Construction trial for semi-autonomous lift-assist vehicle

CrewMate is a semi-autonomous lift-assist vehicle developed by Moog Construction. Image: Moog Construction

Montante Solar, which designs, develops, and builds solar projects, orchestrated the field trial with Moog Construction’s semi-autonomous lift-assist vehicle CrewMate at a solar field atop a closed landfill.

The undulating, steep terrain was said to be a good test of the vehicle’s levelling system and ability to climb and maneuver with workers.

For the field trial, CrewMate repeatedly carried pallets – each loaded with up to 31 large PV panels – while closely following workers using the machine’s lift assist to pick up each 83 pound panel and guide it onto the field’s solar module racking.

CrewMate followed the installers between solar racks until emptying its pallet of PV panels while its sensors kept it a safe distance from workers and objects.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for solar PV installers is projected to grow 22% until 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

“CrewMate is an innovation we believe can safely increase productivity and help meet the demand for new solar farms and workers,” said Steven Erck, vice president for Montante Solar. “The PV panels in this field test are among the largest and heaviest installed by crews; CrewMate took the strain out of installation work that’s often done in high temperatures and remote areas.”

The semi-autonomous lift-assist vehicle also offers the potential to reduce panel breakage and eliminate injuries, sprains and strains from repeatedly lifting and moving PV panels.

“CrewMate easily integrates with ConOps,” added Dave Grabau, business director for Autonomy and Robotics at Moog Construction.

“CrewMate also keeps humans in the loop versus a fully robotic solution. A robot, with higher levels of autonomy, requires greater precision especially when you have ground instability and racking to contend with; cobots like CrewMate reduce complexity.”

The lift-assist vehicle will engage in a larger pilot project to help construct a solar field at a new location later on this year.