Communications of the ACM
Construction Greener and More Efficient With Intelligent Software
New technology developed by researchers at the University of Warwick could make construction vehicles more efficient and environmentally-friendly.
Credit: Les Chatfield
Researchers in the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) of the U.K.'s University of Warwick have developed technology they say could boost the fuel efficiency and environmental friendliness of construction vehicles.
Under the guidance of WMG's James Marco, the Warwick team is analyzing a fleet of JCB off-highway vehicles to find opportunities to cut carbon emissions and deploy intelligent control. WMG is focusing on the suitability of micro/mild hybridization (MMH), an inexpensive method for generating high fuel efficiency with less energy consumption and fewer emissions. Marco says MMH could enable the shutdown of the vehicle engine or shift it to lower power when it is idle, thus reducing fuel consumption, and carbon and particulate emissions.
WMG is investigating technology that anticipates when machinery requires the shift between low power and high power, so users can operate the equipment with the most fuel efficiency without diluting their working performance.
Marco says WMG has built an intelligence-based decision tool founded on big data-mining and expert knowledge so companies can target specific vehicles for hybridization.
JCB principal engineer Lee Harper says, "the technology has shown great promise when tested over a variety of duty cycles."
From University of Warwick
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