Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - April 2023 - 28

HEADLINERS
FROM
LAS VEGAS
CONEXPO 2023 FEATURE
Honda improved navigation accuracy in the AWV with lidar sensors to aid
operations when GNSS service is weak or unavailable.
The latest AWV features a larger bed that can accommodate a
greater loading capacity of 2,000 lbs.
can transport materials to precise points along a preset
route. The third-generation machine has been refined
based on this testing and features several new
enhancements.
New features of the latest Honda AWV include a
The battery in the AWV has an 18.6-kWh capacity that can provide a range of up to
28 miles (45 km) at maximum load.
enhance workforce productivity. Honda and Black & Veatch, a
Kansas-based global engineering and construction firm, in 2021 conducted
a month-long field test of second-generation AWV prototypes
at a Black & Veatch solar-energy construction site in New
Mexico (www.sae.org/news/2021/11/honda-puts-autonomousvehicles-to-work).
The
latest machine 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 solutions.
Honda also stated it is exploring the development of attachments
and tools that could make the AWV a suitable platform for a wider
array of work environments, but it did not elaborate on specifics.
Larger battery, greater loading capacity
Honda reported successful results from the field-test of the secondgeneration
AWV at the Black & Veatch site in New Mexico. The company
said it also conducted other field tests to verify that the AWVs
28 April 2023
larger bed footprint that can accommodate up to two
pallets and features a greater loading capacity of
2,000 lbs. (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 km/h), and the battery size 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 tablet-based programming
interface reportedly has been simplified and features
cloud connectivity, while accident-avoidance functions
also are upgraded.
The AWV employs an array of sensors 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 in at 51 inches (1300
mm) wide, 119 inches (3025 mm) long and 81 inches
(2052 mm) in height. The load bed is 101 inches (2560
mm) by 51 inches (1300 mm). Unladen, the vehicle
weighs 1765 lbs. (800 kg). The battery has an 18.6kWh
capacity that can provide a range of up to 28
miles (45 km) at maximum load.
Honda hopes to sell the AWV commercially and is
seeking partners to participate in field testing to improve
functions and enhance vehicle performance.
Matt Wolfe
TRUCK & OFF-HIGHWAY ENGINEERING
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: SAE/MATT WOLFE; HONDA; HONDA
http://www.sae.org/news/2021/11/honda-puts-autonomous-vehicles-to-work http://www.sae.org/news/2021/11/honda-puts-autonomous-vehicles-to-work
Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - April 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - April 2023
