The workshop Robotics in the Underground, which took place in the exceptional environment of „Podzemní laboratoře Josef“ in Chotilsko, confirmed that modern technologies have a key place in the construction industry. The event, jointly organised by the Faculty of Civil Engineering of CTU, the National Centre for Construction 4.0 (NCS) and twelve industrial partners, presented current research projects at the interface of robotics, digitisation and geotechnics.
The underground laboratories in the Štola Josef serve scientific projects focused on the digitization of subterranean spaces – using autonomous robotic systems or drones. At the workshop, experts presented, among other things, a georeferenced digital model of the entire facility. “Digitization and precise mapping of underground spaces are essential for the later deployment of robotic systems so that the robot fully understands the environment it’s navigating in,” said prof. Radoslav Sovják, Director of NCS 4.0. According to him, this environment will allow for the scanning of cross-sections and the evaluation of possible unexpected situations that could arise underground.
Underground construction: both real and virtual space
Workshop participants had the opportunity to explore not only the actual underground environment but also its digital representation. The teams presented a georeferenced digital model of the entire gallery, which enables precise mapping and simulation of the environment for the deployment of autonomous robotic systems. Such a model is essential for ensuring safety, efficiency, and future automation of activities in underground construction.
“Digitization and precise mapping are the foundation for a robot to navigate and operate effectively in such a demanding environment,” said Sovják.
The model is used not only for research but also as a tool for educating students in technical fields. Current research focuses, among other things, on the use of underground spaces for radioactive waste storage or energy accumulation, making the Štola Josef a unique testing environment not only within the Czech Republic.
JULBOT: A robot born for the underground
One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of JULBOT (Josef Underground Laboratory Bot) – a robust inspection robot developed specifically for the Štola Josef environment. The platform is equipped with sensors for data collection, environmental analysis, and is resistant to extreme conditions. It can carry up to one ton and is intended for use in both research and practical education. Other CTU faculties can also participate in its development, and several private companies have already expressed interest in collaboration.
Connecting science, practice, and the public
The workshop in the underground laboratory showcased not only technological innovations but also the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation. The organizers aimed to inspire both experts and the wider public to adopt robotics, automation, and digital tools more broadly in construction. According to Radoslav Sovják, this field has “tremendous innovation potential,” which can only be fully realized through the collaboration of academia, industry, and public administration.
The Josef Underground Laboratory has served as a unique research and educational facility of the CTU Faculty of Civil Engineering since 2007. Originally a gallery for gold deposit exploration, it is now a center of cutting-edge research with direct relevance to the construction industry.
Partners of the „Robotics Underground“ event:
Metrostav a.s. · HOCHTIEF · FIRSTGREEN INDUSTRIES GLOBAL · KUKA · Hilti Group · G4D s.r.o. · SUDOP GROUP a.s. · LinkSoft Technologies & BIM Consulting · Epiroc · JLR Diamond · EKOLA group, spol. s r.o. · Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO) · SÚRAO
JULBOT: a robot born for the underground
One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of JULBOT (Josef Underground Laboratory Bot) – a robust inspection robot developed specifically for the Štola Josef environment. The platform is equipped with sensors for data collection, environmental analysis and is resistant to extreme conditions. It can carry up to one tonne and its use is planned for both research and practical teaching. Other CTU faculties may also participate in the development and private companies have already expressed interest in cooperation.
Connecting the world of science, practice and the public
The workshop in the underground laboratory showed not only technological innovations but also the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation. The aim of the organisers was to inspire both experts and the wider public to make wider use of robotics, automation and digital tools in the construction industry. According to Radoslav Sovják, this particular field has “huge innovation potential”, which can only be fully exploited by linking academia, industry and government.
