Notice Regarding the Launch of Joint Research Toward the Practical Application of Autonomous Operation for Construction Machinery

Takeuchi Mfg. Co., Ltd. hereby announces that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Kansai Transmission and Distribution, Inc. and DeepX, Inc. to conduct joint research on the remote operation and automation of excavation and soil removal work for transmission tower foundation construction.
 

1. Purpose of Joint Research 

Due to the shrinking labor force resulting from the declining birthrate and aging population, there is a growing challenge in maintaining a stable construction workforce for the excavation work involved in transmission tower foundation construction. In addition, operating construction machinery within narrow boreholes requires a high level of skill and relies heavily on the experience and ability of the workers. In addition, since the work is being carried out at depths far below the ground surface, it is essential to take every precaution to ensure safety.

This joint research aims to address these issues by establishing remote control and automation technologies for construction machinery, with a focus on excavation processes, thereby contributing to the maintenance of a stable power transmission line construction system through labor-saving measures in excavation and soil removal operations, reducing dependence on workers’ experience and skills, and improving safety.

2. Overview of Joint Research

Takeuchi Mfg. will improve the current line of electric compact excavators (TM Series), which we develop, manufacture, and sell, and will also develop new earth-moving equipment. We will then integrate these with the remote operation and autonomous driving systems developed by DeepX and apply them to transmission tower foundation construction projects carried out by Kansai Transmission and Distribution to verify their effectiveness. This provides the following benefits. 

a) Reduce the Labor Required for Excavation and Soil Removal 

By shifting the role of workers from “operation” to “instruction", the entire excavation and soil removal process can be carried out with a smaller workforce.

b) Reduce Dependence on Workers' Experience and Skills 

By replacing manual operation of construction machinery with autonomous driving in narrow boreholes, the dependence on workers’ experience and skills will be reduced. 

c) Improve Safety

By reducing the number of tasks workers operate construction machinery inside boreholes during excavation, we aim to improve safety.

3. Future Outlook 

Through this joint research, we aim to achieve the remote operation and automation of construction machinery in the foundation work for transmission tower construction. Electricity is essential to support all aspects of society, and it is of the utmost importance to maintain a stable and continuous power transmission infrastructure. As electricity demand is expected to grow in the transition to a decarbonized society, its importance is increasing even further. 

This joint research contributes to addressing the social issue of the shrinking labor force resulting from the declining birthrate and aging population through labor-saving measures in excavation and soil removal operations, reducing dependence on workers’ experience and skills, and improving safety. We will jointly and cooperatively advance this initiative as a socially essential project that is indispensable for ensuring a stable supply of electricity and achieving decarbonization.

4. Impact on Business Performance 

There is no impact on the consolidated results of our group for the current consolidated fiscal year.