Proceedings of the First International Conference on Press-in Engineering 2018, Kochi

State-of-the-Art Construction Sites Realized with ICT Construction Machines
Kenjiro SHIMADATeam Leader, ICT Development Group, KOMATSU, Osaka, Japan
Email: kenjiro_shimada@global.komatsu

ABSTRACTIn recent years, there are growing needs to utilize ICT (Information Communication Technology) in the constructionindustry to increase productivity, reliability, and eliminate labor shortage. This is realized by connecting “Construction
Workers”, “Construction Sites”, and “Construction Machines”. The ICT Construction Machines are featured withadvanced technology such as machine guidance (MG), machine control (MC) to assist the operator, and the sitemanagement system to process productivity and work progress data. In general, it requires years of training and experience
to become a highly skilled operator, but with the newly developed machine control technology for ICT construction
equipment, by combining the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) positioning technology and the electricalcontrol technology of components, it will enable novice operators to become as productive as highly skilled operators. At
the same time, productivity and work progress are processed into data and sent via internet to be consolidated in the sitemanagement system, visualizing everyday progress without having to leave the office. Komatsu has commercialized thesetechnologies which are immensely contributing to the industry. This is an introduction of the ICT Bulldozer, ICT
Hydraulic Excavator and the solution service called “SMART CONSTRUCTION” innovating the construction model ofjob site.
Key words: ICT Construction Machine, Machine Control, Machine Guidance, Bulldozer, Hydraulic Excavator

1. Introduction

workers are short, and development and construction have1.1. Social backgroundThe recent environment surrounding the construction

not progressed at a sufficient pace.

industry in Japan is the declining population, fallingbirthrates and aging. They cause labor shortage, reduction

1.2. Issues in construction industry
In Japan as well as in other parts of the world, theof skilled workers and difficulty of skill transfer.

following five items are regarded as important in theMeanwhile, the amount of construction work is increasing,construction industry.

corresponding to the maintenance of aging infrastructure1) To maintain quality and strictly adhere to theand the creation of new infrastructure with saving energy

construction period

and using renewable energy corresponding to aging

2) To realize safety worksociety.

3) To reduce the cost of the site

If we look to the world, especially focusing on4) To shorten the construction period and increase

emerging countries, because of increasing in population,increasing

demandofenergy

andfood,

the number of orders

urban5) To realize an attractive job environment wherecentralization of population, etc., resource development,

the number of employees increases

infrastructure and housing augmentation are becoming
urgent issues. However, in emerging countries, skilled- 13 -Proceedings of the First International Conference on Press-in Engineering 2018, Kochi

construction machines, with the new businessstrategy of “SMART CONSTRUCTION”.
In this service, workers, job sites andconstruction machines are tightly connectedasonecirclebyICT(informationcommunication technology). As an importantrole in the circle, Komatsu believes that ICT
construction

machines

withinnovativefunctions and high durability will maximallycontribute to the improvement of efficiencyof construction work.
2. Changing of construction processes
2.1. Conventional process and issues
In conventional way of construction
process, most of the processes, such as
calculation, surveying, staking, earth-moving,
Fig. 1checking and inspection, are done by humanConcept of SMART CONSTRUCTION

hand-works or manual operation. It causes
1.3. Solution

several issues and obstructs high efficient progress in

In order to solve these issues, it is expected that thedemand for “Information Construction” will further

entire construction process.
This situation causes following typical issues.

expand in the construction industry regardless of1) Difficult to make planning properly.

developed countries / emerging countries. Therefore,

2) Difficult to recognize accurate progress because

Komatsu launched a construction solution service to solve

it is updated by daily paper reports.

the issues facing the construction industry beyond the3) Productivity could be various depending on thetraditional framework of manufacturing and sellingFig. 2

operator’s skill and experience.

Conventional process of construction- 14 -

Proceedings of the First International Conference on Press-in Engineering 2018, Kochi

4) Hard to predict problems and troubles that mayhappen in job sites.

