Leica Geosystems, Kobelco Construction Machinery collaborate to develop remote operation of excavators

(HEERBRUGG, Switzerland, 27 October 2020) – Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, announced today a new collaboration with Kobelco Construction Machinery, a leading provider of excavators and cranes, to develop integrated 2D and 3D machine control solutions which can be operated remotely as part of the Kobelco K-DIVE CONCEPT*.

Kobelco Construction Machinery is developing remote control system called K-DIVE CONCEPT. By manipulating a dedicated cockpit with displays showing the jobsite from an office, operators can control excavators remotely without going to the real jobsite. This time, with a focus on bringing more efficiency, safety and productivity through digitalisation to the heavy construction industry, Kobelco Construction Machinery and Leica Geosystems work together to help facilitate the remote operation of excavators. The relationship will take advantage of Leica Geosystems know how in relation to K-DIVE CONCEPT’s next generation Telework System using remote operation technology for operators.

K-DIVE CONCEPT will allow a diverse range of operators to work efficiently having access to any jobsite  without being restricted by location. Using a remote system enables contractors to view progress of jobsites virtually and used as virtual training for operators.

“We are honoured to be chosen as technology partner in our common journey towards an autonomous jobsite,” said Leica Geosystems Machine Control President Magnus Thibblin. “Working with a leading excavator manufacturer like Kobelco Construction Machinery , fulfil our ambition to be on the forefront of technology within the heavy construction industry.”

K-DIVE CONCEPT and the Leica MC1 3D machine control solution

Complete control for excavators

The advanced Leica iCON 3D excavator machine control solution guides the operator using reference models and GNSS in 3D. Design information and real-time cut/fill indications are displayed on the control panel, allowing the operators to rapidly excavate to the reference design on projects, such as large road and infrastructure construction, subdivision building, industrial sites and demolition works. Via a new cloud-based Construction Equipment Telework Service system, remote operators can control excavators’ performance on a jobsite in real-time. Kobelco Construction Machinery will take advantage of high-speed 5G mobile communication systems as the core of K-DIVE CONCEPT.

“We have great ambitions with K-DIVE CONCEPT, and in our search for technology to achieve this, we are excited to work with Leica Geosystems,” said  Kobelco Construction Machinery General Manager, Business Development Department, Corporate Planning Division Yoichiro Yamazaki.“Our IoT revolutionises the improvement of safety and on-site productivity, allowing a diverse range of operators to work remotely.”

The step-up image of K-DIVE CONCEPT

*K-DIVE CONCEPT is a construction equipment telework service system which KCM is researching and developing. This system enables construction machinery operators to work remotely by providing remote control and connecting data of operators, construction machinery, and businesses. Through this human-centric work-style innovation, KCM aims to create attractive environments where anyone can work and contribute to the creation of a prosperous society.                                                                        

K-DIVE CONCEPT is under development aiming for the practical application in Japan, and the global expansion has not been decided yet.

About Kobelco Construction Machinery – user hands-on approach

Ever since producing the first large domestic electric shovel 90 years ago in 1930, Kobelco Construction Machinery has been creating a wide variety of products to meet contemporary demands, by repeatedly taking on challenges and evolving ourselves over many years.

Kobelco Construction Machinery is in charge of the manufacture, sales and service of construction machinery as a company of Kobe Steel Group. Having main 3 flagships of Hydraulic excavator, crane, environmental recycling machine, and there are 8 production bases in the world and we spread the business through our worldwide sales network.

These days, IoT is progressing and our business style has also been changing. We are expanding the business field by adding our original ”tangible” products to “intangible” technology and service with our new slogan,  “Creating the Jobsite for Anyone ”.

 Kobelco Construction Machinery has approximately 7,900 employees in the world and net sales of 360 billion JPY. Learn more at kobelcocm-global.com.