Komatsu will participate in a project that aims to promote the development of innovative technologies for independent construction in various places and climates, including the moon.

The project is led by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) in cooperation with the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

In addition, the project was decided by MLIT in July this year as part of its strategic plan to accelerate the research, development and utilization of space technology (Stardust Project). Komatsu's digital twin technology development plan for lunar construction equipment was selected as a qualified target for autonomous construction related technologies (automation and remote control).

Under the leadership of the Independent Construction Innovation Technology Development Promotion Committee of the Inter-Ministerial Cooperation Organization, all selected companies and organizations will work hard to carry out their own technology research and development.

In this way, in the near future, Komatsu will contribute to Japan's achievements in advanced construction and research and development in outer space construction activities such as the moon. future.

In the ongoing three-year mid-term management plan, Komatsu is working hard to promote products (automation and machine autonomy) and processes (optimization of construction operations). Regarding the selection and development of digital twin technology for lunar construction equipment, Komatsu will use the accumulated technology in its products and processes.

Due to the complexity of the actual objects close to the surface of the moon, Komatsu believes that the digital twin technology is essential to accurately reconstruct field conditions and machines. In order to develop this technology, Komatsu will conduct a feasibility study to verify the possibility of developing high-precision digital twin technology, which is the basic technology for lunar construction equipment.

Specifically, Komatsu will create and operate a hydraulic excavator in cyberspace and compare its movement with actual equipment on the earth to verify the accuracy of the simulator. Komatsu also set the lunar surface conditions to cyberspace and checked the movement of the excavator in the simulator to determine the problems facing our lunar equipment.