Automotive Engineering - May 2023 - 11

TECHNOLOGY REPORT
AUTOMATION
Honda reveals latest Autonomous Work Vehicle at CONEXPO
Honda revealed the prototype of its
third-generation electric Autonomous
Work Vehicle (AWV) at CONEXPO 2023
in Las Vegas. With the innovative machine,
Honda aims to launch " a new
category of capable work vehicle for
companies that need autonomous operation
or delivery solutions, " the company
stated.
" 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., Inc. " We believe the Honda AWV can
be a valuable solution to supporting construction
teams while also enhancing
worksite efficiencies and safety. "
The third-generation AWV leverages
the auto, motorcycle, and aerospace
company's autonomous technology to
create a off-highway work vehicle that
is designed to support constructionrelated
activities and enhance workforce
productivity. Honda and Black and
Veatch, a global engineering and construction
firm, in 2021 conducted a
month-long field test of second-generation
AWV prototypes at a Black and
Veatch solar-energy construction site in
New Mexico.
The new AWV reportedly can operate
autonomously or manually via a remote
control and could provide a wide range
of services to industries that need autonomous
operation or delivery soluThe
third-gen
AWV features a
larger bed that can
accommodate up
to two pallets and
a greater loading
capacity of 2,000 lb.
tions. Honda also is exploring the development
of attachments and tools that
could make the AWV a suitable platform
for a wider array of work environments,
but the company did not elaborate
on specifics at the show.
Honda reported successful results
from the field-test of the second-generation
AWV at the Black and Veatch site
in New Mexico. The company said it
also conducted other field tests to verify
that the AWVs can transport materials
to precise points along a pre-set
route. The third-gen machine has been
refined based on this testing and features
several new enhancements.
New features of the latest Honda AWV
include a larger bed footprint that can
accommodate up to two pallets and features
a greater payload capacity of 2,000
lb. (907 kg). The bed also has been lowered
for easier loading and improved ergonomics.
The autonomous mode now
features a higher top speed of 10 mph (16
kph) and the battery's specific energy has
been increased to offer an operating time
of up to 10 hours.
Honda said it also improved navigation
accuracy with lidar sensors to aid
operations in locations where GNSS
(global navigation satellite system) service
is weak or unavailable. The tabletbased
programming interface reportedly
also has been simplified and features
cloud connectivity, while accidentavoidance
functions also are upgraded.
The AWV employs an array of senThe
latest AWV
features a larger
bed that can
accommodate up to
two pallets and a load
capacity of 2,000 lb.
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
sors for autonomous operation. The
vehicle utilizes GPS for location, radar
and lidar for obstacle detection and
cameras for remote monitoring. The
company anticipates further improvements
to performance and design specifications
as the development of the
prototype progresses.
The Honda AWV measures 51 inches
(1300 mm) wide, 119 inches (3025 mm)
long and is 81 inches (2052 mm) in
height. The load bed is 101 x 51 inches
(2560 x 1300 mm). Unladen, the vehicle
weighs 1765 lb. (800 kg). The battery
has an 18.6 kWh capacity that can provide
a range of up to 28 miles (45 km)
fully loaded.
Honda hopes to sell the AWV commercially
and is seeking partners to participate
in field testing to improve functions
and enhance vehicle performance. The
vehicle attracted considerable attention at
the company's CONEXPO booth in Vegas.
Matt Wolfe
May 2023 11
TOP: HONDA
https://www.sae.org/news/2021/11/honda-puts-autonomous-vehicles-to-work https://www.sae.org/news/2021/11/honda-puts-autonomous-vehicles-to-work https://www.sae.org/news/2021/11/honda-puts-autonomous-vehicles-to-work
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