On Thursday, 11 June, the third annual Robotics Underground event took place at the Josef Underground Laboratory, a specialized facility of the Czech Technical University’s Faculty of Civil Engineering. Scientists, students, industrial companies, and innovators presented the results of their work under the umbrella of the National Centre for Construction 4.0, based at the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics (CIIRC CTU).
The event demonstrated how new technologies for construction, underground engineering, autonomous systems, and the application of artificial intelligence in demanding operational environments can be tested and validated under real-world conditions.
“Our long-term goal is to build a functional bridge between academia and industry. At the National Centre for Construction 4.0, we create a space for new ideas, progressive technologies, and synergy between construction practice, research, and the next generation of experts. Although the construction sector naturally retains its proven principles, robotics and automation are becoming increasingly prominent. Our main mission is to help these innovations move from laboratories directly into real-world practice,” said Radoslav Sovják, Director of the National Centre for Construction 4.0, introducing this unique initiative.
Opening remarks were also delivered by Petr Konvalinka, Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering; Eduard Muřický, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade; Jindřiška Romba, Deputy Governor of the Central Bohemian Region; Jiří Šťástka, Head of the Josef Underground Laboratory; Ondřej Velek, Director of CIIRC CTU; and Vladimír Mařík, Scientific Director of CIIRC CTU.
“The Josef Underground Laboratory is a testbed that is, in some respects, very similar to industrial testbeds and, in others, quite different. It enables experiments under specific underground conditions focused on the operation of artificial intelligence in the physical world. The key objective here is to achieve maximum autonomy and improve machine capabilities through the use of machine learning,” said Professor Vladimír Mařík during the opening ceremony.
A Unique Environment for Technology Validation
The Josef adit is located near the Slapy Reservoir in an area with historic gold deposits. Today, it serves as a unique research and experimental facility. The site offers approximately six kilometres of underground tunnels, creating ideal conditions for testing technologies in a realistic environment.
A significant advantage of the location is its easy access from the surface without the need for traditional mine descent. The extensive network of side tunnels and exploratory drifts also provides space for in-situ experiments, allowing technologies to be tested directly in the conditions for which they are intended.
From Autonomous Machines to Construction Robots
The programme featured practical demonstrations of modern technologies designed for underground operations and the construction sites of the future. Visitors had the opportunity to see:
- Autonomous mining machines developed by Firstgreen Industries;
- Autonomous inspection drones developed by Fly4Future, a CTU spin-off company;
- Autonomous inspection robotic dogs developed by the Josef Underground Laboratory in cooperation with Brno University of Technology and G4D;
- The KUKA construction robot.
In addition to the live demonstrations, several projects and solutions focused on the digitalisation and automation of construction and underground operations were presented, including:
- Technologies used in the construction of Prague Metro Line D by Strabag;
- Applications of artificial intelligence and automation in measurement and evaluation processes developed by Ekola;
- Solutions for the automation and digitalisation of underground operations developed by Epiroc;
- The development of a deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel by the Radioactive Waste Repository Authority (SÚRAO).
A Platform for Young Talent
An integral part of the programme was the student scientific conference and the Robotics in Action competition, which provided students with an opportunity to present their projects and connect with experts from both research institutions and industry.
The Robotics Underground event once again confirmed the importance of the Josef Underground Laboratory as a unique testbed where research, education, and industrial practice converge. It is precisely in environments such as this that technologies with the potential to improve the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of future construction projects and underground operations can be thoroughly tested and validated.
The event was held under the auspices of Petra Pecková, Governor of the Central Bohemian Region, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.
More information about the event: https://www.ncs40.cz/podzemni-laborator-josef
