KYB Corporation and ARAV Inc. Launch Collaboration for Construction Machinery Automation and Remote Operation Solutions Utilizing Hydraulic Control Technology

KYB Corporation (Headquarters: World Trade Center Building South Tower 28F, 2-4-1 Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku, Tokyo, President & CEO: Masahiro Kawase, hereinafter "KYB"), a comprehensive manufacturer of hydraulic equipment, and ARAV Inc. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Itsuki Shirahisa Reyes, hereinafter "ARAV"), which develops and provides remote operation and autonomous driving solutions for construction machinery, have launched a collaboration to jointly develop and deploy retrofit services that enable existing construction machinery to be retrofitted with electronic control devices for remote operation and autonomous driving.

Background of Collaboration The construction industry continues to face a severe labor shortage due to the aging of skilled workers and the decrease in young entrants, leading to high expectations for remote operation and autonomous driving of construction machinery. On the other hand, many construction machines operating in Japan are controlled using conventional hydraulic pilot systems. To enable remote operation and autonomous driving, it is essential to digitize hydraulic control (drive-by-wire). While this digitization of hydraulics is a fundamental technology indispensable for realizing construction machinery automation, services that can accommodate various construction machinery manufacturers have been limited.

ARAV has accumulated operational experience at multiple construction sites with its retrofit approach, which enables automation and remote operation by adding devices to existing construction machinery, including its autonomous driving solution for hydraulic excavators, "Yoisho Tounyakun." Meanwhile, KYB possesses extensive technological expertise in hydraulic equipment, including hydraulic cylinders, hydraulic pumps, and hydraulic control valves, and has a track record of supplying hydraulic components to various construction machinery manufacturers.

Photo 1: Solenoid proportional pressure reducing valve

Overview of Collaboration Through this collaboration, KYB and ARAV will jointly develop and deploy retrofit services that enable existing construction machinery to support remote operation and autonomous driving by combining KYB's developed "electronic control devices" with ARAV's remote operation and autonomous driving technology for construction machinery.

KYB will be responsible for the hardware that digitizes hydraulic control, while ARAV will handle the control system for remote operation and autonomous driving. This will enable the provision of a one-stop retrofit service to convert conventional hydraulic pilot-operated construction machinery to support remote operation and autonomous driving.

Future Development KYB and ARAV will initially launch this retrofit service for hydraulic excavators and will sequentially expand the range of compatible models. In the future, they plan to expand into other categories such as wheel loaders and further enhance control performance, thereby contributing to labor saving and improved safety at construction sites.

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Company Information: ARAV Inc. (Pronunciation: Arav)

Location: Higashidaimae HIRAKU GATE 9F, 2-3-10 Mukogaoka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo

Established: April 1, 2020

Representative: Itsuki Shirahisa Reyes, Representative Director

Business Activities: Development and provision of remote operation and autonomous driving solutions for construction machinery

Official Website: https://arav.jp/

Company Information: KYB Corporation

* KYB's company information will be provided by KYB at the time of joint announcement.

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Inquiries

For inquiries regarding this matter, please contact ARAV Inc. via their official website. https://arav.jp/contact/