Autonomous Dump Trucks System for Transporting and Positioning Heavy-Duty Materials in Heavy Construction Sites

Abstract: This paper describes an autonomous dump trucks system being developed to overcome worker shortage problems and to prevent accidents in heavy construction sites (i.e., dam construction, road constructions, etc.). The major distinctive functions of this system are: (1) The autonomous driving function:

• this system enables unmanned dump trucks to autonomously drive at 40km/h as planned. The difference between the planned path and the trajectory is within +90cm;
• the vehicle command system can recognize obstacles and prevent their being crashed or destroyed by, utilizing a color image processor;

(2) The advanced measurement function: -the laser navigation system provides measurement function (i.e., the measurement errors regarding the position and the direction are within +50 cm and +1 degree, respectively). This system enables two operators to manage dump trucks without drivers. It is anticipated that this system could reduce approximate 30% of the workers required at heavy construction sites in the future.