Budimex Shows Autonomous Road Rollers for Polish Construction

Budimex, one of the largest infrastructure contractors in Poland, is developing autonomous construction machinery, and a video of a road roller demonstration has now appeared online. The footage, shared on X by Paweł Biedrzycki, shows rollers designed to reduce the need for manual operation.

Compaction is a natural candidate for automation. A roller must pass over the same area many times to reach the required density of soil or asphalt, keeping the right speed and number of passes. That repetition makes the job a good starting point for software.

How autonomous compaction works

Systems developed by machine makers typically combine precise satellite positioning, environment sensors and route-planning software. The machine receives a digital plan of a site section and follows set paths for a programmed number of passes. More advanced designs add laser scanners, cameras and obstacle detection that stop the vehicle if a person or another machine appears.

German maker BOMAG is working with Autonomous Solutions on an autonomous version of its BW 213 BVC-5 PL roller, while HAMM offers Smart Compact Pro, which adjusts compaction parameters based on live asphalt density readings. These are different levels of automation: self-adjusting compaction force does not mean the machine can drive itself.

Budimex has been moving in this direction for some time. In 2023 it presented a collaborative robot able to move around a site, carry materials and use a robotic arm. In August the company announced tests of 360-degree AI camera systems from Brigade Electronics on rollers, loaders and haulers; those detect people near machines but do not replace the operator.

Jobs and what is still unknown

Human work is unlikely to vanish. Site conditions change daily, and someone must supervise the machines, check compaction quality, prepare digital route plans and respond to failures. Budimex has cited a shortage of construction workers as one reason for investing in robotics. Still, one person could eventually supervise several machines instead of driving a single one.

The company has not disclosed a timetable for wider use of autonomous rollers or how many machines could enter daily operation. It is also unclear whether the demonstration signals a pilot on a specific project.