Komatsu and Asunaro Aoki Construction have revealed the exhibit content for ‘Underwater Construction of the Future,’ which they will present at the ‘Future Life Expo: Future City’ pavilion, part of the Future Society Showcase Project for Expo 2025 Osaka in Kansai, Japan.

The exhibit will focus on the theme ‘Underwater Construction of the Future: enabling anyone to contribute to protecting lives and livelihoods’ by using underwater construction robots. The two companies will highlight how anyone can contribute to underwater construction through remote control operation from a safe and comfortable office environment. In addition, the exhibit will emphasise 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.

Evolution of underwater construction technology dates back to 1971, following the 1970 Japan World Exposition in 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, both 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 birth rate and ageing population. Together, 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 has been conducted in rivers and fishing ports.

The exhibit will also feature three short videos, introducing the evolution of amphibious bulldozers into advanced underwater construction robots. Furthermore, visitors will 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.