Japanese firm Komatsu has shared concepts for machinery for underwater automation and construction on other planets at CES 2025
Underwater automation for disaster relief and lunar construction machinery are among some of Komatsu’s otherworldly concepts debuted at CES 2025.
The firm hopes that their first time physical exhibit at the Las Vegas event will entice a new generation of talent to join and help drive “innovation for extreme applications”.
“The core industries we serve, construction and mining, offer plenty of extreme applications that push our engineers, programmers and designers to problem solve ground-breaking use of technology and product design to stay ahead of the needs of our customers,” said Taisuke Kusaba, CTO and president, Development Division, of Tokyo-based Komatsu Ltd.
“As a proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators, CES offers a unique opportunity to highlight some of the leading-edge concepts we have in the works, as well as the Komatsu innovations that are actively helping shape the world around us.”
Lunar construction is the next step of space exploration
China has announced plans to establish a moon base built with lunar soil by 2035 and has already begun experimenting with lunar bricks on their Tiangong Space Station. Russia will work in partnership with China on the construction of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project, along with Egypt and Bahrain.
NASA has similar aims of a long-term moon base by 2030, but has suffered from technological delays. The first of their exploratory Artemis missions, which will help research locations for the moon base, will now not begin until September 2025 at the earliest.
Due to low gravity and the lack of atmosphere to offer any protection from high levels of radiation, it is unlikely that the Moon could support a large permanent human population. However, there is significant industrial opportunity on the Moon for mining and manufacturing operations, as well as functioning as a launching point for future space missions, such as the colonisation of Mars.
Artificial intelligence will likely play a significant role in future space exploration
Developments in artificial intelligence (AI) has presented new opportunities for lunar exploration, with scientists studying the application of AI in robotic explorers.
The construction industry has followed this line of thinking with automated robotics and machinery on our planet, mostly deployed as a safety tool. However, as a new space race heats up, multiple industries are exploring innovative technologies to be part of the construction of extraplanetary settlements.
Komatsu specialises in machinery for extreme environments
Based in Japan, Komatsu operates globally across a variety of extreme environments. Disaster relief technology was also featured at the exhibition, with an underwater bulldozer on display.
These remote-controlled machines would be able to maintain natural and manmade waterways, as well as respond to environmental disasters such as flooding and tsunamis. The machines could also be used for work at volcanic disaster sites.
“Our core industries employ some of the most innovative, ground-breaking applications of automation and connected products, but new generations of talent with the skills to further those innovations often do not realize the opportunities we have available that would allow them to shape modern advancement,” said Hiroyuki Ogawa, president and CEO of Komatsu Ltd. “At CES 2025 we are looking forward to bringing some our most interesting equipment and technology applications to life for attendees from across the globe.”
Komatsu are exhibiting at Booth 5316 in West Hall at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, until 10 January 2025.
