Abstract: The paper introduced automatic guidance and location technology for cantilever excavator,analyzed and compared principle and characteristics of automatic guidance and location technology for cantilever excavator based on total station,gyro scope,electronic compass,guiding laser,visual inspection,etc. It obtained following conclutions: the guidance technology based on gyro scope and electronic compass can be used in autonomous navigation and need't provide reference coordinate system;the technology that gets pitch angle and roll angle by inclinometer is suitable for level roadway;those technologies that use given direction laser as reference coordinate system can be easily combined with existing navigation technology.