In construction applications, the Autonomous Work Vehicle could be used to transport heavy materials.
Photo courtesy of Honda
2 min to read
Honda plans to unveil a prototype Autonomous Work Vehicle at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) which takes place in Las Vegas next month. Over the past year, the automaker has tested the prototype in a variety of applications, including contruction, agriculture, and emergency response.
The Autonomous Work Vehicle is based on Honda’s all-terrain vehicle (ATV) chassis. It incorporates GPS and sensor-based autonomy, a rail accessory mount for a variety of accessories and attachments, and onboard power plug-ins. The vehicle can be programmed in different modes of autonomy — "Follow Me," "Pattern," and "A to B" — to accommodate a range of applications.
Ad Loading...
Since it was first introduced a year ago at CES 2018, Honda has worked with partners to beta test the vehicle in a variety of work environments, including a large-scale solar operations company, a wildland firefighting division, and an agricultural and environmental sciences college.
For the solar operations company, vegetation management is one of its biggest challenges to reliable and affordable energy generation. It currently uses both sheep and manual labor to keep the vegetation under control. Honda equipped a tow-behind mower to the Autonomous Work Vehicle allowing it to remove weeds around the solar panels efficiently and safely.
The Autonomous Work Vehicle could be used with a variety of attachments and accessories to accomplish many jobs.
Photo courtesy of Honda
Currently, wildland firefighters in Colorado carry approximately 60 pounds of equipment, including chainsaws and water packs, while navigating steep terrain. To relieve this physical strain, Honda installed a gear rack on the Autonomous Work Vehicle to transport supplies, equipment, and water. The vehicle autonomously followed the firefighters with their gear in tow.
Working with an agricultural and environmental sciences college in California, the Honda Autonomous Work Vehicle supported the harvest of crops and spray applications. Honda equipped the vehicle with a gear rack and crates so agricultural workers could more easily load and transport crops using “A to B” mode. The Autonomous Work Vehicle was also fitted with a variety of work implements, including a spraying application for weed and pest control. This real-world testing demonstrated the Autonomous Work Vehicle's ability to save time and minimize the potential for injury to workers in the agriculture industry.
The autonomous vehicle prototype could be programmed to transport heavy materials during emergency situations, lowering the risk of injury for first responders.
The Carry Barrel Lift is a new truck-mounted attachment designed to help landscape and municipal crews lift and dump heavy 60-gallon barrels more efficiently while reducing manual strain.
Ranger’s new RWL175 Pneumatic Wheel Lift is designed to help technicians safely mount wheel assemblies up to 175 pounds while reducing strain and improving shop efficiency.
Vanair introduced its EPEQ IM HVAC idle management system, designed to reduce engine idling, lower maintenance costs, and extend vehicle life through factory HVAC integration and automated climate control.
Panasonic introduces the TOUGHBOOK 56, a rugged, modular laptop designed for public safety and field operations, featuring AI-ready processing, expanded connectivity, and enhanced security.
Sonim’s XP5plus 5G rugged device is now available on AT&T and FirstNet, combining push-to-talk capabilities, LMR interoperability, and 5G connectivity for public safety and enterprise users.
BendPak added a wheel spotting dish kit as standard on its two-post lifts, designed to improve vehicle positioning accuracy and reduce setup time in service bays.
Pico Technology introduced new NVH diagnostic probes and kits designed to streamline noise and vibration testing, enabling multi-axis data capture in a single test while reducing setup time and configuration errors.
Tenhold launches a new line of vehicle mounting systems for first responders, including a firearm lock designed for durability and in-field security, with deployment across more than 25 states.
Pierce delivers its 1,000th Paccar MX-13-powered fire apparatus, a 107-foot aerial ladder truck built for the Broussard Fire Department with a 510-hp engine and integrated pump system.
Ram introduces a pursuit-capable 3/4-ton emergency response truck, with V-8 power, 400-amp electrical capacity, and performance validated in Michigan State Police testing.
