TIER IV, Komatsu, and EARTHBRAIN Collaborate to Advance Autonomous Construction Equipment
Komatsu Ltd. (President & CEO: Takuya Imayoshi) and its subsidiary EARTHBRAIN Ltd. (President & CEO: Akinori Onodera) have partnered with TIER IV Inc. (Head Office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Shinpei Kato), a leader in open-source autonomous driving software, to develop autonomous solutions for construction machinery.
The collaboration focuses on enabling autonomous operation of Komatsu’s articulated and rigid dump trucks at civil engineering and quarry sites in Japan, aiming for practical deployment by fiscal year 2027.
Komatsu and EARTHBRAIN have been advancing automation and remote operation technologies to support autonomous workflows at construction sites. Recognizing TIER IV’s proven expertise in autonomous driving and its leadership in Autoware®, the open-source autonomous driving platform, the companies decided to join forces to accelerate development.
This partnership leverages the strengths of each company:
- TIER IV brings advanced autonomous driving technology.
- Komatsu contributes deep expertise in construction vehicle engineering.
- EARTHBRAIN provides digital solutions for construction process management.
Together, the three companies will develop both an autonomous system and an integrated fleet management platform. TIER IV will co-develop the autonomous system and support its integration at worksites, while EARTHBRAIN will lead the creation of the fleet management system.
Expected Benefits for Customers:
- Mitigating Labor Shortages – Autonomous dump trucks reduce reliance on human operators at construction and quarry sites.
- Boosting Efficiency – The fleet management system allows dynamic route optimization, ensuring stable, efficient operations.
- Improving Safety and Sustainability – Optimized autonomous operations reduce fuel consumption and support safer, unmanned workflows, enhancing overall working conditions.
The technology will first be applied to Komatsu’s HM400 articulated dump truck (maximum payload: 40 tons) and HD785 rigid dump truck (maximum payload: 93.9 tons), with plans to expand to additional models. The system is designed for a variety of industrial sites, including steel mills and plants, with potential for global deployment in the future.
Through this collaboration, TIER IV, Komatsu, and EARTHBRAIN aim to advance autonomous construction equipment and smart operations at civil engineering and quarry sites, helping customers address workforce, efficiency, and safety challenges.
Autoware is a registered trademark of the Autoware Foundation.
