Nippon Electro Sensory Devices (NED) Conducts Running Test of High-Resolution Panoramic Camera "SPIS" for Sewerage Inspection in Large Rainwater Pipes in Chiba Prefecture
Nippon Electro Sensory Devices (NED) successfully conducted a running test of its high-resolution panoramic camera "SPIS" in large rainwater pipes in Chiba Prefecture, demonstrating highly accurate image acquisition with 5-megapixel resolution and maneuverability within pipes. This enables efficient and precise inspection of aging sewage infrastructure.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 17:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 12, 2026 at 08:32
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 12, 2026 at 09:27 (55 min after Collected)
Figure 1. View of the system running inside a φ2000 pipe.
On February 26, 2026, Nippon Electro Sensory Devices Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka, Japan; Representative Director: Soichiro Rikimi, hereinafter "NED"), with the cooperation of Senae Co., Ltd. (Chiba, Chiba Prefecture; Representative Director: Takeshi Yamamoto), conducted a test run of its high-resolution panoramic camera "Smart Pipe Inspection System (SPIS)" in a large-diameter rainwater pipe (2,000mm diameter, 316m total length) in Chiba Prefecture. This test verified the accuracy of inspection images under various conditions and the system's maneuverability within the pipe. The results confirmed the extremely high effectiveness of the 5-megapixel panoramic camera in large-diameter pipelines.
About SPIS-DX
Maintaining aging sewage infrastructure is an urgent challenge facing modern society. NED is tackling this challenge by deploying "SPIS," the industry's first self-propelled panoramic camera system equipped with a 5-megapixel high-resolution sensor. Leveraging its expertise as an industrial camera and image processing manufacturer, NED optimally processes vast 5-megapixel data. It provides clear images that enable "objective and accurate judgment by anyone," regardless of the inspector's skill level.
About the Test Results
The test run in Chiba Prefecture (2,000mm pipe) yielded the following results:
Demonstration of High-Precision Reproducibility: When measuring chalk marks remaining in the pipe, the line width in the image was calculated to be approximately 3.7mm (under conditions of 2,000mm pipe diameter and 220° field of view). This matches the general chalk width (3-5mm), suggesting extremely accurate dimensional reproducibility even in large-diameter pipes.
Visibility in Large Diameters: Clear panoramic images were successfully acquired throughout the entire length of the pipe, even in a giant 2,000mm pipe (see Figure 4). This provided valuable verification data for improving the accuracy of "defect rank inspection" in large-diameter pipes, which was previously difficult.
Based on these results, NED will continue to optimize performance and improve operability.
Figure 2. Wide-angle inspection image (reduced quality image)
Figure 3. Chalk marks on the pipe wall (reduced quality image)
Figure 4. Panoramic image near Figure 2 (reduced quality image)
What can SPIS-DX do?
Introducing this camera can solve the following challenges:
Elimination of Overlooked Defects: The 5-megapixel high resolution and 220° wide field of view clearly detect even minute cracks. Information for the entire length of the pipe is recorded in high quality, allowing detailed data to be checked at any time as needed.
Reduced Work Time and Alleviation of Labor Shortages: The panoramic system "does not stop on-site," reducing inspection time to 1/10 compared to conventional direct-view cameras. It is estimated that the man-hours (days/personnel) required for inspection and analysis can be reduced by 38% from conventional techniques.
AI Technology Collaboration: High-resolution images can be utilized for AI-driven automatic diagnosis. This significantly streamlines administrative tasks such as creating inspection reports.
Realization of Quantitative Diagnosis: "Constant posture running in the center of the pipe" enables quantitative measurement of defects. This can be used for highly accurate rank management of pipe conditions.
Nippon Electro Sensory Devices Co., Ltd.
Our company was founded in 1975 as an industrial camera manufacturer. Headquartered in Osaka, we are globally recognized in the fields of line scan cameras and image processing systems. We specialize in machine vision technology, centered on "eyes (cameras)" and "brains (image processing)," and are active in a wide range of fields, from semiconductor inspection to sewage infrastructure inspection.
Company Name: Nippon Electro Sensory Devices Co., Ltd. (Commonly known as: NED)
Location: (Headquarters) 2-5-12 Itachibori, Nishi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka, Japan, also Shin-Yokohama Branch, Hamamatsu Business Office, Aikawa Lab
Established: 1975
Business Activities: Development, manufacturing, and sales of the following products (line scan cameras, image processing software, sewage inspection cameras) and construction of automation systems.
Product Page: http://www.ned-sensor.com/in_pipe_inspection_camera/
Senae Co., Ltd.
Based in Chiba City, our company has been engaged in sewage pipeline management and waste collection and transportation for 90 years. Starting with night soil collection, we have adapted our business to changes in social infrastructure, and in recent years, we have focused on pipeline management, performing cleaning, inspection, and renovation in-house. We have been an early adopter of 5-megapixel panoramic cameras and are deploying high-resolution panoramic cameras and drone inspections as new technologies in comprehensive pipeline contracts ordered by Chiba City.
