One Cloud to Rule Them All

Your company is known for developing a robot operating system, ROBO-HI® OS. However, selling an operating system is very different from selling physical robots. Why did you decide to focus on this field, and how do you communicate its value?

As you say, selling an operating system is a major challenge. Unlike robots, which are visible products, an OS is essentially an underlying mechanism. Naturally, people tend to be more interested in the robots themselves. That is why we even changed our company name, to emphasize the message that we are not just a robot manufacturer, but a company that provides an OS.

This idea goes back to 2016. At the time, I believed that once robots became widespread around the world, they would inevitably need a common OS, just like PCs. Just as Windows 95 dramatically changed how people used personal computers and spread globally, I felt robots would also need a universal operating system.

I spent three years researching this theme during my doctoral studies at Tokyo University of the Arts, and in 2019 we began initial development. Currently, robots operate as stand-alone devices and remain difficult to use, much like PCs in their early days. Our mission is to provide them with networks and a common interface. Changing our company name to reflect the ROBO-HI® OS was a way to demonstrate that commitment. The OS is invisible, which makes it harder to convey its value. Still, it is indispensable as the foundation for a robot society, and that is where we are focusing our efforts.

Connection image of ROBO-HI, a multi-vendor robot platform enabling diverse collaboration, including with third-party robots

In Japan, there still seems to be a strong mindset of “buying 10 cleaning robots” or “buying one security robot” as separate, individual deployments. How does your system change that way of thinking?

That is exactly the current situation. Even major developers and building managers are still operating 10 cleaning robots independently or introducing just a single security robot. Operations are fragmented, and people say it is “too difficult.” However, at TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY, which East Japan Railway Company is developing, we have introduced our multi-vendor robot platform ROBO-HI. Through it, delivery robots can be controlled while also coordinating with cleaning and security robots. From a single screen, you can give instructions to all robots. This is similar to how Windows 95 standardized PC networking.

The biggest challenge is the mindset. Most people still focus on individual robots, asking “How much is this model?” or “What features does it have?” But the real breakthrough comes when robots are seen as part of an integrated network. At TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY, through ROBO-HI, numerous robots from different manufacturers are connected, enabling collaborative operation across the entire district. Once people see the impact, they will understand what true progress looks like. Changing mindsets across Japan will take time, but once adoption begins, we believe it will spread rapidly—just like the PC did.

Low-cost robots are often said to struggle with advanced tasks such as operating elevators or security gates. How does ROBO-HI address this challenge?

That is a crucial point. Many low-cost robots cannot pass through elevators or security gates and therefore cannot move between floors. But once connected to ROBO-HI, the OS “assists” them. By linking elevators, security gates, HVAC systems, fire safety equipment, and other building infrastructure to ROBO-HI, the OS can navigate the robots—allowing them to ride elevators, pass through gates, deliver items to designated rooms, or clean specified areas. This makes it possible to unlock the value of all types of robots, from high-performance to low-cost models.

What strengths do Japanese robots have compared to those made overseas?

There are clear differences. For example, Japanese robots excel as “one-stop” models that can move seamlessly between indoor and outdoor environments. Consider a delivery scenario: starting from a convenience store, passing through a gate, taking an elevator, and delivering to a specific room. Japanese robots are designed like compact automobiles and can handle this entire sequence of tasks. This is because expertise, components, and production supply chains from the automotive industry—such as sensors, safety, and reliability—have been applied to robotics. They can recognize traffic signals, withstand rain and wind, and operate stably outdoors.

In particular, Japanese-made security robots are trusted and have been introduced inside buildings. On the other hand, for simple cleaning tasks, low-cost foreign-made robots tend to be chosen. In other words, it is about the “right tool for the right job.” ROBO-HI’s strength lies in its ability to integrate and manage both types.

Autonomous robots manufactured by ROBO-HI Co., Ltd. From left: RakuRo, DeliRo, PATORO

It is said that Japan’s “super general contractor” structure in the construction industry has made your development possible. Could you explain this in more detail?

Overseas, building construction is carried out through horizontal division of roles: financing is provided by funds, design by consulting firms, and construction by separate contractors. In contrast, Japan’s super general contractors are vertically integrated, handling everything from design to construction in a single, end-to-end process.

