Caterpillar buys Skycatch to deepen AI-powered mining tech stack

Caterpillar has acquired Skycatch, a provider of spatial data capture, processing and analysis solutions focused on the mining industry, in a deal whose financial terms were not disclosed. The transaction was announced on July 7, 2026, and is positioned as a strategic move to expand Caterpillar’s portfolio of data-driven mining technology offerings that help customers optimize material movement across mine sites. Skycatch’s technology captures high-frequency, high-precision, large-scale spatial data and combines it with AI tools that identify, measure and interact with that data, enabling a near-real-time view of mining operations.

Under Caterpillar’s ownership, Skycatch’s spatial data and AI capabilities will be integrated into the RPMGlobal software assets previously acquired by Caterpillar and into the company’s existing MineStar platform. This integration is intended to deliver near-real-time digital twins of mine sites to improve planning and execution, enhance safety and productivity, and support both staffed and autonomous mining fleets. The acquisition continues Caterpillar’s broader push to evolve from traditional equipment manufacturing toward an expanded role in mining technology and AI-enabled infrastructure. For Skycatch, becoming part of Caterpillar’s mining technology stack provides access to a large global customer base and a route to scale its spatial analytics across more operations, reinforcing the trend toward data-rich, software-driven mining environments.