This new solution solves current issues.
1) Automaticallygenerate

accurateplanning

during the entire construction process byutilizing a drone for surveying the current

2.2. New process and solution
providesterrain, creating a 3D digitized design model

construction job sites with a completely new method ofSMARTCONSTRUCTION

conceptand simulating the construction progress inconstruction process by utilizing digitized information

KomConnect server.

gathered in KomConnect server and helping by ICT

2) Automatically calculate and visualize theconstruction machines with Semi-automatic control

everyday construction progress. A site manager

system thought the entire progress of construction job site

can easily recognize progress and can feedback(Fig. 3, Fig. 4).

for the following days planning.
3) Productivity could be even regardless of theFig. 3

New process realized by SMART CONSTRUCTION

Fig. 4All information is gathered in KomConnect- 15 -

Proceedings of the First International Conference on Press-in Engineering 2018, Kochi

Fig. 5

Key technology

operator’s skill by utilizing the machine control
technology installed on ICT Excavator and ICTDozer.
4) Easy to predict problems and troubles that may
happen by recognizing and visualizing everyday
progress.
3. Key technologies for SMART CONSTRUCTION
In what follows, these key technologies are utilized
to realize SMART CONSTRUCTION concept.
1)

RTK GNSS technology

2)

ICT related key components

3)

Semi-Automatic ICT construction machines

4)

Drone for efficient and accurate surveying

5)

KomConnect data management server

6)

Communications via internet

Fig. 6

ICT Bulldozer

4. ICT Construction Machines
4.1. Positioning of work equipment edge
Fig. 6 shows the exterior and components of the ICT
Bulldozer, Fig. 7 shows that of the ICT HydraulicExcavator. Fig. 7 also represents the mechanism of Bucketedge positioning.
Both machines use stroke sensing hydrauliccylinders to calculate the Bucket edge (2) position relative
to the GNSS antenna (1) mounted on the machine withhigh response.
Combining with this GNSS positioning and machineFig. 7

attitude from the IMU, the edge position in the world
coordinate system can be calculated.

- 16 -ICT Hydraulic Excavator

Proceedings of the First International Conference on Press-in Engineering 2018, Kochi

4.2. ICT monitor
Inside the cabin of both machines, an ICT monitor is

5. ICT Bulldozer

installed in which the 3D design model with the world

5.1. Three Is and No Three Cs
Fist feature of the ICT Bulldozer is visibly

coordinate system is uploaded via internet or USB

understandable by the exterior design of machine.

memory stick. By utilizing this 3D design model, theCompared with the system installation of conventional

controller can calculate where the bucket edge should bemachine control functionality, there are no more sensors

controlled. During the operation, the operator can easilyon blade so that all outer cables connection between therecognize where the machine is in the job site, the distanceblade and the machine body can be eliminated. It allows

between the bucket edge and the target design surface, andthat machine owners to be relieved from frequent cables

the progress of operation by color mapping on the screen.

replacement.

Fig. 9Fig. 8

Komatsu ICT Bulldozer

ICT monitor

Fig. 10

Fig. 11

Blade load control- 17 -

Conventional machine control system

Proceedings of the First International Conference on Press-in Engineering 2018, Kochi

In addition, all necessary components are factoryinstalled and sensor calibrations are done before shipment.
Thereby the machine could be ready to utilize automatic
control, intelligent features, when delivered to thecustomer’s job site.
5.2. Blade control, Rough dozing and Finish grading
The biggest feature of the ICT Bulldozer is the load
control called “Rough dozing” which maintains theoptimum load in front of the blade. Conventional machine
control systems could only control the position of theblade targeting the design surface. Hence should the load
exceed the limit, the tracks would start slipping and theFig. 12

