An Integrated Intelligent Autonomous Driving Bulldozer System: Pose Estimation, Object Detection, and Work Planning for Dumping Operations

Abstract

In recent years, the rapid advancement of automation control and intelligent sensing technologies has positioned autonomous driving as a focal point of interest for both academia and industry. As core equipment in modern construction and industrial production, engineering machinery urgently requires intelligent transformation. To promote the intelligent development of engineering machinery, we have designed an integrated intelligent autonomous driving bulldozer system, which can be extended to various types of engineering machinery. For the specific mine dumping operation environment, we propose a multisensor fusion pose estimation algorithm framework based on the Global Navigation Satellite System, inertial measurement unit, visual cameras, and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) to address issues arising from sensor failures under harsh construction conditions. Furthermore, to ensure safety during task execution, we design a three-dimensional object detection method based on the optimal observation plane from LiDAR data. By integrating pose estimation and environmental perception results, we develop a comprehensive work planning and path-tracking algorithm to maintain task efficiency. Experimental results demonstrate that our intelligent autonomous driving bulldozer system performs excellently under various working conditions. The accuracy of its pose estimation, object detection, and path tracking meets the requirements of actual construction environments, showcasing its significant potential in engineering applications.