Creating an autonomous or self-driving vehicle that can travel a nation’s regular roads might be a fiendishly difficult challenge for carmakers, but the technology is being developed and used in vehicles in other sectors.

At the CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 construction trade show held in Las Vegas in March, Honda showcased a prototype of the third generation of its Honda Autonomous Work Vehicle (AWV) – a fully programmable all-electric off-road work vehicle that is designed to support construction-related activities and enhance workforce productivity.

Able to operate autonomously – or manually via remote control – the Honda AWV could, the company says, provide a wide range of services to industries that need autonomous operation or delivery solutions. The company is also exploring the development of attachments and tools that could make the vehicle a suitable platform for many work environments.

With a loading capacity of more than 900kg, an 18.6kWh battery, and a range of up to 45km, the Honda AWV employs a suite of sensors to operate autonomously, using GPS for location, radar and lidar for obstacle detection and cameras for remote monitoring. Honda says that previous field tests have verified that multiple AWVs can transport and deliver construction materials and supplies at precise points along a pre-set route.

Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (April 2023) 

15 April 2023