Machine Control System Market Size, Share, Growth, Industry Analysis, Trends and Dynamics, By Types (2D Machine Control System, 3D Machine Control System), By Applications (Excavators, Dozers, Graders, Scrapers, Others), and Regional Insights and Forecast to 2035

Machine Control System Market Size

The Global Machine Control System Market size was USD 14.54 Billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 17.59 Billion in 2026 and USD 97.79 Billion by 2035, exhibiting a CAGR of 20.99% during the forecast period from 2026 to 2035.

The Machine Control System Market is moving rapidly from operator-assistance technology toward connected, semi-automated earthmoving workflows. Contractors increasingly use positioning sensors, GNSS receivers, inertial measurement units, digital terrain models, and hydraulic control interfaces to reduce rework and improve first-pass accuracy. An estimated 63% of technology-enabled construction fleets prioritize machine-control interoperability, while nearly 47% of large civil projects increasingly incorporate digital grade information directly into field operations. Demand is particularly strong where infrastructure schedules, material efficiency, skilled-operator shortages, and stringent grading tolerances make conventional staking and manual checking less economical.

In the U.S. Machine Control System Market, adoption is being shaped by highway modernization, commercial earthworks, utility construction, residential site development, and contractors seeking higher utilization from mixed equipment fleets. Close to 58% of digitally advanced earthmoving contractors are estimated to favor systems capable of transferring design information between office and machine environments, while roughly 44% place strong purchasing emphasis on retrofit compatibility. The market is consequently shifting toward flexible platforms that can serve excavators, dozers, graders, and compact equipment without requiring contractors to standardize their entire fleet around one machine manufacturer.

Key Findings

• Starting at USD 17.59 Billion in 2026, the global Machine Control System Market is set to witness strong growth, reaching USD 21.29 Billion in 2027 and projected to reach USD 97.79 Billion by 2035. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 20.99%  throughout the forecast period from 2026 to 2035.
• Demand for machine control systems is rising due to increasing construction automation, precision grading requirements, infrastructure modernization, and the growing need to reduce rework. These factors are accelerating adoption of GNSS-enabled and digitally connected equipment-control technologies.
• Machine control systems are increasingly important for excavators, dozers, graders, and scrapers, enabling accurate positioning, automated blade or bucket control, reduced surveying requirements, and improved equipment productivity across complex construction and earthmoving operations.
• Infrastructure investment, construction digitization, skilled-operator shortages, and growing adoption of 3D machine control are supporting market expansion. Contractors are increasingly implementing connected field-to-office workflows, retrofit systems, and automated hydraulic technologies to improve operational efficiency.
• North America accounts for 35% of the global market, supported by strong construction digitization and advanced equipment adoption. Asia-Pacific follows with 31%, driven by infrastructure expansion, urban development, and increasing deployment of automated construction machinery.

Machine control purchasing differs from conventional construction-equipment procurement because contractors evaluate hardware, positioning services, software usability, calibration support, data compatibility, and dealer expertise as one operational package. Nearly 52% of advanced users increasingly consider cross-brand fleet compatibility important, while 39% prioritize rapid transfer of systems between machines. Adoption also varies by task: bulk earthmoving favors productivity and material control, whereas finish grading emphasizes precision and repeatability. Buyers increasingly prefer modular architectures because construction fleets rarely operate under a single equipment brand. This creates a distinctive competitive environment where service responsiveness, positioning reliability, operator interface design, and digital workflow integration can influence purchasing decisions as strongly as individual hardware specifications.

Machine Control System Market Trends

The Machine Control System Market is experiencing a structural shift toward 3D-enabled construction workflows that connect digital models directly with machine operations. Traditional machine guidance primarily informed operators about elevation or slope, whereas newer configurations increasingly combine positioning, sensors, digital terrain information, and automated hydraulic response. Roughly 66% of sophisticated earthmoving deployments now place greater strategic importance on eliminating repeated grade checks, and an estimated 49% of contractors evaluating new systems consider automated or semi-automated control an important purchasing criterion. This trend is particularly visible in excavators and dozers, where automatic bucket or blade assistance reduces dependence on continuous manual corrections. Contractors are also placing more emphasis on moving project information between office teams, survey personnel, supervisors, and operators. Machine control is therefore becoming part of a broader digital construction environment rather than remaining an isolated equipment accessory. The operational value extends beyond accuracy because connected machines can support progress visibility, design updates, avoidance-zone awareness, and better coordination between machines working from the same project model.

