AROUND THE NETWORK: Obayashi Partners with SafeAI to Bring Autonomous Off-Road Vehicle to Live Jobsites Sites

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For the first time ever, 150 people witnessed the first ever autonomous off-road vehicle being demonstrated on a live jobsite in Japan. 

A partnership between BuiltWorlds members Obayashi and SafeAI allowed for a live demonstration that was a first of its kind – an autonomous off-road vehicle. A retrofitted Caterpillar 725 was autonomously operated and performing job duties around a live jobsite. The successful test marks a major milestone in a topic that has been in discussion for quite some time – when will heavy equipment and off-road vehicles be equipped with similar autonomy we have now seen in the automobile industry for years?

Self-driving heavy vehicles will allow companies to expand working hours at job sites and complete tasks quicker and safer than before.

Prior to the public demo, SafeAI and Obayashi spent 6 weeks extensively testing in a Japanese environment to confirm all the features previously developed in the US-based proof of concept (POC), which was completed in California in November 2021.

Obayashi is a recipient of the special award in pioneering activity category of the 5th JAPAN Construction International Award sponsored by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), which cements the company as a leader in the Japanese construction industry and recognizes SafeAI’s joint development of this cutting edge system.

So, what’s next?

Well, SafeAI, CEO & Founder, Bibhrajit Halder, seems to think the next step, at least in terms of implementation in Japan, is to get the government bought in and this successful demo is a good start at helping to facilitate regulatory challenges that could pose hurdles to the shift to autonomy.

If you’re interested in how technology, and AI specifically, could effect your business, join us for the first BuiltWorlds AI/ML Readiness Annual Meeting taking place February 7-8 in Atlanta, GA and hear from thought leaders and industry leaders on where the technology is headed from both an implementation and regulatory framework. Seats for this event are extremely limited and reserved for members of the brand new BuiltWorlds AI/ML Research track. Being a part of this track not only allows you access to the annual meeting, but also a full curriculum of research reports, analyst calls, and events throughout the entire year.

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