FingerVision selected for NEDO Public Solicitation Initiative, "Development of Foundation for SI Efficiency and the Creation of Diverse Robot Systems"
- FingerVision
- Aug 5
- 6 min read
Seven companies in robotics and IT launch a joint project to promote robot adoption in untapped areas
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., NTT BUSINESS SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, DAIHEN Corporation, FingerVision Inc., YASKAWA Electric Corporation, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., and ugo, inc. have proposed and been selected for a commissioned project called "Development of a Co-creation Platform for Realizing SI Efficiency and Creation of Diverse Robot Systems" under the "Post-5G Information and Communication System Infrastructure Enhancement R&D Project / Software Development Platform Construction in the Robotics Field," publicly solicited by NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization). The research and development period for this project is scheduled for fiscal years 2025-2027.
(Reference URL for NEDO project selection: https://www.nedo.go.jp/koubo/CD3_100400.html ）
In Japan, a chronic decline in the working population due to the declining birthrate and aging population has become a social issue, and the use of industrial and service robots is progressing in various fields. However, despite high expectations for the introduction of robots, there are still untapped areas (long-tail markets) where adoption has not advanced due to reasons such as high implementation costs and technical difficulties.
In this project, seven companies with extensive experience and technical capabilities in the robotics and IT fields, and a wide range of business operations, will jointly aim to build a "co-creation platform that can be used regardless of robot model or application" to promote robot adoption in the long-tail market, and an "ecosystem that can support robot adoption and operation in a community where stakeholders gather." In addition, they plan to conduct a demonstration of robot adoption and operation using the co-creation platform and ecosystem in a real long-tail market.
Through this project, the companies aim to build a practical "co-creation platform" and "ecosystem" and provide them to robotics stakeholders, such as domestic and international robot manufacturers, system integrators, and application developers, to realize a co-creation environment. This will enable the robotics industry to work together, accelerate the adoption of robots in various fields, and contribute to solving the major social issue of a declining working population.
１）Construction of a "co-creation platform" not dependent on a specific manufacturer
ａ．Build a "co-creation platform" that can be used regardless of the robot model or application, and provide an interface that integrates tools, modules, and subsystems related to robot system integration.
ｂ．Use the "co-creation platform" to ensure high reliability of stable and safe robot systems, and develop remote support methods using tools and applications that are excellent in terms of cost and efficiency. This will improve system integration efficiency and encourage robot adoption in the long-tail market.
２）Formation of an "ecosystem" in which various stakeholders participate
ａ．To promote the participation of various stakeholders, including the robotics industry, we will create rules and mechanisms for information sharing and division of labor, and conduct activities to form an ecosystem.
ｂ．Create an environment that makes it easy for new players, such as robot application developers who are responsible for module development, to enter the market.
３） Development of "use cases" as models
ａ．Through the introduction of robots into model use cases in the long-tail market, we will demonstrate tools and modules that realize new system integration on the "co-creation platform."
ｂ．Use cases include the automation of machine tool manufacturing sites that require high-mix, low-volume production, the automation of pick-and-place, which is a common issue at manufacturing and service sites, and bento box arrangement in food factories (a handling task for flexible objects that is difficult to apply robots to).
Comments from participating companies
(Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. Vice President, General Manager of Robot Division KENJI BANDO)
"We are very honored that our proposal has been selected as a NEDO project. This selection is a big step toward realizing the purpose of our Robot Division, which is to 'support a rich future of joy by living with robots.' Through our research and development, we will accelerate the social implementation of technology while staying close to the challenges of long-tail markets and contribute to the creation of a sustainable future. We will work with our partners to create innovation in the robotics industry."
(NTT BUSINESS SOLUTIONS CORPORATION Board member, Head of Value Design Department KOICHI NAKANISHI)
"We are very honored that the proposal we are participating in has been selected. The NTT West Group will contribute to the development of an environment that supports the coordinated operation of various robots closely tied to local communities, based on a high-speed, high-capacity, low-latency communication infrastructure, including the IOWN concept, and a track record of providing services using robots. We will steadily advance technological development and social implementation through this project to accelerate DX promotion in all industrial fields and address the increasingly serious social issue of a talent shortage."
