Japanese multinational heavy equipment manufacturer Komatsu is partnering vehicle intelligence specialist Applied Intuition. The two companies are collaborating to accelerate the development of next-generation intelligent vehicles for the mining industry.

Komatsu will harness Applied Intuition’s Vehicle OS to deploy advanced onboard technologies to its vehicles. The company will also employ Applied Intuition’s autonomy technology and AI-powered tooling for haulage and collision avoidance. These will enable Komatsu to optimise safety and energy efficiency while increasing overall productivity and accelerating product development.

“Applied Intuition will help usher in the next chapter for a company that has helped shape the foundation of the global mining industry,” said Qasar Younis, co-founder and CEO of Applied Intuition. “The mining industry faces a perfect storm: rising costs, safety risks, decarbonisation pressures, labor shortages and an increasing demand for critical minerals as a national security imperative. To stay competitive, companies must build smarter machines that can react independently in real time. With Komatsu, we will unlock productivity in some of the world’s harshest operating environments while keeping workers safe.”

“This partnership represents a step-change in Komatsu’s ability to deliver autonomous solutions to our mining customers,” said Peter Salditt, president, Komatsu Mining Business Division. “Together with Applied Intuition, we’re combining mining expertise with cutting-edge autonomous software capabilities to accelerate the deployment of intelligent machines. This collaboration aligns with our long-term vision to transform mining through innovation, automation and sustainable technology.”