As part of the Future Society Showcase Project for Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan, Komatsu and Asunaro Aoki Construction will hold the exhibit “Underwater Construction of the Future”. The two companies will introduce this theme, highlighting how anyone can contribute to underwater construction through remote control operation from a safe and comfortable office environment. Komatsu and Asunaro Aoki Construction are developing electric underwater construction robots equipped with automatic control and ICT functions that can be remotely operated without requiring skilled techniques, and which enable high-precision construction.

In July 2023, the concept machine was produced, and testing was conducted in rivers and fishing ports. The exhibit will also emphasize that “Underwater Construction of the Future” contributes to disaster prevention and recovery, renewable energy, and blue carbon initiatives, such as the creation of seagrass beds and tidal flats to combat global warming.

The evolution of underwater construction technology dates back to 1971, following the 1970 Japan World Exposition, Osaka, when Komatsu began mass production of radio-controlled amphibious bulldozers. Asunaro Aoki Construction owns all five of these units still in operation today and has accumulated knowledge and construction technologies through more than 1,200 underwater construction projects, including post-disaster reconstruction after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

In recent years, the two companies have been collaborating to address social issues such as the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, as well as the shortage of skilled construction workers caused by the declining birthrate and ageing population.

The exhibit will feature three short videos on immersive large screens, introducing the evolution of amphibious bulldozers into advanced underwater construction robots. Visitors will also experience a highly realistic and exciting presentation, including a detailed large-scale model of the concept machine and a 3D display that simulates the underwater environment.

Source: Komatsu