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WILL DRONES REVOLUTIONIZE CONSTRUCTION WORK?

Komatsu to Use Unmanned Aircraft, Heavy Machinery to Automate Foundation Work

Komatsu is aiming to change the face of today’s construction site by combining the abilities of aerial drones with unmanned bulldozers and excavators. The Japanese firm recently announced a partnership with San Francisco-based Skycatch, where they will lease drones to aerial map job sites, that will enable unmanned heavy machinery to carry out design plans, dig holes and move earth. This new departure forms a central part of Komatsu’s new Smart Construction business. It will subcontract its unmanned drones and machinery out to customers in order to generate a steady revenue through leasing, this could be the start of an industry-wide change.

Komatsu will begin to offer its new integrated unmanned solution from February onwards, but initially only in Japan. Japan’s aging population has led to a shortage of construction workers there and new strategies to overcome this are greatly needed. The company has been experimenting with automating its machinery for several years, but the lack of a fast and effective means of mapping work sites delayed their plans. The introduction of aerial drones will allow Komatsu to map sites in as little a time as a couple of hours. Akinori Onodera, president of the Komatsu unit with responsibilty for Smart Construction said “We believe there is big potential” in automation. “We think this is the future job site.”

WILL DRONES REVOLUTIONIZE CONSTRUCTION WORK?

Details

  • Minato, Tokyo, Japan
  • Komatsu

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