18:37, 18 December 2025

Russia Deploys Smart Autonomous Rollers for Road Construction

The system can be installed on virtually any road-building machine within a matter of hours.

On the route of the future Moscow–St. Petersburg high-speed highway, Russia’s first fully autonomous road roller has entered operation. The domestically developed machine marks a new stage in the digital transformation of transport infrastructure, showcasing Russia’s capabilities in unmanned technologies for heavy equipment.

A Joint Product of Natsproektstroy and GLONASS

The new system is the result of a collaboration between the Natsproektstroy Group and JSC GLONASS. It is a universal high-precision autonomous driving solution that can be installed within a few hours on almost any road-construction machine, whether Russian-made or foreign.

An operator sets the work zone and parameters via a tablet, after which the roller independently compacts the surface with centimeter-level accuracy, selecting the optimal trajectory and speed. This boosts construction productivity, reduces operator fatigue and helps optimize fuel consumption.

A key feature is a comprehensive control system that analyzes the surroundings in real time using lidar, radar and cameras, ensuring operational safety. In the future, a single operator will be able to manage an entire fleet of such machines simultaneously.

Dump Truck – Grader – Roller

“The economic results of the trials confirm that large-scale deployment makes sense. As early as next year, we plan to allocate an entire section for the operation of several such machines,” said Andrey Sysuev, deputy chief executive for information technology at Natsproektstroy.

“We are implementing a fully Russian solution that is independent of foreign suppliers. By automating heavy machinery that performs more than 85% of all tasks, we are covering a key segment of road construction. This delivers a lasting effect for the development of the entire industry,” said Alexey Raikevich, chief executive of JSC GLONASS.

The system’s initial trials were successfully conducted on the M-12 Vostok highway. The next step will be the creation of a fully autonomous chain consisting of a dump truck, grader and roller, enabling automation of the entire road-laying cycle. The project clearly demonstrates how Russia is actively developing advanced technologies for the infrastructure projects of the future.

Transport and logistics