Bouygues Construction has signed a three-year contract with French remote driving specialist Lextan to trial a research and development programme using remote and assisted driving for construction site machinery.
The two previously worked on a Bouygues Construction Matériel project in which a crane was operated from the ground.
Under their latest contract, they will work on the "industrialisation of construction sites", aiming to simplify driving in a safe environment using smart and connected machinery. This will involve testing object recognition and an interactive dashboard on a site during 2021.
Patrick N’Kodia, Bouygues Construction Matériel’s director, said: "While thinking about the alternatives to the crane lift, compulsory for all cranes above 30m since January 2019, we worked with Lextan on operating the crane from the ground. As we were exploring this subject, we realised there were many other advantages."
Marc Lambert, Lextan’s chief executive, added: "We are delighted to support, and to have the support of, Bouygues Construction, its R&D and its subsidiaries in the technological evolution of their tools and working methods and more generally to contribute to the modernisation and digital transformation of the construction sector."
Lextan is also raising seed capital through Bouygues’ investment vehicle for start-ups, and a subsidiary of the Crédit Agricole Alpes Provence bank.
Image courtesy of Bouygues/Lextan