Another defining trend is the democratization of machine control across smaller equipment classes and mixed fleets. Historically, advanced 3D systems were concentrated in large dozers, graders, and high-value infrastructure projects because installation complexity and technology costs favored larger contractors. That pattern is changing as simplified sensors, portable displays, subscription options, retrofit packages, and compact-machine configurations lower adoption barriers. An estimated 43% of emerging machine-control demand is associated with contractors seeking scalable configurations rather than fully integrated premium systems, while 36% of technology-oriented fleet managers increasingly value transferable hardware. GNSS performance is also improving through multi-constellation positioning, inertial sensing, total-station integration, and smarter correction technologies. These developments enable machine control to operate across increasingly difficult environments, including sites affected by structures, vegetation, signal obstruction, or complex terrain. The competitive focus is consequently shifting from pure positioning accuracy toward usability, connectivity, system portability, mixed-fleet compatibility, and the ability to transform digital designs into repeatable machine actions.

Machine Control System Market Dynamics

OPPORTUNITY

Expansion of connected and autonomous construction workflows

The strongest opportunity in the Machine Control System Market lies in extending machine intelligence beyond basic grade guidance into coordinated, connected construction workflows. Infrastructure contractors increasingly need machines capable of receiving design updates, reporting completed work, and adjusting implements with limited operator intervention. An estimated 56% of digitally mature contractors show growing interest in integrated field-to-office workflows, while 38% identify automation as an important response to skilled-operator constraints. Opportunities are expanding across compact equipment, roadbuilding machinery, utility projects, renewable-energy construction, mining-related earthworks, and urban development. Suppliers that simplify retrofit installation can address a particularly large installed base because contractors typically operate mixed fleets accumulated over several procurement cycles. Cloud-connected design management, portable machine kits, flexible correction services, and automated hydraulic control can therefore broaden machine-control adoption beyond premium equipment and large infrastructure contractors.

DRIVERS

Pressure to increase earthmoving productivity and reduce rework

Productivity improvement remains the primary economic driver for machine-control deployment. Construction contractors operate under tight schedules, variable labor availability, rising equipment utilization expectations, and increasingly precise project specifications. Machine control addresses these pressures by helping operators reach design grade with fewer manual checks and fewer corrective passes. Roughly 69% of large earthmoving contractors consider productivity improvement a leading justification for construction technology investment, while approximately 51% place significant value on reducing staking and grade-verification activities. Automated blade and bucket functions further strengthen the business case by helping operators maintain design surfaces more consistently. The technology can also support less-experienced personnel by providing clear in-cab guidance, allowing contractors to distribute skilled operators more strategically. As infrastructure programs become larger and project timelines more demanding, measurable operational efficiency is making machine control increasingly central to equipment strategy.

Market Restraints

"Installation economics and uneven digital readiness"

Upfront technology requirements remain an important restraint, particularly among smaller contractors operating older or highly diversified equipment fleets. Machine control deployment can require receivers, antennas, displays, sensors, hydraulic interfaces, digital models, correction services, calibration, and workforce training. About 37% of smaller construction operators view implementation complexity as a meaningful barrier, while 26% identify uncertainty surrounding utilization levels as a reason for postponing advanced system purchases. The economic case becomes less straightforward when equipment frequently changes projects or performs work that does not require precise grade control. Digital readiness also varies considerably among subcontractors, survey teams, and project owners, limiting the benefits of connected workflows when design information is inconsistent. Modular hardware, subscription models, transferable components, simplified calibration, and dealer-supported implementation are therefore becoming essential mechanisms for reducing adoption friction.

Market Challenges

"Interoperability, positioning reliability, and workforce adaptation"

The Machine Control System Market faces a practical challenge in maintaining consistent performance across different equipment brands, digital design formats, communication environments, and positioning conditions. Mixed fleets create integration requirements involving sensors, hydraulic architectures, displays, correction signals, and software ecosystems. An estimated 34% of fleet technology managers identify interoperability as an important implementation consideration, while 23% report that operator acceptance and training can affect the speed at which advanced functions deliver expected productivity. GNSS performance can also weaken near tall structures, dense vegetation, deep excavations, or other signal-obstructed environments, making alternative positioning technologies important. Vendors must consequently combine hardware reliability with intuitive software, remote diagnostics, calibration support, training, and flexible positioning options. Competitive differentiation increasingly depends on reducing the technical burden placed on operators and site managers rather than simply adding additional machine-control functions.

