Our Colleague: a Machine

Thomas Wagener, a trained road builder who has been working for STRABAG paving roads all over Germany for the past 22 years, would benefit from this new technology. As foreman, he supervises the paving process directly on the screed, checking paving width and layer thickness, monitoring the material mix – and constantly standing in the risk area between the paver and the highway. “You already have a queasy feeling when cars passing by at up to100 km/h just a few metres away,“ he says, while excitedly watching the preparations for the test. In the future, machines will assist Wagener’s work by autonomously monitoring and controlling the processes. Road builders like Thomas Wagener would then become process controllers supervising the work of their “colleague machine“ from the air-conditioned and safe cab.

Learning from mistakes

Ready to go: the wired paver applies the first steaming batch of hot asphalt onto the test section. The paving width and layer thickness are measured by the sensors, most of which originate from the project partners, who are currently all focusing on the process together. Among them is Alfons Horn, Vice President of Development of MOBA AG, a specialist in mobile automation solutions. “We are currently analysing the paver’s functioning during stopping and starting up phases to avoid any undesirable jolts or sudden movements. That’s important for obtaining a smooth surface“, Horn explains.

The sensors, which were mostly built by the project partners such as MOBA, collect data on paving width and layer thickness. The machine must be able to recognise specific details here as well, such as the paver’s behaviour during stopping and starting up phases to avoid jolts and sudden movements. That’s important for obtaining a smooth surface.

The aim of the research project is the automation of asphalt paving to relieve the paving personnel through the connectivity of autonomous road construction machinery. The starting point is a 3D model with the target value of the road to be built. During the construction process, sensors on the machines record the actual paving status and determine the positions of the milling or rolling machines. These data converge in an information system that regulates and controls the working drives so there are no longer any deviations between the 3D setpoint model of the road and the measured actual positions of the milling drum, screed and roller. The use of these technical systems also ensures quality assurance during the paving process.

Connectivity within the entire process

Wire-rope sensors attached to the screed move out with the screed when it is extended to measure the width of the paved surface.

Sonic sensors are used on the side of the paver to determine the layer thickness. 

Infrared sensors measure the temperature of the asphalt.

Lidar sensors determine the distance between the machines using laser technology.