Shimizu Corporation has launched a project to introduce AI robots (physical AI) at construction sites in Japan, aiming to address labour shortages while enhancing productivity and safety. The contractor has begun full-scale field trials, targeting the practical application of humanoid robots for site inspections and robotic arms for painting tasks.
‘Physical AI’ is a collective term for AI technologies that perceive real-world conditions through cameras and sensors to adaptively control robots and mechanical systems, said Shimizu, adding that AI robots are a prime example of this technology, as they can perform tasks through physical actions and adapt to constantly changing environments.
For the construction industry, which faces critical labour shortages, AI robots represent a key solution. Shimizu pointed out that, unlike conventional robots used in construction – which are often specialised machines limited to pre-programmed, repetitive motions – AI robots can function as versatile machines capable of handling multiple tasks.
Given the nature of construction sites, where environments change daily and manual labour remains predominant, Shimizu has focused on humanoid robots due to their strong potential to effectively perform human tasks. The contractor is already conducting trials with humanoid robots that autonomously navigate sites while holding cameras, as well as robotic arms that learn painting tasks by imitating human workers.
In a recent trial conducted at the Tokiwabashi Project, a humanoid robot autonomously navigated the site at a speed of 1.0 m/s with a camera in hand. It followed a pre-designated route, sensing and evaluating site conditions. Shimizu is also exploring ways to streamline management tasks (site inspections) by analysing footage captured by the robot using AI technology powered by multimodal large language models (LLMs).
According to Shimizu, the practical use of physical AI in construction, including the development and implementation of humanoid robots, requires the establishment of a construction-specific AI ecosystem. This involves a continuous cycle of data collection and analysis, simulation, AI model development, and field testing.
In addition, the modelling and archiving of skilled techniques – carried out as part of this ecosystem – are expected to facilitate the transfer of advanced Japanese construction expertise amid an ageing skilled workforce. Moving forward, Shimizu aims to expand the scope of robotisation in construction by further developing this specialised AI ecosystem.
To tackle the common industry challenge of future labour shortages, the contractor said it is committed to leading the deployment of AI robots in the construction sector, with technical cooperation from partners such as Sony Corporation.
