오시코시 JLG 건설 및 산업용 붐 리프트

In construction sites facing severe labor shortages and safety issues, welding or installation work at high places has relied on the direct work of skilled workers. This poses a high risk of safety accidents such as falls, and the aging workforce makes it difficult to secure skilled labor.

Existing aerial work platforms (boom lifts) simply lift people, so people still have to do difficult and dangerous work at height. In addition, various tasks are performed separately, resulting in reduced work efficiency and project delays.

Against this backdrop, Oshkosh JLG's robotic boom lift is"A robot that goes up high and works instead of people"It aims to solve the chronic labor shortage and safety problems in the construction industry.

The core of this product is that it transforms an industrial aerial work platform into a giant robot. While typical autonomous robots are small drones or ground-based mobile robots, this product integrates a robotic arm (Manipulator) and AI control into a robust construction lift to handle large and heavy tasks with ease.

For example, the robotic arm at the end of the lift performs steel structure welding, bolt tightening, painting, and sensor inspection just like a human. This system is linked to BIM (Building Information Modeling) and digital twins to accurately follow the location and process according to the architectural drawings. In addition, AI-based work planning recognizes the surrounding environment and adjusts the real-time path, and sensor fusion enables obstacle avoidance and precise work.

Compared to existing human-operated lifts, the differentiators are that it can work 24 hours a day, perform tasks in places where human access is dangerous, and even perform cooperative (swarm) work with multiple robotic lifts. In simple terms, it is unique in terms of scale and integration in that it automates the entire work platform, rather than replacing each field worker with a robot.

Major construction companies, facility construction companies, and industrial plant companies will be the main customers. They can purchase or lease this robotic lift and deploy it to construction sites, shipyards, and power plant maintenance. In addition, construction equipment rental companies (companies that currently rent out human lifts) may also own robotic lifts in the future and rent them to construction companies.

In the public sector, bridge/infrastructure maintenance departments or military engineering units can use it for hazardous work. Basically, it is an expensive professional equipment, so it is a B2B/B2G transaction type, and it is a model that is put into projects on an individual site basis.

Oshkosh will use the JLG network toExisting human lift customers (construction companies, etc.)It is expected to upsell this autonomous version to.

From an environmental/regulatory perspective, the challenge is how autonomous equipment will be certified under construction site safety regulations. Initially, a mixed-site (human + robot) safety protocol must be established, but in the long term, regulatory barriers will be lowered if safety standards are met.

This technology can be expanded to industries that require high-altitude work, such as shipbuilding in shipyards, aircraft maintenance, and large warehouse management, in addition to construction. The market size is also potentially huge, and Oshkosh is already trying to expand its product line by subdividing it into robotic end effector versions (product #8).

However, the actual introduction to the field may be gradual due to issues such as the conservative industry culture and retraining of existing personnel. Nevertheless, given the global shortage of construction workers and the trend toward automation, this solution has the scalability to become the standard for future construction sites.

As a CES 2026 Innovation Award winner in the Construction & Industrial Tech category, it has been recognized for its innovation in combining robots with traditional industries. Construction industry experts welcomed it, saying, "Finally, a true construction robot has arrived," and especially praised it as a concept that opens a new chapter in construction automation. The judging panel commented, "It has solved the realistic challenges of labor shortages and safety issues with cutting-edge technology."

There are also cautious views on the level of technical completeness, as it is currently in the proof-of-concept stage. Industry publications such as Equipment World reported that JLG's machine is "still a concept machine but will be demonstrated soon," and it is known that a prototype demo was conducted during CES.

Market expectations are very high, with reactions such as "If such a robot appears on the site within the next 5 years, it will be a game changer," but at the same time, there is also a realistic view of "How quickly will the conservative construction site accept it?" Oshkosh actively promoted the Innovation Award and emphasized its leadership in the infrastructure industry, and investors are positively evaluating it as Oshkosh's new growth engine.

In summary, it is evaluated as "the beginning of the long-awaited era of construction robots" and is attracting great attention in both technology and market aspects.