eNativeMachine Open Workshop sparked a lot of new ideas
A big group of almost hundred participants gathered to Tampere-talo to discuss about eNativeMachine. The mobile work machine industry is undergoing the biggest transformation in its history. Yet even the most futuristic concepts still carry the legacy constraints and burdens of the ICE era and operator in the cabin.
To overcome these boundaries, the industry and research players must collaboratively look for new ways of thinking, researching, designing, and creating value, from task-driven development to software defined collaborative machines and entirely new opportunities throughout the value chain and beyond. That is exactly what was started at Tampere in this event.
The morning featured interesting and thought-provoking presentations, including perspectives from outside the mobile work machine industry. All the presentations received positive feedback in informal discussions. Particular highlights included Starship’s presentation on its autonomous, fully electric food delivery robots, Trombia’s introduction to its autonomous, fully electric sweeper, and tech-solute’s presentation on designing and implementing innovations that challenge traditional business models.
Take out from the workshops
In the afternoon the participants were split into three smaller groups for workshops with two complementary perspectives, machine-first and value-first. Two of the workshops focused on the machine-first approach, while one group focused on the value-first approach.
The machine-first workshops generated highly diverse and engaging discussions. One of the ideas that sparked the most interest was the concept of building a mobile work machine on a generic platform. As a reference, in the automotive industry and electric passenger cars this is known as a skateboard platform. In this type of solution, batteries of different sizes could be changed according to the need, and various actuators could be mounted directly on top of the platform.
The idea also raised the question of whether a traditional trailer is always needed if the load or actuator can be carried directly on the machine’s own platform. The automation system could identify different types of mechanical actuators and based on that information, activate the correct and necessary modules. A generic platform could bring cost savings for OEMs by reducing the number of manufacturing components and product variants. The basic idea is similar to today’s electric tools: the shared platform remains the same, while the attachment connected to it defines what the machine is used for.
Another very interesting discussion revolved around the idea of modular and reusable components having an evolving CV, like humans. When the component starts in its first use case it starts to learn of the task. Then when the component is reconfigured to a new use case, it carries the experience with it and can use it for example for optimizing its performance.
The value-first perspective truly challenged participants to look beyond the machine itself and rethink the entire value creation process. The discussions highlighted a shift towards autonomous and connected operations, software-defined capabilities, new service-based business models and machines operating as part of wider fleets, energy systems and digital ecosystems. Building on these future assumptions, the workshop explored the capabilities and reference architecture needed to enable this transition, with particular emphasis on collaboration and interoperability across systems.
When participants were asked where the majority of future value creation is expected to take place, the value layer and software-defined layer stood out most strongly, while orchestration and mission/capability layers also ranked high and traditional physical hardware clearly lower. This suggests a fundamental shift in perspective: the future competitive advantage of mobile work machines may increasingly come not from the machine itself, but from the capabilities, intelligence and value creation enabled around it.
Inspiring day filled with loads of ideas
The workshop brought together a diverse group of experts from both industry and research. Alongside a strong representation of mobile work machine manufacturers, the event attracted technology providers, engineering and software companies, and other actors supporting the transformation of the industry. Research organisations and universities were also well represented, creating a good basis for combining practical industry needs with longer-term research and development perspectives.
The eNativeMachine Open Workshop was an inspiring day full of new ideas, perspectives and lively discussion. Now the challenge is to take these outcomes forward and turn the ideas generated during the day into building blocks for further development. The exact next steps are still taking shape, but the journey towards eNativeMachine will certainly continue. One of the next opportunities to take the discussion further will be next spring at Future Mobile Work Machine.
More information:
Veli-Mikko Mäkelä
Coordinator, SIX Mobile Work Machines