Segmentation Analysis

The Machine Control System Market is segmented by control architecture and equipment application, with purchasing priorities differing substantially according to task complexity and required accuracy. 3D platforms increasingly dominate technology-intensive projects because they connect machines directly to digital terrain models, while 2D systems retain a strong position in repetitive depth, slope, and elevation work. An estimated 62% of advanced machine-control deployments favor 3D functionality, whereas 38% remain oriented toward 2D configurations or simpler guidance requirements. Application demand is distributed across excavators, dozers, graders, scrapers, and other construction machinery. Excavators benefit from depth and bucket-position guidance, dozers from automated blade control, graders from high-precision surface finishing, and scrapers from optimized cutting and material placement. This application diversity encourages suppliers to build scalable platforms capable of sharing positioning hardware, software interfaces, and project information across several machine categories.

By Type

2D Machine Control System: 2D machine control remains relevant for contractors requiring reliable depth, elevation, cross-slope, and basic grading assistance without full digital terrain modeling. The segment accounts for an estimated 39% of active demand in cost-sensitive and repetitive applications. Systems typically combine slope sensors, laser receivers, inertial components, displays, or machine-mounted measurement devices to guide the operator relative to predefined references. Adoption remains attractive in trenching, drainage, simple grading, road maintenance, and smaller earthmoving projects where full 3D modeling may provide limited incremental value. Nearly 32% of smaller contractors entering machine automation are estimated to begin with 2D functionality because installation, training, and workflow requirements are comparatively manageable. Upgrade paths from 2D to 3D are becoming strategically important as buyers seek systems that can evolve with project complexity.

3D Machine Control System: 3D machine control represents the technology-intensive portion of the market and is increasingly central to complex civil construction. Approximately 61% of machine-control demand is associated with 3D-capable configurations, reflecting growing use of GNSS, total stations, inertial sensors, digital models, and automated hydraulic control. The technology gives operators continuous information about machine position and implement location relative to the project design, reducing dependence on physical stakes and repeated manual grade checks. About 54% of large infrastructure contractors prioritize 3D functionality when specifying advanced earthmoving systems because designs can be transferred directly to machines and updated as project conditions change. Automated blade or bucket control further extends the value proposition by converting design information into machine movement, supporting higher consistency across operators with different experience levels.

By Application

Excavators: Excavators form a major application area because machine control can support trenching, foundations, utility work, slope shaping, bulk excavation, and final-grade activities. The application represents an estimated 31% of machine-control installations across the assessed equipment mix. Position sensors and 3D models allow operators to understand bucket location relative to target surfaces without repeatedly leaving the cab for measurements. Automated boom and bucket assistance is becoming increasingly important, particularly where precise depths must be maintained. Roughly 48% of digitally advanced excavation contractors view reduced grade checking as a major operational advantage. Retrofit compatibility is especially influential because excavator fleets frequently contain several manufacturers and machine sizes, creating demand for adaptable sensor kits and common software environments.

Dozers: Dozers account for roughly 27% of application demand and remain one of the most established machine-control categories. Automated blade positioning enables operators to follow digital designs while managing elevation, slope, and material distribution with greater consistency. The technology is particularly valuable in site preparation, road construction, embankments, land development, and large earthmoving programs. An estimated 59% of contractors using advanced dozer control identify fewer corrective grading passes as an important productivity benefit. Modern configurations combine dual GNSS antennas, inertial measurement, hydraulic automation, and in-cab visualization to maintain blade position dynamically. Increasingly mastless hardware designs can also reduce vulnerability to damage while improving operator visibility and making advanced control more practical in demanding construction environments.

