(Construction) - Japanese construction company Maeda Corporation and two other companies have developed an autonomous control system that allows multiple hydraulic excavators to be operated by a small number of personnel.
The practicality of this system has been confirmed through demonstration experiments at the company's ICI Center in Toride City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Utilizing the construction planning models of BIM, the system automatically generates specific work plans. It integrates virtual space with real excavation, enabling centralized management from planning and instruction to execution.
The demonstration experiments were conducted from November 14, 2023, to March 21, 2024, in collaboration with Hitachi Construction Machinery and Kawasaki City-based robotics firm iXs. The new system is currently undergoing patent application.
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| Japanese construction companies develop autonomous control system for multiple hydraulic excavators |
Using BIM, the system automatically generates work plans and instructs the hydraulic excavators. Information such as excavation progress and the condition of the equipment, measured by multiple 3D LiDARs (Light Detection and Ranging), is transmitted to the automatic construction management system. Additionally, images from onboard cameras and multiple cameras installed around the test site are transmitted via mobile phone networks, enabling remote centralized management. This advancement allows for the operation of multiple hydraulic excavators with a small number of personnel, with an expected increase in productivity.
Maeda Corporation plans to expand the application of the system beyond hydraulic excavators to other construction machinery. Furthermore, they envision applying it to hazardous sites where workers find it difficult to access, such as disaster response and the disposal of radioactive waste. (2024/03/26)
The Daily Engineering and Construction News of Japan
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