Big names collaborate on unmanned construction vehicle project
Two of the best known names in Midlands engineering have completed an innovative new project involving unmanned construction vehicles.
Advanced engineering centre HORIBA MIRA, which is using its technology park as a development cluster for autonomous vehicle research, has been collaborating with Staffordshire excavator manufacturer, JCB.
The partners have completed a joint project to develop three unmanned construction machines, each capable of conducting autonomous remote mapping, surveying and construction operations.
The Intelligent Autonomous Digital Construction Machine project (IADCM), which began in 2015 following support from Innovate UK, led to the development of three demonstration machines, including an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), an excavator and a skid steer track loader from JCB.
The machines were equipped with multiple cameras, 3D LIDAR and GPS technology and are integrated with centralised collaborative Building Information Management (BIM) to enable augmented, tele-operated and autonomous site preparation and construction.
The IADCM project was led by HORIBA MIRA and brought together partners JCB Services and Cable Detection, Leica Geosystems and Leica Machine Control as subcontractors, and Kier and Skanska as industrial advisors.
The wider aim of the project was to research future construction techniques involving automation, information technology and machine guidance, to facilitate an innovative approach to creating, sharing and using BIM data on site during the construction phase of a project. This research will aid construction teams to streamline processes, reduce operational costs and improve site safety.
Andy Maloney, Chief Engineer for Defence Solutions at HORIBA MIRA, said: “HORIBA MIRA has extensive experience in delivering autonomous solutions, which have multiple applications for the construction sector. The construction industry has a need for technology solutions to improve site safety, drive efficiency and address the future operator skills shortage.
“The IADCM project responds to these needs, harnessing the latest autonomous technologies to deliver three demonstrator machines that provide a safer method for site preparation and construction.”
Following the completion of the project, HORIBA MIRA will look to conduct further demonstrations and customer trials.
