Pavelink 智能道路建造系統 by Yan Zhang and Jialu Hou

Pavelink 智能道路建造系統 by Yan Zhang and Jialu Hou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award 鐵獎 in 未來設計 Competition Category.

鐵未來· 2025

Pavelink 智能道路建造系統

by Yan Zhang and Jialu Hou

Client: Shandong University of Art & Design

A' Design Award 鐵獎 Winner in 未來 Category

71,246
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #168268

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Pavelink 智能道路建造系統

Pavelink係一部智能化、模組化嘅道路建造機械，專為提升基建發展嘅效率、安全性同可達性而設計。系統採用卡車式結構，拖曳四個可分離模組，能夠變形成為自主壓路機、裝載機、推土機同挖掘機。人工智能無人機提供即時地形分析，優化鋪設策略。透過整合自動化、模組化適應性同智能協調，PaveLink唔單止加快道路建設，更有助減少基建差距，令安全可靠嘅道路更易普及。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 鐵獎

Pavelink 智能道路建造系統是 A' Design Award 鐵獎得主，這是授予滿足人們對設計精良的創作所期待的專業與工業要求的優良設計的聲望認可。鐵獎得主展現出其創作者的高超技藝、高度專業化、專家級的理解力和創造能力。預計Pavelink 智能道路建造系統將成為一件備受推崇、令人欽佩且被珍愛的創作，既實用又創新。這件贏得 A' Design Award 鐵獎的設計整合了行業最佳實踐，並擁有與專業知識和才華相結合的稱職技術特性。Pavelink 智能道路建造系統因其嚴謹而受到尊重，旨在提供有助於讓世界變得更美好的生活品質改善。

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