The client is a company that has been active in the manufacturing industry for many years. In the midst of a serious labor shortage, the company aims to promote “smart construction,” which is expected to achieve both business growth and cost reduction. Among these, an AI self-driving car system to automate tasks such as soil preparation attracted the client’s attention.
Towards automation of construction sites
For a long time, the number of new recruits has been decreasing year by year because of the perception that work on construction sites is tough, that heavy machinery must be used, that working in a dirty environment is dangerous, and that there are various disadvantages. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic will exacerbate these issues. The customer decided to introduce smart machinery and equipment to solve the manpower and cost issues. When they visited us, they told us that due to a labor shortage, they had difficulty performing tasks that require a lot of manpower and machinery, such as digging and leveling the soil. After analyzing the customer’s issues, we recommended an autonomous vehicle system that utilizes AI. By utilizing AI, machines (such as dump trucks) can operate automatically, the machines can perform operations more accurately, and the time required for machine maintenance is reduced because AI performs predictive maintenance. Therefore, it helps to improve safety and efficiency and significantly reduce costs. The customer, who understood the benefits of an autonomous vehicle system that utilizes AI, decided to try it.
Development of self-driving car systems equipped with AI
We have developed an autonomous driver system with various functions, such as building a vehicle monitoring/simulation system in a virtual 3D environment, using LIDAR, sensors to determine routes and detect obstacles, developing an autonomous platform applicable to any vehicle, and developing a construction platform based on an automatic and autonomous open platform. Basically, there are two main functions: movement management and heavy equipment construction navigation. The former supports route tracking and driver management. The latter helps operation management and visualize the process or finished product through a virtual 3D simulation map.
After introduction
In the past, there were more than 10 people in charge of civil engineering work in the factory, but after introducing the AI-equipped self-driving car system, that number was reduced by three times (meaning 2-3 people are fine). In addition, being able to automatically operate heavy machinery during field work hours has reduced the project time by two times. Therefore, AI has improved productivity by minimizing errors that occur during construction.
The first step towards smart architecture
The customer told us with an excited voice that the AI self-driving car system has produced a succession of positive results. “We believe that advanced technologies, including AI, have the power to change the world. This is the first step in realizing our ‘smart architecture.'”
Building the future together with companies
VTI provides system development services for the manufacturing industry for digital transformation and business growth by utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as AI (artificial intelligence ) and manufacturing know-how. If you would like to know more about our solutions, please feel free to contact us.
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inquiry:
VTI Japan Inc. Sales Department
Email: [email protected]
address:
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