Unmanned SUV Honda AWV tested at a construction site (video)

Honda has been working onthe creation of autonomous robotic assistants with high cross-country ability, capable of performing various tasks: from delivering purchases from a store to working in agricultural enterprises. In mid-November this year, the company announced the successful testing of a prototype of the second generation Honda AWV unmanned all-terrain vehicle at the construction of a solar power plant by Black & Veatch in New Mexico.

Compact small robot SUVis controlled remotely and is capable of carrying up to 399 kg of payload, as well as towing a trailer with a total weight of up to 750 kg. The mass of the vehicle itself is 721 kg. The dimensions of the Honda AWV are 2.86x1.42x1.49 m. For autonomous operation, the Honda AWV uses a set of sensors such as GPS for positioning, radar and lidar for obstacle detection, and stereoscopic (3D) cameras for remote monitoring. The vehicle can be controlled with a remote control.

Field trials were conducted at a construction site.an area of ​​4 square kilometers. Honda created a high-resolution map for the site, allowing Black & Veatch operators to pinpoint start and stop points for multiple Honda AWVs using a cloud-based app interface that runs on tablets and PCs. The vehicles successfully delivered materials and supplies along the calculated route and proved their ability to stop within a matter of centimeters from the given points. On a single battery charge, Honda robots covered a distance of up to 45 km with a full load. The recharging time of the battery is about 6 hours.