Volvo CE Demonstrates CX01 Autonomous & Remote Control Single-Drum Asphalt Compactor Concept

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Designed for autonomous operation and multi-unit communication, Volvo CE says the CX01 concept is already influencing future machine designs. (Image courtesy of Volvo.)

Attendees at the recent Utility Expo trade show in Louisville, Kentucky, had the opportunity to see Volvo’s CE CX01 compactor concept that completely removes the operator from the unit thanks to options for remote control or fully autonomous operation. The vibratory asphalt compactor drum, which Volvo CE says is currently purely an exploration of what’s possible, boasts a new design with two independent halves and a self-balancing system. Justin Zupanc, head of the asphalt compaction development team at Volvo CE, notes that future Volvo CE products might include some CX01 features.

“The research and development that have gone into it will benefit customers in other ways,” Zupanc says. “It’s exciting for our engineers to push themselves to develop new and innovative ideas, and we’ve had personnel from the U.S. and Europe involved in the design, build, and test phases of this concept.”

Growth For Unmanned Machines

Volvo CE imagines that a fleet of CX01 compactors could be deployed on larger jobsites, and the machines would not only communicate with operators but other pieces of on-site equipment. A team of connected Volvo CE machines, for example, could survey a jobsite in real-time, reporting on conditions such as density, temperature, and number of passes, and giving the CX01 compactors instructions on when and where to compact. A fleet of CX01s could also continually adjust the rolling pattern and weight across the mat to suit the paving operation. Alternatively, Volvo’s existing Co-Pilot system could remotely control the compactor, reducing operator exposure to dust, noise, and vibration.

Flexible Power

Volvo CE’s Concept Lab designed the CX01 with electric hybrid power, so the machine would be fitted with both a diesel engine and an energy storage system. The design shown at the Utility Expo could be operated in diesel-only, in hybrid mode, or in a fully electric mode.

“It is exciting to think how the theories showcased on the CX01 could be realized on compaction production units in the future,” Zupanc says.

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Source: Volvo