Komatsu, EARTHBRAIN and TIER IV Form Strategic Collaboration to Advance Autonomous Construction Equipment
Komatsu Ltd., a global leader in construction and mining equipment, has announced a major new collaboration with its subsidiary EARTHBRAIN Ltd. and TIER IV Inc., a company widely recognized as a pioneer in open-source software for autonomous driving. The three companies will work together to accelerate the development and practical deployment of autonomous technology specifically designed for construction equipment.
The partnership focuses on bringing automation to Komatsu’s articulated and rigid dump trucks, with targeted use in civil engineering and quarry sites across Japan. According to the companies, they are aiming for practical implementation of the technology by fiscal year 2027, signaling a medium-term roadmap toward broader adoption of autonomous operations in construction and heavy industry.
Leveraging Proven Expertise
Komatsu and EARTHBRAIN have already been investing heavily in automation and remote operation technologies. These efforts are driven by a vision to create safer, more efficient, and more productive jobsites for customers while addressing key industry challenges such as labor shortages. The two companies identified TIER IV as a valuable partner thanks to its deep expertise in autonomous driving technologies for on-road vehicles.
TIER IV is best known for its leadership in developing Autoware, the world’s first open-source software platform dedicated to autonomous driving. By bringing this capability into the construction sector, Komatsu and EARTHBRAIN expect to significantly accelerate the advancement of off-road automation.
Combining Complementary Strengths
The collaboration brings together three distinct but complementary areas of expertise:
- TIER IV contributes advanced autonomous driving technology and system development know-how.
- Komatsu provides deep engineering capabilities in heavy-duty construction equipment, particularly dump trucks that operate under demanding site conditions.
- EARTHBRAIN offers digital expertise in construction process management and will lead the development of an integrated fleet management system.
Together, the companies will design an autonomous system tailored to construction equipment and develop a fleet management solution to oversee and optimize operations. TIER IV will co-develop the core autonomous driving system with Komatsu and support its integration and deployment on actual jobsites. EARTHBRAIN, on the other hand, will ensure that the fleet management platform maximizes the operational value of the autonomous machines.
Customer Value and Industry Benefits
The companies have highlighted several key areas where the collaboration is expected to deliver tangible benefits for customers and the wider industry:
- Addressing Labor Shortages – By enabling dump trucks to operate autonomously, the solution will reduce reliance on human drivers. This directly addresses the growing issue of labor shortages in civil engineering and quarry operations, where skilled workers are increasingly difficult to secure.
- Improved Efficiency – The integration of an intelligent fleet management system will allow for dynamic route optimization. With stable autonomous driving controls, this will result in more efficient haulage cycles, reducing delays and increasing productivity across the site.
- Safety and Sustainability – Autonomous systems can help reduce fuel consumption through more precise and optimized operations. Additionally, by supporting unmanned or semi-unmanned operations, the solution will contribute to safer working environments while lowering environmental impact.
Initial Applications and Future Expansion
Komatsu plans to first apply the new autonomous technologies to two of its flagship dump truck models:
- The HM400 articulated dump truck, which has a maximum payload capacity of 40 tons.
- The HD785 rigid dump truck, which has a maximum payload capacity of 93.9 tons.
These models were selected because of their wide use in large-scale construction and quarry sites, making them ideal candidates for early deployment. Once proven successful, the companies plan to expand the application of the technology to additional Komatsu models, broadening the scope of autonomous operations across different jobsite conditions.
The long-term vision extends beyond Japan, with Komatsu also aiming for global deployment of these solutions. Beyond civil engineering and quarry projects, the technology could be adapted for a range of industrial sites, including steel mills, plants, and other large-scale production environments.
Driving Smart Transformation of Job Sites
The collaboration reflects a broader trend in the construction and mining industries toward smart transformation. By embedding digital technology, connectivity, and automation into heavy equipment, companies aim to create jobsites that are safer, more efficient, and better able to cope with modern challenges.
For Komatsu, EARTHBRAIN, and TIER IV, the goal is not only to deploy autonomous trucks but also to deliver an integrated ecosystem where machines and management systems work together seamlessly. This approach promises to redefine operational workflows at construction sites, improve cost efficiency, and create a pathway toward more sustainable practices.
