The Future of Work at Height: JLG® Boom Lift with Robotic End-Effector Concept

JLG is reimagining job sites of the future as intelligent ecosystems that connect people, equipment, tools and materials to help solve customer challenges. With the JLG^® ClearSky Smart Fleet™ management platform as its backbone, JLG is shifting the narrative from enabling jobs with traditional equipment to executing them with autonomous, connected equipment.

Let’s take a look at how…

As an example, the JLG boom lift with a robotic end effector, demonstrated in the Oshkosh Corporation booth at CES 2026 and by JLG at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026, is a concept machine that transforms traditional lift equipment into autonomous, job-performing robots capable of executing complex elevated tasks such as welding, inspection or installation.

Designed for industrial environments, this innovative JLG boom lift combines robotic manipulators, AI-guided control and multi-sensor perception into a rugged, mobile platform. It autonomously navigates, positions and performs work at height with precision, either independently or in coordinated fleets, redefining what is possible in construction robotics.

Why Now: A Structural Shift in Work at Height

We are at an inflection point in construction and industrial operations. Across global markets, the skilled workforce is aging, fewer people are entering the trades and labor mobility is increasingly constrained — all while infrastructure demand and industrial investment continue to grow.

At the same time, many elevated tasks remain repetitive, physically demanding and highly precision-sensitive, performed under steadily increasing safety and regulatory expectations. The traditional model of scaling work through labor alone is becoming more difficult to sustain.

Concurrently, the job site itself is evolving. BIM-driven workflows, digital twins and connected assets are transforming projects into coordinated, data-rich environments. Equipment is no longer operating in isolation; it is expected to communicate, synchronize and optimize performance across fleets.

Under persistent schedule compression and margin pressure, our customers need solutions that support predictable quality, help maximize uptime and enhance operational efficiency. Autonomy and intelligent robotics are not abstract concepts — they are practical responses to these structural shifts. The JLG boom lift with a robotic end effector concept is built with that reality in mind.

Engineering

The JLG boom lift with a robotic end-effector concept integrates heavy-duty mechanical engineering with precision robotics. A reengineered lift platform hosts actuated joints for tool/material positioning, supported by a multimodal sensor suite for spatial awareness and task validation.

The autonomy stack runs on an edge AI architecture, supporting real-time perception, motion planning and execution in dynamic outdoor conditions.

The system features JLG’s ClearSky Smart Fleet IoT (Internet of Things) technology, enabling coordination among multiple autonomous units on a job site. This distributed communication platform allows JLG boom lifts and scissor lifts to share task status, location and intent between themselves and with other machines, enabling synchronized workflows of either independent or coordinated fleets with Leader-Follower capabilities.

Design

The JLG boom lift with a robotic end effector concept blends robust industrial design with modular, intelligent robotics.

The machine platform features a ruggedized exterior, weatherproof sensor enclosures and battery-electric drivetrains for all-terrain mobility and sustainable deployment. The machine’s modular end-effector systems allow rapid tool changes, from welding arms to inspection cameras, supporting a wide range of robotic applications. The systems are designed for seamless integration with job site digital systems, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and digital twins, while maintaining ergonomic human-control interfaces.

Visually and functionally, the JLG boom lift with a robotic end-effector concept transforms the aesthetic of industrial lifts into a platform for next-generation robotic automation.

Three things about this product make it unique in the market:

1. Autonomous Access Equipment for Robotic Work Execution: Many elevated industrial tasks still rely on human operators working in difficult conditions, limiting scalability and consistency. Given these workforce and safety dynamics, enabling machines to execute precise, repetitive work at height is a logical progression.

   The first differentiator reflects our focus on augmenting human capability while reducing exposure to risk. The JLG boom lift with a robotic end effector concept addresses this by enabling autonomous, high-precision task execution at height using a mobile lift platform equipped with robotic actuators, advanced perception systems and Al-based autonomy. This can help keep operators on the ground and address labor shortages, as well as operational delays, on complex job sites.

2. Real-Time Robotic Fleet Coordination: Construction and industrial sites often struggle with fragmented workflows and inefficient communication between machines, leading to bottlenecks and downtime. As job sites become more connected, the value of equipment increasingly lies in how well it integrates and coordinates within the broader ecosystem.

   The second differentiator is centered on enabling that synchronized intelligence. The JLG boom lift with a robotic end effector concept integrates with ClearSky Smart Fleet, enabling each unit to share location, task status and intent in real time. This allows robotic lifts and support machines to coordinate operations without centralized control, driving efficiency and site-wide orchestration.

3. Al-Driven Task Planning with Modular Robotic Tooling: Operators working at height often face high task loads, having to simultaneously manage lift positioning, tool handling, visual inspection and situational awareness, all while in physically constrained or challenging environments. To address ongoing margin and schedule pressures, we must reduce variability and improve repeatability in task execution.

The third differentiator applies AI-driven planning and modular robotics to help deliver that consistency at scale. The JLG boom lift with a robotic end effector concept helps address this situation by automating task planning and execution using Al-based perception and modular robotic tools. It can identify components, plan precise movements and carry out tasks, such as welding or inspection, without manual intervention. This can help reduce operator burden and improve consistency, while enabling skilled workers to shift from physical execution to high-value oversight and coordination roles.

Award-Winning Concept

JLG was recently recognized for the JLG boom lift with a robotic end effector concept by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)^® with a CES Innovation Awards^® Best of Innovation award in the Robotics category. The concept machine was also named a CES Innovation Awards Honoree in the Construction and Industrial Tech category.

At JLG, we’re committed to pushing the boundaries of technology — from electrification and connectivity to safety and sustainability. The JLG boom lift with a robotic end effector concept represents the evolution in how we think about work at height — from equipment that provides access to systems that can perform meaningful tasks.

As workforce dynamics, digital integration and economic realities reshape our industry, we are focused on developing solutions that align with where our customers are going. Our responsibility is to engineer technologies designed to support safe operation, enhance productivity and enable more predictable outcomes. This concept reflects that commitment, and these awards show JLG’s dedication to delivering solutions that reimagine what’s possible on job sites.

To learn more about JLG’s vision of the job site of the future, visit JLG.com/en/technology-innovation/directaccess.