Developers who are challenging space development

Development of Komatsu's lunar construction equipment began in 2021. The goal is to realize mankind's dream of going to space and building a base on the moon for long-duration stays. However, it is not an easy task to develop lunar construction equipment that can work in the harsh lunar environment as it does on Earth.

At present, the lunar construction equipment project team consists of about 10 members, each with knowledge and experience in his or her specialty.
We asked the three members, who are trying to overcome various challenges in this project.

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*From left to right: Horie is responsible for the hardware, Sugimura is the Team Manager, Kikuchi is responsible for the software.

*From left to right: Horie is responsible for the hardware, Sugimura is the Team Manager, Kikuchi is responsible for the software.

The members of the space development project actively volunteered to join the project through an internal recruitment process. They were in charge of another task.
So why did they all join the space development project?

Team manager Sugimura says, “I think there are big dreams and romance in space.” Horie and Kikuchi, who studied space in university, feel the same way.

The project to develop lunar construction equipment began with the dreams of the three members.
Sugimura says, “It is important to make steady progress with each step of the project according to the plan.
To achieve this, we are conducting research and development on both hardware and software on a daily basis.”

Horie “I am responsible for the hardware. I am trying to identify the problems that need to be solved in order to make construction equipment work on the moon and I am exploring ways to address them. Construction equipment is a machine with a heavy steel body that moves using the powerful force of hydraulic pressure. However, assuming that the construction equipment will be taken to the moon, it is very challenging because the ratio of lightweight materials such as aluminum, titanium, and plastic must be increased in terms of the transportation costs associated with the mass.

In terms of power, we have mainly used diesel engines on the Earth, but that is not the case on the moon. We need to use solar energy, which is relatively easy to obtain, even in space. We are also considering various ways to utilize batteries, such as leveraging Komatsu’s electrification technology and adopting next-generation batteries being developed by various research institutions, since the current lithium ion batteries cannot be used as they are.”

Kikuchi “I am responsible for the software and simulation of operations on the moon. The first step in development was to find out what would happen if construction equipment on the ground was made to work as it does on the moon. For example, when we simulated excavation, we found that the body of the lunar construction equipment would lift back and forth during excavation. On the ground, the weight of the construction equipment supports the reaction force from the ground, allowing for efficient excavation, but on the moon, the gravity is only one-sixth that of Earth, so the weight of the lunar construction equipment is correspondingly lighter.
This makes it difficult to excavate in the same way. We are examining these issues through simulations and researching the operation methods and shapes of construction equipment suitable for the lunar surface.

The members of the project work hard daily to tackle the unknowns of the lunar surface. The project's mission is to develop construction equipment for the lunar surface, but their goals and dreams do not stop there.
What kind of future do they have in mind?

The project to develop lunar construction equipment has many meanings for Komatsu. For the engineers, everything is a challenge to break new ground. Solving unprecedented problems one-by-one, from information gathering and research to planning and verification, leads to significant growth for our engineers.

Komatsu has been involved in various socially significant activities, such as landmine clearance in Cambodia and rainforest restoration in Indonesia. In the same way, the development of lunar construction equipment will increase the pride and motivation not only of the project members, but also of every single Komatsu employee.

Sugimura then addresses the children who are the bearers of the future. 

“The challenge of going into space, once a pipe dream, is now becoming a reality. The possibilities of space are expanding in various fields and forms. I hope that children who are interested in space will keep their dreams alive.”

Komatsu's challenges in space will continue. Together with our employees, together with society, and together with the future.