Komatsu advancing autonomous construction technology
The company has signed a deal to develop the technology for its rigid and articulated dump trucksKomatsu and its subsidiary, Earthbrain, are now collaborating with Japanese start-up Tier IV to develop autonomous technology for construction equipment.
The partnership will focus on autonomous operation of Komatsu’s articulated and rigid dump trucks for civil engineering and quarry sites in Japan, targeting 2027 as a timeframe to introduce the innovative technology.
Tier IV’s expertise is in autonomous driving technologies for on-road vehicles, and it’s also been a leader in developing Autoware, an open-source autonomous driving software.
The collaboration brings together the strengths of the three companies: Tier IV’s autonomous driving technology, Komatsu’s vehicle engineering for construction equipment, and Earthbrain’s expertise in construction process management.
Komatsu will first apply this technology to its articulated dump truck HM400 (maximum payload: 40 tonnes) and rigid dump truck HD785 (93.9 tonnes), with plans to expand the technology to other models in the future.
The solution is intended for a wide range of industrial sites, including steel mills and plants. Komatsu also envisions future global deployment.
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