Company Name: Senae Co., Ltd.
Location: (Headquarters) 2-12-11 Kurosuna, Inage-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba, Japan, also Ichihara Branch, Narita Branch
Business Activities: Sewage pipeline management, sewage treatment facility maintenance, various cleaning services, waste collection and transportation, etc.
Keywords:
On February 26, 2026, Nippon Electro Sensory Devices Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka, Japan; Representative Director: Soichiro Rikimi, hereinafter "NED"), with the cooperation of Senae Co., Ltd. (Chiba, Chiba Prefecture; Representative Director: Takeshi Yamamoto), conducted a test run of its high-resolution panoramic camera "Smart Pipe Inspection System (SPIS)" in a large-diameter rainwater pipe (2,000mm diameter, 316m total length) in Chiba Prefecture. This test verified the accuracy of inspection images under various conditions and the system's maneuverability within the pipe. The results confirmed the extremely high effectiveness of the 5-megapixel panoramic camera in large-diameter pipelines.
About SPIS-DX
Maintaining aging sewage infrastructure is an urgent challenge facing modern society. NED is tackling this challenge by deploying "SPIS," the industry's first self-propelled panoramic camera system equipped with a 5-megapixel high-resolution sensor. Leveraging its expertise as an industrial camera and image processing manufacturer, NED optimally processes vast 5-megapixel data. It provides clear images that enable "objective and accurate judgment by anyone," regardless of the inspector's skill level.
About the Test Results
The test run in Chiba Prefecture (2,000mm pipe) yielded the following results:
Demonstration of High-Precision Reproducibility: When measuring chalk marks remaining in the pipe, the line width in the image was calculated to be approximately 3.7mm (under conditions of 2,000mm pipe diameter and 220° field of view). This matches the general chalk width (3-5mm), suggesting extremely accurate dimensional reproducibility even in large-diameter pipes.
Visibility in Large Diameters: Clear panoramic images were successfully acquired throughout the entire length of the pipe, even in a giant 2,000mm pipe (see Figure 4). This provided valuable verification data for improving the accuracy of "defect rank inspection" in large-diameter pipes, which was previously difficult.
Based on these results, NED will continue to optimize performance and improve operability.
Figure 2. Wide-angle inspection image (reduced quality image)
Figure 3. Chalk marks on the pipe wall (reduced quality image)
Figure 4. Panoramic image near Figure 2 (reduced quality image)
What can SPIS-DX do?
Introducing this camera can solve the following challenges:
Elimination of Overlooked Defects: The 5-megapixel high resolution and 220° wide field of view clearly detect even minute cracks. Information for the entire length of the pipe is recorded in high quality, allowing detailed data to be checked at any time as needed.
Reduced Work Time and Alleviation of Labor Shortages: The panoramic system "does not stop on-site," reducing inspection time to 1/10 compared to conventional direct-view cameras. It is estimated that the man-hours (days/personnel) required for inspection and analysis can be reduced by 38% from conventional techniques.
AI Technology Collaboration: High-resolution images can be utilized for AI-driven automatic diagnosis. This significantly streamlines administrative tasks such as creating inspection reports.
Realization of Quantitative Diagnosis: "Constant posture running in the center of the pipe" enables quantitative measurement of defects. This can be used for highly accurate rank management of pipe conditions.
Nippon Electro Sensory Devices Co., Ltd.
Our company was founded in 1975 as an industrial camera manufacturer. Headquartered in Osaka, we are globally recognized in the fields of line scan cameras and image processing systems. We specialize in machine vision technology, centered on "eyes (cameras)" and "brains (image processing)," and are active in a wide range of fields, from semiconductor inspection to sewage infrastructure inspection.
Company Name: Nippon Electro Sensory Devices Co., Ltd. (Commonly known as: NED)
Location: (Headquarters) 2-5-12 Itachibori, Nishi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka, Japan, also Shin-Yokohama Branch, Hamamatsu Business Office, Aikawa Lab
Established: 1975
Business Activities: Development, manufacturing, and sales of the following products (line scan cameras, image processing software, sewage inspection cameras) and construction of automation systems.
Product Page: http://www.ned-sensor.com/in_pipe_inspection_camera/
Senae Co., Ltd.
Based in Chiba City, our company has been engaged in sewage pipeline management and waste collection and transportation for 90 years. Starting with night soil collection, we have adapted our business to changes in social infrastructure, and in recent years, we have focused on pipeline management, performing cleaning, inspection, and renovation in-house. We have been an early adopter of 5-megapixel panoramic cameras and are deploying high-resolution panoramic cameras and drone inspections as new technologies in comprehensive pipeline contracts ordered by Chiba City.
Company Name: Senae Co., Ltd.
Location: (Headquarters) 2-12-11 Kurosuna, Inage-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba, Japan, also Ichihara Branch, Narita Branch
Business Activities: Sewage pipeline management, sewage treatment facility maintenance, various cleaning services, waste collection and transportation, etc.
Keywords: