2023/09/12
NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization)
Keio University
Obayashi Corporation
As part of NEDO's "Project for Discovering and Nurturing Young Researchers through Public-Private Collaboration," a research group led by Associate Professor Takahiro Nozaki of Keio University and Obayashi Corporation has been working to develop a system that remotely controls and automates the hazardous tasks of charging and wiring explosives directly at the working face of a mountain tunnel by applying real-haptics® technology, which remotely reproduces haptic sensations. They have now successfully developed an automated explosive charging system.
Equipped with real-haptics® technology, this system allows explosive charging to be performed from a safe location away from the working face. The transmission of haptic sensations enables intuitive operation, as if working directly at the tunnel face, allowing for smooth insertion of explosives into drill holes and pushing them in with the appropriate amount of force. Furthermore, an increase in productivity is expected by using data obtained from the remote charging technology to replicate operator movements and automate the charging process.
Moving forward, the team will proceed with component testing of an automated wiring system (patent pending) that automatically connects leg wires while detecting contact with the working face, aiming for on-site application of this series of technologies. Additionally, they will advance development toward the unmanned operation of tunnel excavation by enabling each system to learn autonomously.
For the full press release, please see below.