In order to validate the capabilities of the Honda AWV, the company selected a solar energy construction site where support structures for solar panels are laid out in a grid pattern at regular intervals.
The site presented an ideal environment to test the ability of the Honda AWV to stop at precise points along a pre-set route, Honda says.
Honda produced a high-definition map of the 1,000-acre site, allowing Black & Veatch operators to precisely set start and stop points for multiple Honda AWVs using a cloud-based app interface that runs on tablets and PCs. According to Honda, the vehicles successfully delivered materials and supplies along a calculated route and proved capable of stopping within centimeters of pre-set points.
Based on the capabilities verified in the field test, Honda believes the Honda AWV will be capable of providing a range of services to a variety of industries that need a rugged off-road autonomous solution – especially where workforce constraints and safety concerns make other solutions impractical.
Honda says the ability to operate autonomously – or via remote control – and carry large payloads, along with the potential to add attachments and tools, makes its AWV a suitable platform for many work environments.
Honda has not yet shared commercialization plans for the Honda AWV, but it continues to advance the platform through field testing.
