Abstract
The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) spends approximately $19 million annually on roadside mowing, which is a process that is time-consuming, costly, and poses safety risks. Automated mowing solutions have the potential to reduce costs and increase safety, but they will need to be extremely well tested before being deployed. In this work, data from current mowing practices was collected using machine mounted cameras, which was used to inform the creation of a digital twin environment that allows for rigorous initial testing of potential autonomous solution with no risk. The digital twin was created using digital elevation models of Indiana highway corridors and geolocated features to create a high-fidelity test environment. Algorithms including path planning, obstacle avoidance, and road entry detection were created and tested in a simulation and validated in a real-world environment. Results showed that the digital twin was able to simulate real-world conditions and accurately demonstrate how the algorithms performed.
Keywords
mowing, automation, digital twin, simulation
Report Number
FHWA/IN/JTRP-2025/01
SPR Number
4702
Sponsoring Organization
Indiana Department of Transportation
Performing Organization
Joint Transportation Research Program
Publisher Place
West Lafayette, Indiana
Date of Version
2025
DOI
10.5703/1288284317840
Recommended Citation
Evans, J. T., Shaver, G. M., Mardikes, M. A., Sprague, N. C., Wiegman, T. J., Supe, S., & Brown, E. M. (2025). Autonomous mower pilot project (Joint Transportation Research Program Publication No. FHWA/IN/JTRP-2025/01). West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University. https://doi.org/10.5703/1288284317840