29/06/2025
China has made history by completing a 157.79 km stretch of the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway using a fully autonomous fleet of AI-powered pavers, rollers, and drones, with zero human workers, marking a groundbreaking milestone in construction.
Led by Sany Heavy Industries, the project employed a 20-meter-wide unmanned paver, six 13-tonne double-drum rollers, and three 30-tonne rubber-wheel rollers, all synchronized via advanced algorithms and the Beidou satellite navigation system for centimeter-level precision.
These smart machines handled every task—grading, asphalt laying, compaction, and edge trimming—delivering flawless ex*****on in record time, with the SAP200C-10 paver laying a 19.25-meter-wide stretch in a single pass.
This achievement slashes labor costs and enhances safety by eliminating human exposure to hazardous sites, though the establishment touts it as a flawless triumph, skepticism arises—reports suggest human oversight was present for safety, and the true cost (estimated at millions for equipment) versus savings remains unclear.
The rapid pace and quality impress, but scaling this globally faces hurdles like infrastructure investment and regulatory gaps, especially in regions like the UK where semi-autonomous trials lag.
It’s a bold step toward automated construction, yet its broader feasibility is still unproven.
