The original excavator is manual, from the invention to 2013 has been more than 130 years, during which it has experienced the gradual development process from steam driven bucket rotary excavator to electric drive and internal combustion engine driven rotary excavator, the application of mechanical and electrical hydraulic integration technology of fully automatic hydraulic excavator. The first hydraulic excavator was successfully invented by the Poclin factory in France. Due to the application of hydraulic technology, in the 1940s, there was a hydraulic backhoe mounted on the tractor. In 1951, the first fully hydraulic backhoe excavator was launched by the Poclain (Poclain) factory in France, thus creating a new space in the field of technical development of excavators, and in the early and mid-1950s, towed full-rotary hydraulic excavators and crawler full-hydraulic excavators were successively developed. The initial trial production of hydraulic excavator is using the hydraulic technology of aircraft and machine tools, the lack of hydraulic components suitable for various working conditions of the excavator, the manufacturing quality is not stable enough, and the accessories are not complete. Since the 1960s, hydraulic excavators have entered the stage of promotion and vigorous development, and excavator manufacturers and varieties in various countries have increased rapidly, and production has soared. From 1968 to 1970, the output of hydraulic excavators has accounted for 83% of the total output of excavators, which has been close to 100% .

The first generation of excavators: the emergence of electric motors and internal combustion engines has made excavators have advanced and suitable electric devices, so various excavator products have been born. In 1899, the first electric excavator appeared. After the First World War, diesel engines were also used in excavators, and this mechanical excavator driven by a diesel engine (or electric motor) was the first generation of excavators.

The second generation excavator: with the widespread use of hydraulic technology, the excavator has a more scientific and applicable transmission device, and the hydraulic transmission instead of the mechanical transmission is a big leap in excavator technology. In 1950, the first hydraulic excavator in Germany was born. Mechanical transmission hydraulic is the second generation of excavators.

The third generation excavator: the wide application of electronic technology, especially computer technology, makes the excavator have an automated control system, and also makes the excavator develop in the direction of high performance, automation and intelligence. The germination of mechatronics occurred around 1965, and the adoption of mechatronics technology in mass production of hydraulic excavators was around 1985, when the main purpose was to save energy. The electronic excavator is the symbol of the third generation excavator.