Since 2019, we have been collaborating with these general contractors, which has allowed us to incorporate our system from the design stage. As a result, elevators, gates, HVAC systems, fire alarms, and surveillance cameras can all be integrated and controlled through ROBO-HI. This is a strength born of Japan’s unique industrial structure, and it is something that cannot be easily replicated in other countries.

Japan has struggled to expand globally with consumer technologies such as smartphones. How will you avoid so-called “Galápagos syndrome” and ensure the international expansion of ROBO-HI?

As you point out, Japan has not produced major consumer-facing giants like GAFA. However, ROBO-HI is not B2C but B2B—in other words, corporate infrastructure. Its position is closer to that of Oracle or SAP. Our customers are large-scale facilities such as office towers, airports, and hospitals. Purchase decisions are made at the corporate or institutional level, where reliability, track record, and integration are valued. Since 2023, ROBO-HI has been introduced in more than 20 large-scale facilities, and we believe this field offers a real opportunity to become a global standard.

Service robots have lagged behind industrial robots in terms of adoption. What are the reasons for this, and what opportunities lie ahead?

Factories are controlled environments, which is why industrial robots spread so rapidly. By contrast, service robots that operate in public spaces such as airports and hotels face slower adoption because public awareness has not yet caught up.

However, once perceptions shift, the potential is enormous. In large-scale developments like TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY, I personally believe that eventually 300 to 400 robots will be needed. Airports could also require several hundred. In fact, the service robot market is expected to grow even larger than the industrial robot market in the future. The biggest obstacle is usability. ROBO-HI integrates delivery, cleaning, security, reception, guidance, and even drones into one system, removing that barrier. On top of that, labor shortages are becoming more severe, and labor costs are approaching the cost of robots. This will further accelerate adoption, and we expect rapid growth ahead.

You recently partnered with Marubeni on airport logistics. Could you tell us more about this collaboration?

Marubeni Corporation is responsible for airport ground operations at Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA). Cargo handling is a major challenge at airports, and labor shortages have only worsened since the pandemic. We began proof-of-concept trials in 2019, and after five years of testing, we completed the final stage this year. Starting next year, we will officially launch unmanned cargo transport services at airports. Competition in this field is still limited, making it a valuable opportunity for startups.

You are also working on integrating robots with health monitoring, aren’t you?

This is a very personal project for me. Through biosensor research, I discovered that certain patterns appearing in electrocardiograms correlate with signs of declining health. I converted this into an algorithm, enabling early warnings, and released it as the application HearTomo®. By integrating not only robot platforms but also various applications into ROBO-HI, we can open a new dimension where robots support people’s health. For example, if an abnormality in mind or body is detected, the system can call for help, or a robot can go directly to check on the person. I believe robots can go beyond being “cute” social companions and take on the vital role of actually protecting human lives.

Looking ahead, which fields hold the greatest international potential?

The first that comes to mind are hospitals in the U.S. and Europe. Hospitals are extremely large, and there is significant potential to use robots for tasks such as transporting test samples, delivering medicine, and moving supplies. Integration with elevators and security gates is essential, and this is precisely the area where ROBO-HI can demonstrate its strengths.

Your company will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2031. Could you share your vision for that milestone?

First, we will focus on introducing our system into large-scale facilities such as commercial complexes, office towers, stadiums, and airports. After that, if costs come down within the next three years, we will expand into medium- and small-scale facilities as well. Like SAP, we aim to build a partner network of IT vendors to drive broader adoption.

Implementation of the delivery robot DeliRo Truck and ROBO-HI at Nagasaki Stadium City

By 2027, we aim to expand ROBO-HI beyond Japan into Asia, the U.S., and Europe, and establish it as the standard OS for robots. Just as Windows did for PCs, our goal is to make robots indispensable partners in daily life.

 For more information, visit their website at: https://www.robo-hi.jp/

ROBO-HI Corporation: https://www.robo-hi.jp/

Multi-vendor robotic platform "ROBO-HI: https://www.robo-hi.jp/robo-hi

Automated delivery robot [DeliRo]: https://www.robo-hi.jp/products/lrb/deliro

Automated Walking Speed Mobility [RakuRo]: https://www.robo-hi.jp/products/lrb/rakuro

Automatic driving security robot [PATORO]: https://www.robo-hi.jp/products/lrb/patoro