HD Hyundai is demonstrating an unmanned, autonomous excavator with no operator in the cab at ConExpo 2026, a North American construction equipment trade show / Provided by HD Hyundai XiteSolution

HD Hyundai XiteSolution has introduced its first unmanned autonomous excavator to a construction site.

The company announced on Wednesday that it has delivered the cutting-edge machine to a project run by KIBAG, a major European construction firm. This milestone was achieved in partnership with Gravis Robotics, a specialist in artificial intelligence (AI) driven autonomous systems.

The deployed unit is a 22-ton mid-sized excavator manufactured by HD Construction Equipment. It's equipped with the innovative Real-X solution, which integrates HD Hyundai Xite Solution's smart excavator platform with Gravis' advanced AI autonomy technology.

The excavator is set to operate independently on a substantial civil engineering project in Tugen, Switzerland. The machine will tackle an impressive worksite measuring 3 meters (about 9.8 foot) in depth, 12 meters (about 39 foot) in width, and stretching 1 kilometer (about 3,280 foot) in length.

Unlike human-operated machines, the Real-X-equipped autonomous excavator can maintain peak performance regardless of factors like operator fatigue or lapses in concentration. It's projected to boost productivity by approximately 20% compared to traditional manned operations.

This equipment delivery marks a significant milestone in the Construction Equipment Autonomy Cooperation Project, a joint venture between HD Hyundai Xite Solution and Gravis Robotics.

The collaboration between these two industry leaders began last year when they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Bauma 2025 in Germany, focusing on demonstrating autonomous construction equipment capabilities.

Looking ahead, HD Hyundai Xite Solution plans to expand the implementation of unmanned autonomous construction equipment across various projects.

Executive Director Kim Pan-young commented that this project represents a groundbreaking step in bringing unmanned autonomous construction equipment technology from concept to reality. It's poised to revolutionize safety and efficiency on job sites and will likely be remembered as a pivotal moment in the evolution of the global construction machinery sector.

HD Hyundai Xite Solution has been at the forefront of this technological shift, having initiated the development of unmanned autonomous solutions for construction equipment back in 2019. Their goal has been to create fully automated construction sites.

HD Hyundai Chairman Chung Ki-sun has articulated a bold vision for the company, stating that they're committed to fundamentally transforming how humanity builds its future. He emphasized the company's dedication to driving innovation by seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technologies such as AI, digital solutions, and robotics into the construction machinery industry.

HD Hyundai XiteSolution has introduced its first unmanned autonomous excavator to a constr …

HD Hyundai XiteSolution Introduces First Autonomous Excavator to Construction Site