Pavelink Intelligente Wegenbouwer by Yan Zhang and Jialu Hou

Pavelink Intelligente Wegenbouwer by Yan Zhang and Jialu Hou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award in IJzer in Futuristisch Ontwerp Competition Category.

IJzerFuturistisch· 2025

Pavelink Intelligente Wegenbouwer

by Yan Zhang and Jialu Hou

Client: Shandong University of Art & Design

A' Design Award in IJzer Winner in Futuristisch Category

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Verified Award Winner

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

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The Design

About Pavelink Intelligente Wegenbouwer

Pavelink is een intelligente, modulaire wegenbouwmachine die is ontworpen om de efficiëntie, veiligheid en toegankelijkheid bij infrastructuurontwikkeling te verbeteren. Het beschikt over een vrachtwagenvormig systeem dat vier afneembare modules sleept die transformeren in autonome walsmachines, laders, bulldozers en graafmachines. Een AI-aangedreven drone biedt real-time terreinanalyse en optimaliseert de verhardingsstrategieën. Door automatisering, modulaire aanpasbaarheid en slimme coördinatie te integreren, versnelt PaveLink niet alleen de wegenbouw, maar helpt het ook infrastructuurverschillen te verminderen, waardoor veilige en betrouwbare wegen toegankelijker worden.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in IJzer

Pavelink Intelligente Wegenbouwer is winnaar van de A' Design Award in IJzer, een prestigieuze erkenning die wordt toegekend aan goede ontwerpen die voldoen aan de professionele en industriële eisen die worden verwacht van goed ontworpen creaties. Winnaars in IJzer tonen grote vaardigheid, hoge specialisatie, deskundig inzicht en het creatieve vermogen van hun makers. Pavelink Intelligente Wegenbouwer wordt verwacht een hooggewaardeerde, bewonderde en gekoesterde creatie te zijn die praktisch en innovatief is. Dit ontwerp dat de A' Design Award in IJzer heeft gewonnen, integreert de beste praktijken uit de sector en heeft bekwame technische kenmerken die verbonden zijn met knowhow en talent. Pavelink Intelligente Wegenbouwer wordt gerespecteerd om zijn grondigheid en is ontworpen om verbeteringen van de levenskwaliteit te bieden die helpen de wereld een betere plek te maken.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: PaveLink is a next-generation intelligent road builder, designed to enhance efficiency and safety in disaster relief and infrastructure projects. Unlike traditional road machinery, it features a modular architecture, allowing its components to detach and function autonomously for excavation, loading, bulldozing, and compacting. The truck head serves as the central control hub, managing all modules and processing real-time aerial drone data for optimized decision-making. This AI-enhanced system redefines the future of road construction.
Dimensions & Packaging: 17000mm x 4210mm x 3890mm
Tags: Autonomous Road Construction, Modular Heavy Machinery, AI-driven Paving System, Smart Road Builder, IoT in Construction, Disaster Relief Equipment, Smart Construction Technology, Unmanned Machinery, Collaborative Fleet
Production Technology: The design follows a human-centered approach, addressing inequalities in infrastructure development while enhancing safety in road construction. A modular design strategy improves efficiency and functionality, integrating cutting-edge technologies such as IoT, autonomous driving, and AI-assisted automation to minimize labor dependency. Powered by electricity, PaveLink utilizes drone inspections and backend data analysis for multi-module collaboration. It is not just an improvement of existing machinery but a new category of heavy machines.
Design Challenge: PaveLink is not a traditional construction vehicle but a new category of heavy machinery, making it a pioneering design with no direct reference models. The challenge was to integrate multiple functions while ensuring practicality and efficiency. Setting high design standards required continuous validation. Through multiple iterations, expert consultations, and prototype testing with industry partners, we developed a modular and intelligent collaborative system to meet real-world construction demands.
Research: This research is a collaborative project between academia and industry, exploring how emerging technologies can be integrated into large-scale machinery to solve real-world challenges in infrastructure development and unequal access to construction resources. The study combined academic creativity with industrial expertise, where universities contributed design innovation, and companies provided technical support and operator insights through interviews and feedback. This collaboration ensured PaveLink’s feasibility, advancing smart construction solutions that promote efficiency, safety, and inclusivity in future infrastructure development.
Inspiration: Road construction is the backbone of local development, yet many underdeveloped regions, disaster-affected areas, and rugged terrains face immense challenges in building and maintaining roads. High construction complexity and safety risks remain persistent issues. Inspired by emerging technologies, PaveLink integrates AI-driven automation and IoT connectivity to address disparities in infrastructure development, making road construction smarter, faster, and more resilient.
Project Duration: The project was launched in Shandong in February 2024 and concluded in Shandong in June 2024. It was recognized by the Shandong provincial government and participated in the 14th National Art Exhibition of China in 2024.
Operation Flow: Initially, PaveLink appears as a single truck, with all road-building modules connected. Upon reaching the construction site, the truck head acts as the command center, operated by technicians. The modules detach and transition into autonomous operation, optimizing workflow through AI-coordinated control. Powered by electricity, all units remain linked via cables, receiving real-time power and instructions. Aerial drones detach to provide precise terrain mapping and safety monitoring, ensuring optimal performance in complex environments.
Team Members: Yan Zhang
Jialu Hou
Image Credits: Project Assistant Lulu Zhang, Wenyi Qin