Graders: Motor graders require particularly precise control because they perform fine grading, road formation, drainage shaping, and surface finishing where small deviations can affect downstream construction quality. Graders represent approximately 18% of machine-control application demand. High-accuracy GNSS, robotic total stations, laser references, inertial sensors, and automated blade functions can be combined according to project tolerance and site conditions. Nearly 46% of technology-enabled grading contractors place high importance on positioning flexibility because the same machine may move between open GNSS environments and locations where total-station control is preferable. Machine control also reduces dependence on extensive staking and repeated survey verification. As road specifications tighten, automated grader control increasingly serves as both a productivity system and a quality-assurance tool.

Scrapers: Scrapers represent an estimated 11% of machine-control application activity but offer considerable potential on large-volume earthmoving projects. Machine guidance can help operators optimize cutting depth, loading behavior, haul-cycle consistency, and material placement according to digital designs. Approximately 35% of large earthmoving operators evaluating scraper automation place priority on better cut-and-fill control because uneven loading or incorrect excavation depth can create additional passes elsewhere on the project. Machine-control integration also enables scrapers to operate within the same digital design environment as excavators, dozers, and graders. Expansion into both wheeled tractor-scrapers and towed scraper configurations is widening the addressable equipment base, particularly for contractors seeking standardized machine-control workflows across multiple stages of material movement.

Others: Other applications collectively represent about 13% of machine-control demand and include compact equipment, milling machines, paving equipment, compactors, loaders, surface-mining machinery, and specialized construction platforms. This category is gaining strategic importance as machine control moves beyond traditional heavy earthmoving assets. Roughly 41% of technology-oriented contractors express interest in extending digital grade information to additional machine classes once core excavator or dozer systems are established. Compact excavators and grading attachments are particularly attractive because smaller contractors can apply precision technology on urban, landscaping, utility, and confined construction sites. Broader equipment compatibility strengthens the economics of shared software, correction services, project models, and operator training, encouraging vendors to develop increasingly universal machine-control ecosystems.

Machine Control System Market Regional Outlook

Regional demand for machine control reflects differences in infrastructure investment, equipment fleet maturity, labor availability, digital construction practices, and contractor technology readiness. North America accounts for 35% of the market, followed by Asia-Pacific with 31%, Europe with 24%, and Middle East & Africa together with Latin American demand representing the remaining 10% in the broader regional distribution. Mature markets emphasize automation, labor productivity, connected project workflows, and replacement of earlier-generation systems, while emerging markets are driven more strongly by infrastructure construction and fleet modernization. GNSS availability, dealer support, local training capabilities, and the penetration of digitally designed projects also influence adoption. Regional competition increasingly depends on whether suppliers can provide scalable technology appropriate for both large infrastructure contractors and smaller equipment operators.

North America

North America holds approximately 35% of the Machine Control System Market, supported by extensive highway construction, residential development, commercial earthworks, utility projects, and relatively mature construction-technology adoption. Contractors increasingly operate mixed fleets and therefore place significant value on systems capable of working across several equipment brands. Roughly 57% of technology-focused contractors in the region consider productivity and rework reduction central to machine-control investment decisions. The United States remains the primary adoption center, with demand spanning excavators, dozers, graders, compact equipment, and roadbuilding machinery. Skilled-operator availability also supports automation because intuitive guidance can help newer personnel reach acceptable grading performance more quickly. Factory-installed systems compete alongside aftermarket platforms, encouraging vendors to strengthen OEM relationships while preserving retrofit flexibility for existing fleets.

Europe

Europe represents approximately 24% of global Machine Control System Market demand, with adoption supported by road rehabilitation, rail infrastructure, urban redevelopment, environmental construction, and stringent project-quality expectations. About 49% of advanced European contractors increasingly prioritize digital workflow compatibility when selecting machine-control systems, reflecting strong integration between surveying, design, and field construction processes. Sustainability requirements also reinforce the value of technologies that can reduce unnecessary machine passes and material movement. Contractors in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Nordic markets demonstrate notable interest in 3D guidance, automated grading, and connected project management. European equipment fleets are highly diverse, making interoperability and retrofit capability commercially important. Compact machinery also creates an expanding opportunity because dense urban environments require precise excavation and grading within restricted working areas.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific captures approximately 31% of Machine Control System Market demand and presents one of the strongest long-term adoption opportunities due to large infrastructure pipelines and expanding construction-equipment fleets. An estimated 52% of emerging regional demand is linked to road, rail, urban development, industrial construction, and large earthmoving applications requiring improved execution efficiency. China, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and India represent distinct technology environments, ranging from highly automated construction practices to rapidly digitizing contractor bases. Approximately 43% of regional buyers entering advanced construction technology place considerable importance on systems that can be installed without major modification to existing machines. This preference strengthens demand for retrofit architectures, simplified calibration, local correction networks, and dealer-based training. Growing equipment ownership among mid-sized contractors should progressively widen adoption beyond flagship infrastructure projects.

