Autonomous Construction Vehicles

Autonomous vehicles on construction sites include haul trucks, concrete mixer trucks, material delivery vehicles, and utility vehicles that navigate job sites without human drivers. AI handles the unique challenges of site navigation — unpaved surfaces, changing terrain, mixed traffic with pedestrians and other equipment, and temporary routes that change daily.

The navigation problem on a construction site is fundamentally different from highway driving. There are no lane markings, no traffic signals, and no fixed road geometry. The "roads" are temporary haul routes that shift as earthwork progresses. AI must perceive the current site conditions through cameras and LiDAR, plan routes that avoid obstacles and active work zones, and adapt when conditions change — all while operating heavy equipment that cannot stop on a dime.

Material delivery optimization is a near-term application. AI-controlled vehicles can deliver materials from staging areas to installation locations on a predetermined schedule, reducing the idle time that occurs when materials are not available when and where crews need them. This just-in-time delivery to the point of installation reduces double-handling and site congestion.