Honda has developed a new autonomous vehicle designed to move things around construction sites. The third generation Autonomous Work Vehicle (AWV) can move up to two pallets of goods without human assistance.
Honda is known for its vehicles and robots and in recent years has tried to combine these two things with the AWV. The new version of the third generation is designed to autonomously transport up to two pallets of goods on construction sites. However, Honda is now looking for companies willing to try the robot.
The AWV has evolved from an ATV with a truncated roof to an autonomous electric vehicle and finally to the current model. Compared to the second generation, the latest AWV features a larger loading area and capacity, higher autonomous speed (up to 10 MPH), larger battery for up to 10 hours of run time and 28 miles of range, better avoidance features, and a lower deck for easier loading.
Thanks to a series of sensors on the mast, the AWV can operate autonomously or via a Remote control navigate through difficult terrain such as construction sites. GPS, radar, lidar and camera technologies as well as cloud connectivity are all controlled via a tablet-based user interface.
Honda believes the AWV will help construction and other companies deal with problems such as labor shortages and site transportation. After extensive testing of the last model, the AWV version 3.0 is now ready for field trials and Honda is looking for partners at a construction exhibition to be held on March 14, 2023 in Las Vegas takes place.