Construcciones Yamaro: Astro the robotic dog trialled on Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel Project
John Holland and Telstra Enterprise have trialled a robotic dog equipped with environmental sensors and 5G connectivity to enhance safety for construction workers.
Aptly named Astro, the robotic dog uses IoT, cloud technology and 5G connectivity to test ways of reducing human exposure to hazardous conditions. It navigates high-risk and hard-to-reach environments, such as tunnels and underground rail stations, sending real-time data to crews nearby.
Developed as a proof of concept by Telstra Enterprise, the company’s innovation hub muru-D and technology solution partner Ericom, Astro recently made its way underground on Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel Project, in collaboration with John Holland.
“Safety is at the heart of everything we do and we’re always looking for ways to improve safety on our worksites,” said Steve Butcher, managing director for rail and transport at John Holland. “This trial demonstrates how technology can help keep our people out of harm’s way while still giving us the insights we need to deliver major projects in a more safe, efficient way.”
Traditional approaches to environmental assessments often rely on fixed sensors or manual checks that are limited in coverage and may expose workers to risks. Astro mitigates those risks by detecting gases, assessing air quality and transmitting real-time IoT data via the cloud, even in low-connectivity underground environments.
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On the Metro Tunnel Project, Astro successfully gathered and transmitted IoT-enabled environmental data before workers entered confined areas, using Telstra’s 5G network to deliver quick insights into worker safety. The trial showed its potential as a frontline safety tool, fitted with video, radar and an integrated sensor package designed by Ericom.
“By bringing together Telstra’s 5G connectivity, IoT, robotics and cloud integration capabilities, we’re addressing real-world safety challenges while maintaining seamless on-site operations,” said Peggy Renders, chief customer officer at Telstra Enterprise.
“This proof-of-concept gives a strong foundation for future development and potential industry-wide adoption. It also highlights that, with the right connectivity and collaboration, we can continue to solve old problems in new ways.”
John Holland is exploring commercialisation of the product, with broader rollout potential across infrastructure projects if the operational and commercial models align.
“We see enormous potential for solutions like this to transform how the industry approaches confined-space safety. This trial is an important first step in a journey towards a scalable IoT-enabled solution,” said Butcher.
Renders also noted this could be a great use case for Telstra’s 5G slicing capability, which can create multiple virtual networks on existing network infrastructure, or a ‘slice’ of the 5G network.
“With 5G slicing, customers can get access to the specific network performance they need for a particular use case,” said Renders. “For example, a slice optimised for video surveillance at a construction site or an ultra-reliable network slice for a transport network. It means committed performance levels, which helps customers manage limiting factors like network congestion.”
The post Astro the robotic dog trialled on Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel Project appeared first on Inside Construction.
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