It is difficult and fatiguing for an operator working with a machine that has a natural set of degrees of freedom, or directions of operation, to work on a project which has a set of natural coordinates that are misaligned relative to the operator's machine. Such work requires a continuous ajustment of several controls at the same time and is both tiring and confusing. Computer software can also provide superior control together with ease of use by overcoming nonlinearities inherent in the machine or providing for acceleration and decceleration in an intuitive way regardless of orientation of load. Remote Road Condition Sensing. Many Texas roads are susceptible to flash flooding, particularly those in rural areas.
Drivers consistently underestimate the risk of crossing flooded road beds.
During winter the short periods of freezing conditions result in motorists underestimating the risks of ice formation on bridges. Our laboratory is exploring the use of new technologies to increase information regarding road conditions. This project involves a survey of the technologies used in other parts of the world, exploration of various implementation alternatives, the development of an economic model for prioritizing implementation and other work to support the work of the Texas Department of Transportation. These projects give a sense of the range and type of work currently being conducted in the Construction Automation Laboratory. Our team of civil and mechanical engineers will continue to pursue research and developments that will fundamentally alter and improve the way work is done on construction sites and other hazardous environments in Texas.