(DAIHEN Corporation Executive Officer, General Manager, FA Robot Division DAISUKE NAKAGAWA)
"We are very honored that our proposal has been selected. We will leverage our robot technology and knowledge in the field of system integration, and work with various partners to develop a technical platform that can respond quickly and accurately to on-site needs, thereby contributing to the resolution of important social issues such as labor shortages."
(FingerVision Inc. CEO YUKI NONO)
"I am humbled to be able to play a part in the grand mission of 'building a robot development platform that will serve as a catalyst for robot utilization.' Our company has two faces, a robot hand manufacturer and a system integrator, and we are determined to contribute to this project from both perspectives. Our hand is a unique product that implements tactile functions, and we have many implementation records in areas where robot introduction was previously difficult, so we would like to provide added value in multiple ways."
(YASKAWA Electric Corporation Senior Executive Officer, General Manager, Robotics Division MANABU OKAHISA)
"In this project, our company will provide edge AI technology that expands the knowledge and utilization of stakeholders, aiming to realize the 'value' that our customers want to achieve. We will participate in the development of a development platform environment that encourages the entry of diverse players, and aim to form a co-creation type ecosystem."
(Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. General Manager, Technology, Robotics Business Unit MASAHIRO IMADA)
"We are very honored that our joint proposal has been selected by NEDO. We will co-create with our partners to achieve the goal of this project, which is to 'realize the construction of an open environment that contributes to the expansion of robot adoption and social implementation.' Our company has a long-term vision of ART for Human Possibilities. The 'A' in ART stands for 'Advancing Robotics,' which means using and evolving intelligent technology and robotics technology as a foundation. In line with this long-term vision, we will continue to use robotics technology to take on challenges in a way that is unique to Yamaha Motor and contribute to solving social issues."
(ugo, inc. CEO KEN MATSUI)
"To date, our company has accumulated a track record of developing and implementing numerous robots and platforms, mainly in service fields such as inspection, security, and guidance work. By reflecting the knowledge of usability improvements gained through on-site implementation and the know-how of streamlining integration with various systems and devices in this platform development, we will broaden the base for robot adoption and contribute to solving social issues such as the increasingly serious talent shortage."
CONTACT INFORMATION
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., Corporate Communication Division, PR Department TEL： 03-3435-2130
NTT BUSINESS SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, Value Design Department (Hara, Fujimori, Tsuchikawa) MAIL： cloud_robo@west.ntt.co.jp
DAIHEN Corporation, Planning Headquarters, Management Planning Department TEL： 06-7175-9580
FingerVision Inc. MAIL： contact@fingervision.jp TEL： 080-5348-2167
YASKAWA Electric Corporation, Corporate Branding Headquarters, Public Relations and IR Department TEL： 093-588-3076
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., Corporate Communication Division, Public Relations Group TEL： 0538-32-1145
ugo, inc., Public Relations MAIL： pr@ugo.plus
The information contained in this news release is as of the date of the announcement. Please note that it may be subject to change.
◆◆Company Profile◆◆
・Company Name: FingerVision Inc.
・Representative CEP: Yuki Nono
・Development Bases:
・1F Mitsui Woody Building, 2-4-14 Toyo, Koto-ku, Tokyo
・1F Light One Building, 73-1 Suzakuhozo-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
・2F NK Marunouchi Building, 2-17-13 Marunouchi, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi
(★Newly established★)
・Established: October 2021
・X/Twitter: https://x.com/FingerVisionInc | https://x.com/Yuki_Nono_fv
・Email: contact@fingervision.jp
・Webinar (FingerVision Robot Explanation): https://tv.aperza.com/watch/2069
・TV Appearance: TV Tokyo Breakthrough https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDapUJfuv_o
◆◆Technology Overview◆◆
The core technology is the concept of "reproducing tactile sensation based on images (cameras)." By mounting it on the fingertips of a robot hand, etc., it becomes possible to perceive tactile sensations (distribution of force and slip, etc.), enabling robots to handle objects with a sense of "palm" like a human. Its features are high functionality (high resolution, multi-modality) and high practicality with excellent economy. Although it is called a "tactile" sensor, it is a completely new concept of "visuo-tactile sensor" that also has the modality of seeing the object being grasped (vision), and has infinite application possibilities in addition to process automation combined with robots.
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