Honda Motor Co. plans to showcase a prototype of its third-generation autonomous mobile robot, the Honda Autonomous Work Vehicle, or AWV, at the CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 in Las Vegas, from March 14 to 18.
“As we continue to advance the Honda AWV platform, we want to meet with potential business partners and companies at CONEXPO that are interested in field testing the vehicle at their worksite,” said Jason VanBuren, systems engineering manager at American Honda Motor Co. “We believe the Honda AWV can be a valuable solution to supporting construction teams while also enhancing worksite efficiencies and safety.
“Leveraging Honda's decades of experience developing reliable, safe, and clean mobility technology, we aim to address issues such as labor shortages and improved environmental performance,” he said.
Honda started operations in the U.S. with American Honda Motor Co. in 1959. Today, Honda employs about 30,000 associates in America engaged in the development, manufacturing, sales, and service support of Honda and Acura automobiles, Honda power equipment, Honda powersports products and the HondaJet advanced light jet.
Honda looks to help companies struggling to find workers
The all-electric Honda AWV uses the Tokyo-based company's emerging advanced autonomous technology to create a rugged off-road work vehicle that is designed to support construction-related activities and enhance workforce productivity, it said.
With the ability to operate autonomously – or manually via remote control – the Honda AWV could provide a wide range of services to industries that need autonomous operation or delivery solutions, especially where workforce constraints make other solutions impractical, the company added.
In addition, Honda said it is exploring the development of attachments and tools that could make the vehicle a suitable platform for many work environments.
The company said it field-tested the second-generation Honda AWV at a large-scale solar construction site in the Southwest U.S. Based on real-world testing, it is now introducing the third-generation Honda AWV, which features a number of enhancements.
What’s new in the third-generation vehicle
Key features of the third-generation Honda AWV include:
- Increased bed size to two pallets and greater loading capacity of 2,000 lb.
- Improved navigation in locations where GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) service is weak or unavailable through the use of lidar sensors
- Simplified tablet-based programming interface and cloud connectivity
- Higher speed in autonomous mode – up to 10 miles per hour (mph)
- Increased battery size and longer operating time of up to 10 hours
- Enhanced avoidance function for vehicles stopped on road
- Lower bed for easier loading and improved ergonomics
The Honda AWV uses a suite of sensors to operate autonomously, using GPS for location, radar and lidar for obstacle detection and cameras for remote monitoring, the company noted. Previous field tests have also successfully verified that multiple Honda AWVs can transport and deliver construction materials and supplies at precise points along a pre-set route.
The vehicle uses Honda's extensive portfolio of mobility technologies, using common components from its automobiles and other products.
As Honda aims to commercialize AWV, the company said it is looking for partners to participate in field testing, as well as to improve functions and enhance services, especially in the areas of:
- Product distribution
- Product support/after-market sales
- Software and attachment development
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