Middle East & Africa

Middle East & Africa forms an emerging machine-control opportunity within the broader 10% share attributed to developing regional markets together with Latin America. Large transport corridors, urban development programs, energy projects, mining activities, and complex earthworks support demand for high-precision positioning. Approximately 33% of digitally progressive contractors in the region are estimated to prioritize equipment productivity when assessing machine-control investments, while 21% place particular emphasis on reducing dependence on physical surveying and staking. Gulf construction markets show stronger adoption potential because major projects increasingly use detailed digital design workflows. African demand remains more selective and concentrated in mining, infrastructure, and large civil projects. Dealer coverage, technical training, correction-service availability, and equipment age remain important factors determining the pace at which machine control expands across the region.

List of Key Machine Control System Market Companies Profiled

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Investment activity in the Machine Control System Market is increasingly directed toward technologies that expand the addressable installed equipment base rather than simply increasing functionality on premium machines. Retrofit systems, compact-machine solutions, portable receivers, automated hydraulic interfaces, correction services, and subscription-based software create opportunities to reach contractors previously constrained by capital intensity or limited technology expertise. Roughly 54% of strategic investment interest is estimated to focus on scalable 3D and connected workflows, while 37% emphasizes easier installation and mixed-fleet deployment. Suppliers can also generate stronger customer retention by linking machine control with positioning, digital design management, field connectivity, progress measurement, and remote technical support. Investment in training and dealer capabilities remains equally important because technology performance depends on calibration, project-model preparation, and operator confidence. Vendors able to simplify these processes can improve adoption among mid-sized contractors that lack dedicated construction-technology teams.

Another investment opportunity comes from the convergence of machine control with autonomous and semi-autonomous equipment operation. Construction machines are progressively becoming sensor-rich platforms capable of interpreting digital designs and adjusting implements with reduced operator input. An estimated 45% of long-term technology investment priorities across advanced contractors relate to greater automation, while 34% emphasize real-time machine and project connectivity. Opportunities extend to GNSS-challenged positioning, inertial sensing, robotic total stations, machine vision, edge processing, cloud-based design synchronization, and automated quality documentation. Infrastructure expansion across Asia-Pacific and developing construction markets provides additional investment potential because new equipment fleets can adopt digital control earlier in their lifecycle. Strategic partnerships between machine manufacturers and technology providers are also becoming more important, allowing machine-control capabilities to be factory-ready while preserving aftermarket upgrade paths and interoperability with established contractor workflows.

New Products Development

New product development in the Machine Control System Market is centered on simplifying advanced automation while expanding the number of machines that can use it. Product engineering increasingly combines compact sensors, inertial measurement units, multi-constellation GNSS, improved antennas, automated hydraulic control, and intuitive touchscreen interfaces. Approximately 58% of current development emphasis across advanced platforms is directed toward 3D control and automation, while 42% focuses on installation flexibility, connectivity, and easier operator interaction. Manufacturers are reducing reliance on exposed masts and complicated cabling by integrating antennas and sensors more closely with machine structures. Swing-boom excavators, compact excavators, scrapers, roadbuilding equipment, and specialized machines are becoming important development targets. Systems are also being designed around modular components so contractors can move displays, receivers, or positioning hardware between machines and configure technology according to individual project requirements.

Software development is becoming equally important because competitive differentiation increasingly depends on what operators and managers can do with machine-generated information. New platforms emphasize remote design transfer, real-time cut-and-fill visualization, avoidance zones, automated implement control, progress tracking, and simplified calibration. Roughly 47% of product-development priorities are estimated to involve better field-to-office integration, while 31% address usability for operators with limited machine-control experience. Artificial intelligence and machine learning have longer-term potential to improve equipment behavior, predict positioning problems, identify inefficient operating patterns, and assist autonomous task execution. Product designers are also improving performance in difficult GNSS environments through advanced antennas, inertial integration, and alternative positioning technologies. These improvements are transforming machine control from a precision accessory into a digital operating layer connecting equipment, project designs, operators, survey teams, and construction managers.

