JFE Logistics Corporation (President: Masahiro Furukawa), JFE Setouchi Logistics Corporation (President: Kazuhiro Yahiro) and DeepX Inc. (President: Joji Toyama) have developed a new technology that automates bulldozer-based ripper※1 operations. This aims to reduce the workload of on-site workers and enhance safety during slag processing at JFE Steel Corporation’s West Japan Works (Kurashiki).
JFE Setouchi Logistics is responsible for the transportation and processing of high-temperature molten slag, a byproduct of the steelmaking process. Once the slag has cooled and solidified, it needs to be crushed using bulldozers equipped with a ripper. Traditionally, these operations required operators to be physically onboard the machinery, creating fire hazards if the bulldozers came into contact with insufficiently cooled slag. In addition, labor shortages and the growing demand for safer working environments have accelerated the push toward mechanization and improved workplace conditions.
To address these challenges, the newly developed automated control system enables precise, real-time estimation of the bulldozer’s body and ripper positions, orientations, and operational states. This is achieved through the integration of multiple onboard sensors—GNSS※2, IMU※3, and tilt sensors※4 —installed on the bulldozer. The system enables adaptive control even under the uneven terrain conditions of solidified or partially crushed slag surfaces.
Operators can remotely specify the area to be processed, after which the system automatically calculates the optimal route for the bulldozer. The machine then autonomously follows the route, lowering the ripper to efficiently crush the slag. Demonstration tests are currently underway, with full-scale implementation planned within the fiscal year.
In parallel, JFE Logistics and JFE Setouchi Logistics are also advancing the development of additional automation technologies for slag handling. These efforts form part of the JFE Group’s broader commitment to environmental and social sustainability by promoting digital transformation (DX) at industrial sites—emphasizing worker safety and the creation of sustainable production environments.
【Autonomous Bulldozer Operations at the Slag field of the West Japan Works (Kurashiki)】
※１ Ripper: A large claw used to break up ground or bedrock.
※２ GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System): A system that determines the current location by calculating distances from multiple positioning satellites.
※３ IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit): A device that measures motion-related parameters, such as acceleration and velocity, based on three-dimensional movement detection.
※４ Tilt sensor: A sensor that measures the angle of tilt relative to gravity.
For Inquiries:
JFE Logistics Corporation General Affairs & CSR Office, General Affairs Department TEL: 03(6671)9870
JFE Setouchi Logistics Corporation General Affairs Office, General Affairs Department TEL: 086(447)4676
■About DeepX Inc.
DeepX is an AI startup from the Matsuo Laboratory at the University of Tokyo, with the mission of “Automating Any Machine and Innovating Global Industries.” By leveraging various technologies, including AI, we aim to address workforce shortages, a lack of skilled workers, and harsh working conditions in many industries, promoting the automation of all machines and a wide range of tasks.
– Location: 3rd Floor, Daiichi Mikura Building, 3-21-4 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
– Established: April 22, 2016
– Representative: Joji Toyama
– Main Business Activities: Supporting the automation of machinery and on-site work, business development using AI technology, software development, R&D
– URL: https://www.deepx.co.jp/
Contact: info@deepx.co.jp
