Novatron starts to develop AI-based machine control solutions in the EU-funded XSCAVE project, led by the University of Tartu
September 2, 2024
Free for immediate release
2.09.2024 – Pirkkala, Finland
Novatron takes part in an international research project led by the University of Tartu that develops AI-based solutions to enable self-driving heavy vehicles to operate safely and reliably in difficult conditions in earthmoving, logistics and forestry. The European Commission supports the four-year project with 8 million euros.
Heavy machinery is often used in harsh environments, such as excavations, forests or urban traffic in northern weather conditions. Self-driving vehicles need to operate on icy roads in winter, and excavators need to be able to cope on terrain with loose soil. All kinds of unpredictable environmental conditions – such as ice, snow, mud and unmovable large rocks – make the use of self-driving technology difficult and dangerous, as an autonomous vehicle may not be able to cope with rapid and unpredictable changes in the weather.
An international team of researchers, led by the Institute of Technology of the University of Tartu, will look for AI-based ways to ensure the safety and reliability of self-driving heavy vehicles in such conditions. The aim of the project is to improve autonomous operations in land management, forestry and logistics to reduce the fuel consumption of vehicles and environmental impacts such as soil damage.
The results of the project will be put to practical use thanks to partners, including Novatron, a Finnish sensor and machine control technology company, Komatsu Forester AB, a Swedish engineering company, and Clevon, a developer of autonomous vehicles in Estonia.
AI enhances the safety of earthmoving work
Finnish Novatron is a pioneer of Nordic machine control systems, sensor technology and related software solutions and platforms.
Mr. Petri Moisio, CEO of Novatron, looks forward to support more efficient infrastructure building and green transition globally from a technology supplier’s point of view.
“Until now, machine control technology has primarily been used to enhance productivity in earthmoving work and to reduce emissions. The integration of AI with machine control to develop new safety-enhancing applications presents an interesting and ambitious opportunity”, Mr. Moisio says.
“Novatron eagerly anticipates the results of this four-year research project and the potential advancements it could bring to the industry”, he continues.
From Novatron’s test site to real world applications
Novatron is a trusted supplier of machine control systems, automation technology and components to machine manufacturers around the world. The company has been developing and manufacturing its own products and software in-house at its Technology Center in Pirkkala, Finland, since 1991.
Novatron’s products include components such as Novatron® G3 sensors and EL laser receivers along with Xsite® 3D and 2D machine control systems and worksite equipment. The offering is completed with cloud-based data management platform and 3D-Win infra design software, enabling real-time data sharing between the office and the field.
According to Mr. Antti Kolu, Research Director and XSCAVE project leader at Novatron, this cooperation is well suited for Novatron’s capabilities and offers an interesting opportunity to further the whole earthmoving industry.
“The state-of-the-art algorithms and solutions developed during the project will allows us to provide best possible solutions for our customers and to improve the productivity of individual machines on the worksite”, Mr. Kolu tells.
“Novatron provides the consortium with more than 30-year expertise in machine control and automation system development with infra construction machinery. The consortium will have access to Novatron’s machinery and test site to validate the results in real world conditions”, he concludes.
Novatron’s product development team has been developing self-driving machinery since 2022. A Finnish SWARM project, led by the University of Oulu and ending in 2024, developed autonomous control systems of a fleet of earth-moving equipment, especially for the needs of mining industry. It tested the operation of a bulldozer, an excavator and a roller as an autonomous and unmanned work machine group. The knowledge gained from this research will be further developed through the XSCAVE project.
Research partners in the European Commission-funded project “Explainable, Safe, Contact-Aware Planning and Control for Heavy Machinery Manipulation and Navigation” (XSCAVE) include Tampere University and Aalto University from Finland, technology university CTU from the Czech Republic, research institute FZI from Germany, Toshiba Europe from the United Kingdom as well as Umeå University and Algoryx Simulation AB from Sweden.
More information:
Petri Moisio
CEO, Novatron Oy
petri.moisio@novatron.fi
Antti Kolu
Research Director, Novatron Oy
antti.kolu@novatron.fi
Novatron Oy is a Finnish technology company focused on earthmoving automation, offering open solutions for digitalizing earthmoving jobsites and robotizing earthmoving machinery. Novatron develops and manufactures intelligent machine control systems and software that enable efficient, safe, sustainable infrastructure construction. Learn more: novatron.fi
Photo: © Natalia/stock.adobe.com.