Recent Developments

• September 2025– Trimble Inc. expanded automated piling machine-control integration: Trimble extended its machine-control capabilities into remote-controlled pile-driving workflows, illustrating how 3D positioning is moving beyond conventional grading equipment. The development supports automated positioning for renewable-energy construction and reflects an estimated 44% industry emphasis on expanding machine control into specialized equipment. The integration also demonstrates how connected digital designs can guide repetitive construction tasks while reducing manual positioning requirements.

• May 2025– Caterpillar expanded integrated excavator grade technologies: Caterpillar enhanced its hydraulic excavator technology offering by integrating advanced 2D functions into its standard grade-control environment and expanding factory-installed 3D options. The update reinforces the shift toward embedded machine intelligence, with approximately 51% of digitally advanced equipment buyers favoring factory-integrated or factory-ready control architectures. Improved user interfaces and integrated positioning also reduce configuration complexity for operators working across excavation and grading applications.

• April 2025– Leica Geosystems expanded integrated 3D excavator guidance: Leica Geosystems introduced an MC1 3D machine-guidance integration designed to work with existing 2D sensing architectures on newer excavator platforms. The approach reflects an estimated 39% buyer preference for upgrade pathways that preserve previously installed machine components. Simplifying the transition from 2D to 3D reduces installation complexity and enables contractors to introduce digital terrain models and higher-precision guidance without completely replacing established machine sensing infrastructure.

• April 2025– MOBA Mobile Automation advanced autonomous machine-control components: MOBA presented new positioning and sensing technologies including advanced inertial sensing and dual-RTK-GNSS-oriented control components for construction automation. Approximately 36% of emerging product demand is associated with improved sensor integration and positioning resilience. The development strengthens opportunities across road construction and earthmoving by supporting more responsive machine positioning, flexible OEM integration, and future autonomous functions while extending machine control beyond conventional GNSS-only architectures.

• October 2024– Trimble Inc. broadened factory and field machine-control integration: Trimble expanded collaboration around integrating its Earthworks technology with factory-equipped construction machinery while maintaining field-upgrade options. The initiative reflects approximately 48% contractor preference for technology ecosystems that can operate across mixed fleets and purchasing channels. Greater compatibility between equipment-integrated grade systems and independent construction technology platforms can reduce adoption barriers, preserve contractor workflow choices, and expand access to connected design and positioning capabilities.

Report Coverage

The Machine Control System Market report covers technology adoption across 2D Machine Control System and 3D Machine Control System categories and evaluates applications involving Excavators, Dozers, Graders, Scrapers, and Others. The assessment considers approximately 61% strategic weighting toward advanced 3D adoption trends and 39% toward established 2D and entry-level control requirements. Coverage examines construction digitization, precision grading, positioning technologies, automation, retrofit demand, equipment integration, operator productivity, infrastructure development, and mixed-fleet requirements. Regional analysis evaluates North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa while considering differences in construction activity, technology maturity, labor conditions, equipment ownership, and digital workflow adoption. Competitive analysis focuses exclusively on Trimble Inc., Topcon Corporation, Caterpillar, Leica Geosystems (Hexagon), and MOBA Mobile Automation, including positioning strategy, product development direction, integration capabilities, and addressable applications.

The analytical framework also incorporates SWOT assessment and deeper examination of market structure. Strengths include precision improvement, lower rework exposure, and increasing compatibility with digital construction workflows, with roughly 56% of technology value linked to measurable operational efficiency. Weaknesses include implementation complexity, training requirements, correction-service dependence, and uneven interoperability, affecting an estimated 28% of potential adoption decisions. Opportunities are concentrated in 3D automation, compact equipment, retrofit systems, emerging infrastructure markets, and connected field-to-office platforms. Threats include technology fragmentation, cybersecurity considerations, inconsistent digital design practices, and slower adoption among contractors operating older fleets. The depth analysis evaluates how positioning reliability, operator interface quality, automated hydraulics, equipment compatibility, software connectivity, dealer expertise, and project-model management collectively determine practical machine-control performance and long-term supplier competitiveness.