ICT monitor for Bulldozer

machine would lose traction, which limited the usage tolight loads.
On the other hand, the ICT Bulldozer calculates theload based on the input from the transmission sensors, andcontrols the blade to match the preset drawbar pull tomaximize the machine performance, thus expands theusage from low to high load applications.
Also, as the work progresses and approaches thetarget surface, automatically switching from Roughdozing mode (blade load control) to “Finish grading”
mode (blade height control) enables seamless automatic
operation without worrying about overcutting the target
surface.
Fig. 13 Mode selection

5.3. Mode selection
Automatic blade control allows the operator to selectthe optimum dozing mode from the four modes according
to the types of work. In addition, the target blade load forRough dozing can be selected from three modes according
to material/dirt condition and the types of work. Switchingmodes cyclically by touching the icon on the ICT monitor
screen (Fig. 12). Since the icon switches to an illustrationthat imagines each mode, the operator can easily view thecurrently selected mode (Fig. 13).
6. ICT Hydraulic excavator
6.1. Auto Stop and Auto Grade Assist control
As for the ICT Hydraulic Excavator, there are twomajor features which allow the operator to operate without
having to be cautious not to overcut the design surface.
With the conventional MG systems, the operator
would operate watching the distance between the bucket

Fig. 14- 18 -Auto Stop & Auto Grade Assist control

Proceedings of the First International Conference on Press-in Engineering 2018, Kochiedge and the target design surface through the monitor,cautiously controlling the implement lever manually toprevent overcutting.
On the other hand, with the ICT Hydraulic Excavator,
the operator can control the implement towards the target
design surface and the machine will automatically stop themovement to prevent overcutting. This is called “AutoStop” (Fig. 14 upper). Next when the stick is pulled backtowards the operator, the boom will automaticallyraise/lower so the bucket edge will trace the design surface.
This is called “Auto Grade Assist” (Fig. 14 lower)

Fig. 15 Slope construction by Hydraulic excavator

6.2. Closest distance control
In the case of a slope plane construction (Fig. 15), if
the machine direction is not directly facing the slope
surface, the bucket needs to be controlled to prevent overcutting at the point of the closest distance portion on thebucket cutting edge (Fig.16).
The control point of the bucket cutting edge isselectable by the operator from four choices such as thecenter of the bucket, the left end, the right end and theclosest distance point. When the closest distance point isFig. 16

Bucket control point and closest distance control

selected, the Auto Stop and Auto Grade Assist control is
performed at the portion closest to the target design
surface. These controls function not only for bucket
cutting edge but also for bucket bottom surface and bucket
contours, thus high accurate finish grading by using
bucket bottom is also possible.
6.3. Facing compass
Further, the usability is improved when constructing aslope plane (Fig. 15) by utilizing the facing compass

Fig. 17 Facing compass, not facing to slope

function (Fig. 17, Fig. 18) which is highly visibly
displayed on the ICT monitor screen and allow theoperator to easily understand the state of machine body
direction to the target design surface.
7. Concluding remarks
SMART CONSTRUCTION

serviceandICT

construction machine, such as ICT Bulldozer and ICT
Hydraulic excavator, have provided a solution to theissues of the construction industry such as labor shortage,

Fig. 18 Facing compass, facing to slope

reduction of skilled operators, and difficulty of skill lore.
Furthermore, it has brought economic benefits to theresult, both have gained a high reputation in and outside

customers by maximizing their business efficiency. As athe country.
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8. Acknowledgements
I would like to thank all of the members relating to
the development of ICT construction machines and theSMART CONSTRUCTION services.
References
Kenjiro S. 2013. Komatsu Technical Report, vol. 59, No.
166. (in Japanese)
Yuki S. 2014. Komatsu Technical Report , vol. 60, No. 167.
(in Japanese)
Tomohiro N. 2014. Japan Construction Machinery andConstruction Association, vol. 66, No. 12. (inJapanese)
Kenji O. 2016. Fluid Power System society, vol. 47, No.
2, pp. 74-77. (in Japanese)- 20 -