Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Tomohiro Komatsu is a robotics researcher focused on automating heavy construction and earthmoving machinery, with a particular emphasis on retrofitting existing vehicles for autonomous operation. His work centers on developing robotic systems for six-wheeled dump trucks and hydraulic excavators, addressing critical safety needs in disaster recovery and construction environments. Komatsu’s most cited paper, “Autonomous Driving of Six-Wheeled Dump Truck with a Retrofitted Robot” (2021, 30 citations), demonstrates his core contribution: enabling large-scale industrial vehicles to operate without human drivers using add-on sensors and control systems. He has also advanced semantic mapping for construction sites, using multiple daily airborne LiDAR scans to create high-level environmental representations that help robots understand and interact with dynamic worksites (14 citations). His spiral model approach to developing tele-operation systems for conventional excavators (2023, 5 citations) highlights his practical methodology for bringing robotic retrofits from concept to deployment, particularly for emergency restoration where operator safety is paramount. Komatsu’s path planning research for dump truck turning maneuvers during backhoe loading operations (2022, 4 citations) further showcases his attention to the complex, real-world constraints of autonomous earthmoving. His work bridges the gap between robotics research and heavy industry, offering scalable solutions for safer, more efficient construction and disaster response.