Inertial systems for autonomous construction vehicles
Inertial navigation systems (INS) are critical for autonomous construction machinery, providing precise positioning and motion tracking in complex environments. Our INS sensors guide vehicles like autonomous trucks, bulldozers, excavators, and cranes. They deliver real-time position, velocity, and orientation data, enabling safe and efficient operation even in locations with poor GNSS coverage.
When combined with real-time kinematic (RTK) GNSS technology, our INS ensures centimeter-level accuracy for tasks such as grading, excavation and material placement. This integration enhances precision, reduces errors, and minimizes project delays.
Machines like excavators and bulldozers can operate around the clock, completing earthmoving and grading with minimal supervision. This allows machines to reduce fuel consumption and enhance efficiency, resulting in cost savings and environmental benefits.
Solutions for surveying and mapping
Inertial systems also play a crucial role in construction surveying and mapping applications. Drones equipped with INS and GNSS are used to conduct aerial surveys. They capture high-resolution images and data to create detailed topographic maps and 3D models of construction sites. These maps provide valuable insights into site conditions, helping project managers and engineers make informed decisions.
The integration of an INS ensures accurate georeferencing of the data, even in areas with complex terrain or poor GNSS signals. Additionally, INS-equipped drones can perform continuous monitoring of construction progress. They track changes in site conditions and ensuring that work is being completed according to plan.
This level of precision and automation significantly reduces the time and labor required for traditional surveying methods.
Enhanced safety on construction sites
Autonomous construction vehicles such as dozers, excavators, wheel loaders and haul trucks contribute to improve improve safety on job sites.
Construction is inherently risky, with workers exposed to hazards such as heavy machinery, unstable terrain, and high elevations. By incorporating autonomous machinery and remote control construction vehicles, many of these risks can be mitigated.
Our inertial systems provide real-time data on the location and movement of autonomous construction equipment. Get precise control and reducing the likelihood of accidents.
Additionally, autonomous drones can be used to inspect hazardous areas, such as unstable structures or deep excavation sites, without putting human workers at risk. This combination of automation and precise navigation helps create a safer working environment for construction personnel.
Solutions for autonomous construction
We offer a wide range of motion and navigation products designed to enhance the performance of autonomous machines and systems. Our high-precision inertial systems, integrated with GNSS technology, provide the accuracy and reliability needed for your autonomous construction projects. It allows your equipment to perform tasks such as grading, excavation, and material placement with minimal human intervention.
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Case studies
Curious about how our inertial products are already transforming the construction industry?
Our case studies showcase real-world applications of SBG Systems’ technology in autonomous construction projects worldwide.
From road-building to large-scale infrastructure developments, our solutions have been successfully integrated into various construction processes. They improve efficiency, accuracy, and safety.
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Hear first hand, from the innovators and clients who have adopted our technology.
Their testimonials and success stories illustrate the significant impact our sensors have in practical pointing & stabilization applications.
Do you have questions?
Autonomous construction is a rapidly evolving field, and you may have questions about how to best leverage these technologies in your projects. Our FAQ section is designed to provide clear, concise answers about autonomous construction, inertial systems, and their applications.
What is the difference between AHRS and INS?
The main difference between an Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) and an Inertial Navigation System (INS) lies in their functionality and the scope of the data they provide.
AHRS provides orientation information—specifically, the attitude (pitch, roll) and heading (yaw) of a vehicle or device. It typically uses a combination of sensors, including gyroscopes, accelerometers, and magnetometers, to calculate and stabilize the orientation. The AHRS outputs the angular position in three axes (pitch, roll, and yaw), allowing a system to understand its orientation in space. It is often used in aviation, UAVs, robotics, and marine systems to provide accurate attitude and heading data, which is critical for vehicle control and stabilization.
A INS not only provides orientation data (like an AHRS) but also tracks a vehicle’s position, velocity, and acceleration over time. It uses inertial sensors to estimate movement in 3D space without relying on external references like GNSS. It combines the sensors found in AHRS (gyroscopes, accelerometers) but may also include more advanced algorithms for position and velocity tracking, often integrating with external data like GNSS for enhanced accuracy.
In summary, AHRS focuses on orientation (attitude and heading), while INS provides a full suite of navigational data, including position, velocity, and orientation.
What is Real Time Kinematic?
Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) is a precise satellite navigation technique used to enhance the accuracy of position data derived from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements. It is widely employed in applications such as surveying, agriculture, and autonomous vehicle navigation.
By using a base station that receives GNSS signals and calculates its position with high accuracy. Then it transmits correction data to one or more roving receivers (rovers) in real-time. The rovers use this data to adjust their GNSS readings, enhancing their positional accuracy.
RTK provides centimeter-level accuracy by correcting GNSS signals in real time. This is significantly more precise than standard GNSS positioning, which typically offers accuracy within a few meters.
The correction data from the base station is sent to the rovers via various communication methods, such as radio, cellular networks, or the Internet. This real-time communication is crucial for maintaining accuracy during dynamic operations.
What is georeferencing in autonomous construction systems?
Georeferencing in autonomous construction systems refers to the process of aligning construction data, such as maps, models, or sensor measurements, with real-world geographic coordinates. This ensures that all data collected or generated by autonomous machines, such as drones, robots, or heavy equipment, is accurately positioned in a global coordinate system, like latitude, longitude, and elevation.
In the context of autonomous construction, georeferencing is critical for ensuring that machinery operates with precision across large construction sites. It allows for the accurate placement of structures, materials, and equipment by using satellite-based positioning technologies, such as GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems), to tie the project to a real-world location.
Georeferencing enables tasks like excavation, grading, or material deposition to be automated and precisely controlled, improving efficiency, reducing errors, and ensuring that construction follows design specifications. It also facilitates progress tracking, quality control, and integration with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) for enhanced project management.
