Heavy & Off-Road Robot Leaderboard
3 robots · ranked byHVMX
| # | Robot | Status | Autonomy | Conf. | HVMX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇺🇸 Cat 793 with MineStar CommandCaterpillar |
commercial | task-autonomous | medium | 76.0 |
| 2 | 🇯🇵 FrontRunner AHS (930E)Komatsu |
commercial | task-autonomous | medium | 75.7 |
| 3 | 🇺🇸 9RX AutonomousJohn Deere |
commercial | task-autonomous | medium | 72.1 |
Best autonomous heavy machinery in 2026: who leads and why
Cat 793 with MineStar Command by Caterpillar is the highest-scoring autonomous heavy machinery on the HVMX in 2026, at 76.0 out of 100 — 0.3 points clear of FrontRunner AHS (930E) by Komatsu (75.7). 9RX Autonomous by John Deere completes the top three at 72.1.
The leaders share a strength: Cat 793 with MineStar Command on commercial readiness & deployment (100.0), FrontRunner AHS (930E) on commercial readiness & deployment (99.0) and 9RX Autonomous on commercial readiness & deployment (100.0). The HVMX weights autonomy & intelligence (32%) and commercial readiness & deployment (26%) above the rest, so a lead there is worth more than the same lead elsewhere.
The top autonomous heavy machinery on each pillar
The overall ranking weights these; each row is the single highest score on one of them.
| Pillar | Robot | Company | Pillar score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autonomy & Intelligence | Cat 793 with MineStar Command +2 tied | Caterpillar | 92.0 |
| Mobility & Locomotion | Cat 793 with MineStar Command +2 tied | Caterpillar | 0.0 |
| Hardware & Engineering | Cat 793 with MineStar Command +1 tied | Caterpillar | 93.4 |
| Commercial Readiness & Deployment | Cat 793 with MineStar Command +1 tied | Caterpillar | 100.0 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best autonomous heavy machinery in 2026?
On the HVMX, Cat 793 with MineStar Command by Caterpillar scores highest, at 76.0 out of 100. FrontRunner AHS (930E) (75.7) and 9RX Autonomous (72.1) follow. Scores are computed from published specifications and deployments, each checked against at least two independent sources.
What is the lowest-priced autonomous heavy machinery you can actually buy?
Among autonomous heavy machinery that are shipping, the lowest published price is $1.1m, for 9RX Autonomous by John Deere (HVMX 72.1). Only 1 shipping model publishes a price, so an undisclosed one could be lower.
How are autonomous heavy machinery ranked here?
By the Heavy Machine Metric (HVMX), a 0–100 composite of autonomy & intelligence (32%), mobility & locomotion (20%), hardware & engineering (22%) and commercial readiness & deployment (26%), normalised against reference scales specific to autonomous heavy machinery. The weights are published and the scores are reproducible from public specifications.