Horiba MIRA (www.horiba-mira.com) — a world leader in advanced engineering, research and product testing — has completed a joint project with JCB (www.jcb.com) to develop three unmanned construction machines, capable of conducting autonomous remote mapping, surveying and construction operations.

The Intelligent Autonomous Digital Construction Machine project (IADCM), which began in 2015 with support from Innovate UK, led to the development of three demonstration machines in total, including an All-Terrain Vehicle, an excavator and a skid-steer track loader from JCB.

They are equipped with multiple cameras, 3-D LIDAR and GPS technology, integrated with centralised collaborative Building Information Management (BIM) to enable augmented, tele-operated and autonomous site preparation and construction.

The IADCM project — led by Horiba MIRA — brought together JCB Services and Cable Detection Ltd, Leica Geosystems and Leica Machine Control as sub-contractors, plus Kier and Skanska as industrial advisors.

The wider aim of the project was to research future construction techniques involving automation, information technology and machine guidance, to facilitate an innovative approach to creating, sharing and using BIM data on-site during the construction phase of a project.

This research will help construction teams streamline processes, reduce operational costs and improve site safety.

Andy Maloney, chief engineer for defence solutions at Horiba MIRA, said: “Horiba MIRA has extensive experience in delivering autonomous solutions, which have multiple applications for the construction sector.

"The industry has a need for technology solutions to improve site safety, drive efficiency and address the future shortage of operator skills.

"The IADCM project responds to these needs, harnessing the latest autonomous technologies to deliver three demonstrator machines that provide a safer method for site preparation and construction.”