Project · 2024/252024/25Type: Digital service

Volvo AI Assistant

Operators fix simple machine faults themselves, guided by AI and the camera

Meet jack, Your new AI Assistant - Allows you to keep your machines UP and running

Corporate partner Volvo Construction Equipment Visit website ↗Cohort 2024/25Theme Industry & operations

Volvo AI Assistant – Volvo Construction Equipment (2024/25)
Key fact
> 50 %Share of on-site machine issues that are simple
Team
6 master students
Universities
Disciplines
Computer Engineering · Computer Science · Electronics Engineering · Industrial Engineering · Mechatronics
The project · from brief to prototype

What happened, step by step.

01

Challenge

On remote construction sites a mechanic can take hours or days to arrive after a breakdown. Because tasks depend on each other, one failed machine can halt the whole operation and drive up costs.

02

What the team learned

More than half of machine issues on construction sites are simple and could be fixed in minutes, yet they still trigger a call to the mechanic.

03

What they built

Jack, an AI assistant for machine operators. It walks them through a guided diagnosis based on Volvo's official technical documentation and uses computer vision to detect and interpret signs of malfunction, so mechanics are called only when needed.

04

Results

  • Projectedoperators resolve more than half of machine issues without outside help.
05

Impact

For Volvo CE, Jack would collect real-world data on recurring failures and site conditions to refine maintenance practices and inform future machine design.

Full project text

The team’s original texts from the project page.

Instant, on-site troubleshooting for every stage of your machine’s life cycle

Challenge

One of the major challenges in construction sites – especially those in remote locations – is equipment downtime. When a machine fails, it can take several hours or even days for a mechanic to arrive, due to limited access and logistical constraints. This delay often triggers a chain reaction: since many tasks are interdependent, the breakdown of a single machine can halt the entire operation, leading to significant productivity losses and increased costs. As infrastructure projects become more complex and time-sensitive, reducing downtime through smarter, faster solutions becomes critical for the efficiency and sustainability of the construction industry.

Solution

More than 50% of machine issues on construction sites are simple and could be resolved in just a few minutes—yet they still trigger a call to the mechanic. This not only wastes valuable time but also contributes to unnecessary downtime, especially in remote areas where support can take hours to arrive. Our solution, Jack, is an AI-powered assistant that empowers machine operators to handle these basic issues independently. Using a guided diagnostic process based on Volvo’s official technical documentation, Jack combines artificial intelligence with computer
vision to detect and interpret signs of malfunction. This enables fast, accurate troubleshooting through an intuitive interface, helping keep operations running and ensuring that mechanics are only called when truly necessary.

Impact

Jack delivers measurable impact by significantly reducing equipment downtime, leading to fewer project delays and lower operational costs for users. By enabling operators to resolve over 50% of issues without external help, the solution increases autonomy and improves on-site efficiency. For Volvo CE, Jack offers a strategic advantage by collecting real-world data on recurring failures and site conditions. These insights are crucial for refining maintenance practices and even rethinking machine design to prevent similar issues in future models. Ultimately, Jack fosters a more intelligent, integrated, and resilient construction ecosystem.

Team · 6 students, 2 universities

Who built it.

Maja Svensson
Blekinge Institute of Technology

Maja Svensson

Industrial Engineering and Management

Ahmed Mahfooz Ali Khan
Blekinge Institute of Technology

Ahmed Mahfooz Ali Khan

Computer Science Engineer

Madhav Sai Aryan Kothareddy
Blekinge Institute of Technology

Madhav Sai Aryan Kothareddy

Electronics and Communication Engineering

Helena Moyen
University of São Paulo

Helena Moyen

Computer Engineering

Murilo Monteiro
University of São Paulo

Murilo Monteiro

Industrial Engineering

Leonardo Valente
University of São Paulo

Leonardo Valente

Mechatronics Engineering