On Sept 18, China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Corp Ltd launched a driverless tower crane at the construction site of the Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital of Huangdao district, Qingdao, Shandong province. This marks a significant milestone for the project as it is the first time such technology has been use at this construction site.

Traditionally, tower cranes have been operated by skilled workers, but the new driverless tower crane, equipped with the company's advanced industrial operating system and intelligent control software, eliminates the need for human operators.

On Sept 18, China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Corp Ltd launches a driverless tower crane at the construction site of the Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital of Huangdao district, Qingdao. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The driverless tower crane can now autonomously perform lifting tasks through 3D digital modeling, automatic path planning, and active obstacle avoidance. Ground workers simply need to use a remote control to position the crane, and it will lift with precision.

A skyward shot of the towering driverless tower crane at the construction site of the Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital of Huangdao district, Qingdao. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

This innovative technology combines lidar and visual AI to integrate perception, recognition, control, and decision-making capabilities. By automating lifting, the driverless tower crane improves efficiency by an average of 15 percent and reduces labor costs by over 60 percent. Moreover, the system can ensure safe and reliable operations by alerting crews about anomalies such as component failure, communication disruptions, and data distortions.

In addition to the driverless tower crane, the company has also launched a range of other intelligent equipment at the construction site, including ground leveling robots, concrete floor drilling robots, interior wall sanding robots, and climbing wall scanning robots. These robots are designed to enhance efficiency and safety in various construction stages, from civil engineering to installation and decoration.

Technician demonstrates the tower crane operating system at the event. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital of Huangdao district, covering a total area of 248,100 square meters, is a major construction project in Qingdao West Coast New Area. Construction commenced in March 2023, and the project is now in its secondary structure and installation phase. It is expected to be completed and delivered in December 2025.