{"id":2361,"date":"2016-06-30T07:00:50","date_gmt":"2016-06-30T07:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mspi.se\/?p=2361"},"modified":"2016-06-30T11:54:52","modified_gmt":"2016-06-30T11:54:52","slug":"cx-link-autonomous-construction-machines-humans-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mspi.se\/cx-link-autonomous-construction-machines-humans-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"cx.Link – Autonomous Construction Machines and Humans"},"content":{"rendered":"

During the 2015\/2016 academic year three BTH students have been collaborating with three students from Stanford University<\/a>‘s ME310 Global Design Course<\/a>. Project sponsor has been Volvo Construction Equipment<\/a>. The project has focused on building trust between autonomous construction machines and humans in construction sites.<\/p>\n

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About the project<\/h2>\n

Project website:<\/strong> htttp:\/\/www.me310volvoce2016.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Courses:<\/strong> ME310 (Stanford), TE2501 (MSc thesis), MT1441 (Innovation project), MT1480 (Innovation project, implementation)<\/p>\n

Students:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stanford ME310:<\/em>\u00a0Sam Frishman, Qinye Alsa Liu, Xiang “Alvin” Zhang<\/p>\n

BTH (MSPI \/ MEch Engn):<\/em>\u00a0Hillevi Hallberg Lyggemark, Ryan Ruvald, David Winqvist<\/p>\n

\"cx.Link
cx.Link team Ryan Ruvald, Xiang Alvin Zhang, Qinye Also Liu, Hillevi Hallberg Lyggemark, Sam Frishman, David Winqvist<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Project prompt<\/h2>\n

The students were tasked with a rather open prompt. They should explore and design solutions for a context where autonomous construction machines collaborate with humans in a construction site. To make this collaboration effective and efficient, several factors relating to trust and communication should be incorporated.<\/p>\n

\"cxlink
cx.Link system<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

cx.Link<\/h2>\n

The cx.Link is a concept to support autonomous construction vehicles operating alongside human workers on major construction sites. The system contains a command center, a pod with a beacon light on each construction machine, a wrist mounted display, and a hardhat. In concert they work to enhance communication and thus trust in construction sites. The vision is<\/p>\n

Below follows some descriptions of the parts.<\/p>\n

The command center<\/h3>\n

The command center is the brain and processing unity of the system. It\u00a0receives\u00a0a bird’s-eye view of the construction site from an overhead camera. This is combined\u00a0with information about machine and worker positions. This information is communicated to the other parts of the system and is\u00a0made available when needed. When needed it can, for instance, alert a worker of an imminent danger.<\/p>\n

The machine pod<\/h3>\n

Each autonomous construction vehicle is\u00a0fitted with a machine pod. The pod features a signal light, which communicates with workers on the construction site. Here, function and status of the machine is\u00a0stated so that the user can see that it is operational.<\/p>\n

The wrist-mounted display<\/h3>\n

Each worker will have some additional personal equipment, which will provide them with added capabilities for communication and\u00a0increased safety. The wrist-mounted display is implemented on a smartphone with a wrist mount. It displays information for the worker. Additionally, it provides\u00a0wireless connectivity and GPS positioning.<\/p>\n

The hardhat<\/h3>\n

In all constructions sites, the hardhat is a mandatory personal equipment for all construction workers. In the cx.Link concept, the hardhat is\u00a0fitted with additional functionality. It is\u00a0fitted with a bone conduction headset and\u00a0led lights for alerting the worker of danger, system functionality, and machine intent. Depending on the specific situation, the system will provide workers with relevant\u00a0information to enable them to take appropriate action.<\/p>\n

As a leader in the construction industry,\u00a0Volvo Construction Equipment are exploring concepts for running fully autonomous construction machines in aiming to increase productivity and to enhance safety for people in the sites. Even in this scenario there will be people on the site, maintaining machines and leading the operations. Therefore, the aim of the project is to\u00a0create a system that will enable efficient communication between human workers and automated machines. Such\u00a0a system will increase safety and foster trust between the human workers and machines.<\/p>\n

More\u00a0information<\/h2>\n

Find more information about this year’s project here:<\/p>\n