Key facts
- Shimizu plans to introduce AI-powered humanoid robots by fiscal 2030.
- The robots will perform tasks like painting and plastering.
- The goal is to address labor shortages and improve productivity in construction.
- Shimizu is testing Unitree robots for site patrol and has developed its own 'Shimizu Smart Site' system.
- The system integrates AI, BIM, and autonomous robots including Robo-Welder, Robo-Buddy, and Robo-Carrier.
- A high-rise building project in the Kansai area will be the first to use the complete system, aiming for a 70% labor reduction.
Japanese construction firm Shimizu Corporation is targeting fiscal 2030 for the introduction of AI-powered humanoid robots to its job sites. The company aims for these robots to handle tasks such as painting and plastering, addressing the severe labor shortages plaguing the construction industry and enhancing productivity.
Shimizu is currently testing robots from Chinese firm Unitree for construction site patrols. The company's broader initiative, the Shimizu Smart Site system, integrates autonomous robots equipped with artificial intelligence and building information modeling (BIM) to work collaboratively with human employees. This system is designed to reduce strenuous and repetitive labor, making construction sites more attractive to younger workers.
Key to the Shimizu Smart Site are its autonomous robots, which can make independent decisions on-site. Unlike previous robotic attempts that required significant human support and often yielded subpar results, these new robots are conceptualized as "buddies" for human workers. They combine Shimizu's construction expertise with technologies from AI, IoT, deep learning, and high-speed processing, leveraging BIM data for precise operation.
Shimizu has developed three specific robots: the Robo-Welder, which automates welding tasks; the Robo-Buddy, a multipurpose robot capable of installing ceiling boards and raised floor systems; and the Robo-Carrier, an automated conveyor system for material transport. The Robo-Carrier can autonomously navigate around obstacles and even use elevators.
The company plans to deploy the complete Shimizu Smart Site system on a high-rise building project in the Kansai region early next year, with the ambitious goal of achieving a labor reduction of 70% or more for tasks performed by the robots.