the country about Gravion’s capabilities for roadside mowing.
The 2,000-pound diesel-operated robot can run for 48 consecutive hours before refueling — that’s roughly five trips between Duluth and Minneapolis. There are 18 cameras on the machine for 360-degree viewing. If the robot comes across an obstruction while mowing, it will either stop and notify the operator by sending a picture, or go around it.
“MnDOT would be blazing the trail in increasing mower operator safety,” Johnson said.
While the company is interested in bidding for the job should the bill pass, there’s no assurance it would win the contract.
Of course, being Minnesota, someone at the Senate hearing asked: What about roadside pollinators? Will they be wantonly mowed down by the robot?
Johnson said if there’s a known patch of, say, butterfly-loving milkweed, the robot can go around it. It can be adapted to spread pollinator seed, as well.»
Janet Moore
The Minnesota Star Tribune
February 15, 2025 at 11:04AM
February 15, 2025 at 11:04AM
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A Safer Future for Highway Maintenance Workers
Traditional highway mowing is one of the most hazardous jobs out there. Workers face risks from high-speed traffic, unstable terrain, extreme weather conditions, and unpredictable obstacles. BotCrew’s Gravion robot is designed to eliminate these risks by handling the dangerous work while human workers oversee and manage the process from a safe location.
We strongly believe that automation should empower workers, not replace them. If we win the bid for MNDOT’s highway maintenance program, our goal is to propose a structure where government workers can remain employed—just in safer, supervisory roles. Instead of manually mowing dangerous areas, workers could pilot and oversee the robots, ensuring smooth operations while staying out of harm’s way.
We strongly believe that automation should empower workers, not replace them. If we win the bid for MNDOT’s highway maintenance program, our goal is to propose a structure where government workers can remain employed—just in safer, supervisory roles. Instead of manually mowing dangerous areas, workers could pilot and oversee the robots, ensuring smooth operations while staying out of harm’s way.
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How BotCrew’s Technology Works
Our autonomous mowing system isn’t just about automation—it’s about precision, efficiency, and safety.
✅ Extended Runtime: Gravion can operate for up to 48 hours continuously without requiring refueling, ensuring minimal downtime and fewer interruptions.
✅ Advanced Surveying with Drones: Before mowing even begins, drones create topographical maps to identify safe and efficient mowing paths, ensuring accuracy while avoiding obstacles.
✅ Obstacle Avoidance & Safety Alerts: Equipped with 3D LiDAR and 18 depth cameras, Gravion detects and navigates around obstacles like guardrails, rocks, or vehicles. If needed, it sends alerts to human supervisors for manual intervention.
✅ Remote Supervision & Piloting: MN DOT workers would still be directly involved—monitoring and piloting the robots from a centralized control center or in the field when necessary. This creates an opportunity for upskilling, turning traditional mowing jobs into robot operation and supervision roles.
✅ Extended Runtime: Gravion can operate for up to 48 hours continuously without requiring refueling, ensuring minimal downtime and fewer interruptions.
✅ Advanced Surveying with Drones: Before mowing even begins, drones create topographical maps to identify safe and efficient mowing paths, ensuring accuracy while avoiding obstacles.
✅ Obstacle Avoidance & Safety Alerts: Equipped with 3D LiDAR and 18 depth cameras, Gravion detects and navigates around obstacles like guardrails, rocks, or vehicles. If needed, it sends alerts to human supervisors for manual intervention.
✅ Remote Supervision & Piloting: MN DOT workers would still be directly involved—monitoring and piloting the robots from a centralized control center or in the field when necessary. This creates an opportunity for upskilling, turning traditional mowing jobs into robot operation and supervision roles.
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The Future of Highway Maintenance: Safer & More Efficient
Highway maintenance is an essential service, and with Minnesota’s harsh weather conditions, ensuring the safety of workers is more critical than ever. BotCrew’s Gravion robot is a game-changer—reducing risks, improving efficiency, and ultimately enhancing the way maintenance is performed.
If MNDOT moves forward with our solution, it won’t just mean cleaner and safer highways—it will mean a new era of safety and innovation for government workers. This is not about cutting jobs. It’s about creating a better way to work.
Safer workers. Smarter technology. More efficient operations.
That’s the BotCrew way.
If MNDOT moves forward with our solution, it won’t just mean cleaner and safer highways—it will mean a new era of safety and innovation for government workers. This is not about cutting jobs. It’s about creating a better way to work.
Safer workers. Smarter technology. More efficient operations.
That’s the BotCrew way.
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