CRH Ventures, a subsidiary of global building materials leader CRH PLC, has announced the commencement of a pilot program with SafeAI, a global leader in autonomous solutions for heavy equipment. The pilot program aims to evaluate the feasibility and capabilities of SafeAI’s innovative technology for autonomous operations in quarrying.
SafeAI’s retrofit solution utilises state of the art imaging, detection and positioning technologies and Artificial Intelligence to enable heavy off-road hauling vehicles to operate autonomously. CRH Ventures has engaged SafeAI for a pilot program at one of its prominent quarrying subsidiaries in North America. The autonomous truck, equipped with SafeAI’s advanced technologies, will operate in an isolated area under the supervision of a test driver.
Eduardo Gomez, Head of CRH Ventures, expressed strong enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating: “This pilot program with SafeAI aligns with our commitment to explore innovative solutions for more efficient and sustainable quarrying operations. We are excited to assess the potential of autonomous hauling technology in a controlled environment and the possibilities for future scaling.”
The pilot program is designed to simulate quarry operations and will run for approximately one year. The success of the initiative will be evaluated based on predetermined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) over various test scenarios, comparing autonomous performance against traditionally manned operations.
“While this marks an important step in our exploration of autonomous hauling solutions, it’s crucial to clarify that, at this stage, CRH Ventures is focusing on piloting the technology before finalising any strategic investments,” added Gomez.
Bibhrajit Halder, Founder & CEO of SafeAI added: “Autonomous solutions have the potential to transform heavy industry; we work with forward-thinking companies to bring this potential to life. We’re excited to partner with CRH to advance its vision for sustainable, efficient quarry operations. Together, we can showcase the capacity for new technologies to create a safer, more productive future for the construction industry.”
