Solaris and Chuo University Jointly Receive "2025 Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Award (Technology)"
Solaris Co., Ltd., a startup from Chuo University, and Chuo University Nakamura Laboratory have jointly received the "2025 Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Award (Technology)" for the development and commercialization of the earthworm-type in-pipe mobile robot "Sooha®." This award recognizes their academic-industrial collaboration and highly practical social implementation.
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- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 13, 2026 at 10:31
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Solaris Co., Ltd., a startup company originating from Chuo University, engaged in the development and provision of artificial muscles and soft robots applying their technology (Representative Director and President: Toru Ichihashi; hereinafter, "Solaris"), together with Chuo University Nakamura Laboratory, has received the "2025 Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Award (Technology)" from the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers for the development and commercialization of the earthworm-type in-pipe mobile robot "Sooha®".
This award highly recognizes a series of academic-industrial collaboration achievements—Chuo University Nakamura Laboratory's years of basic research and innovative technology development, and Solaris's practical product commercialization and business development—as a "social implementation" in the industrial sector.
Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Award Ceremony. From left: Mr. Fumiomi Ito (Assistant Professor, Department of Precision Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University), Mr. Yasuyuki Yamada (Professor, Department of Design Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hosei University), Mr. Taro Nakamura (Professor, Department of Precision Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University), Toru Ichihashi (Solaris), Kakio Watabe (Solaris).
■ What is the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Award (Technology)?
Established in 1958 with the aim of developing mechanical engineering and mechanical industries in Japan, this is a historical and prestigious award. Among them, the "Technology Award" is given to new technologies that demonstrate remarkable originality, excellence, and significant contribution to society and the economy.
■ Award-Winning Technology and Role Allocation
In diversifying and advancing industrial infrastructure, inspecting and cleaning narrow and complex curved pipes has been extremely difficult. By realizing the earthworm's "peristaltic movement" with our uniquely developed "axially fiber-reinforced artificial muscle" (hereinafter, "this technology"), it has become possible to inspect and simultaneously clean pipes with an inner diameter of about 100mm while capturing images.
- Chuo University (Research & Development): Established basic and applied research for locomotion mechanisms mimicking earthworm peristaltic movement, and the driving principle using axially fiber-reinforced artificial muscle.
- Solaris (Product Commercialization & Business Development): Developed "Sooha" as a robust product capable of enduring harsh real-world environments, based on technology from Chuo University. Promoted social implementation through introduction and sales to semiconductor factories and other industrial facilities.
■ Key Points of the Evaluated Technology
- Establishment of original technology: Soft robotics design inspired by earthworm movement, and the application of pneumatic artificial muscles that combine flexibility and high traction.
- Concrete results and economic benefits in industrial sites: Demonstrable results directly leading to increased productivity and cost reduction. For example, by using this robot to monitor and clean pipe-internal formations in semiconductor manufacturing processes, it has significantly contributed to reducing downtime in production sites.
- Remarkable academic and technical backing: Highly reliable system construction based on academic background, with 47 related academic papers and over 60 patent applications/acquisitions. Contribution to social challenges: Presenting concrete solutions for urgent issues such as improving maintenance efficiency for aging social infrastructure and addressing labor shortages.
■ Future Outlook
Solaris will accelerate the strengthening of its product lineup, starting with the commercial model "Sooha 100A," and progressively add additional functions tailored to on-site needs. We aim to deepen our solution provision using our own technology for social problems faced by private companies, such as aging infrastructure and labor shortages, and further expand our business as a leading company in the soft robotics market.
【Contact Information for this Matter】
Solaris Co., Ltd.
14-13 Higashiyama-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 174-0073
MAIL：info@solaris-inc.com
TEL ：03-5615-9560
HP：https://solaris-inc.com/
End
This award highly recognizes a series of academic-industrial collaboration achievements—Chuo University Nakamura Laboratory's years of basic research and innovative technology development, and Solaris's practical product commercialization and business development—as a "social implementation" in the industrial sector.
Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Award Ceremony. From left: Mr. Fumiomi Ito (Assistant Professor, Department of Precision Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University), Mr. Yasuyuki Yamada (Professor, Department of Design Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hosei University), Mr. Taro Nakamura (Professor, Department of Precision Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University), Toru Ichihashi (Solaris), Kakio Watabe (Solaris).
■ What is the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Award (Technology)?
Established in 1958 with the aim of developing mechanical engineering and mechanical industries in Japan, this is a historical and prestigious award. Among them, the "Technology Award" is given to new technologies that demonstrate remarkable originality, excellence, and significant contribution to society and the economy.
■ Award-Winning Technology and Role Allocation
In diversifying and advancing industrial infrastructure, inspecting and cleaning narrow and complex curved pipes has been extremely difficult. By realizing the earthworm's "peristaltic movement" with our uniquely developed "axially fiber-reinforced artificial muscle" (hereinafter, "this technology"), it has become possible to inspect and simultaneously clean pipes with an inner diameter of about 100mm while capturing images.
- Chuo University (Research & Development): Established basic and applied research for locomotion mechanisms mimicking earthworm peristaltic movement, and the driving principle using axially fiber-reinforced artificial muscle.
- Solaris (Product Commercialization & Business Development): Developed "Sooha" as a robust product capable of enduring harsh real-world environments, based on technology from Chuo University. Promoted social implementation through introduction and sales to semiconductor factories and other industrial facilities.
■ Key Points of the Evaluated Technology
- Establishment of original technology: Soft robotics design inspired by earthworm movement, and the application of pneumatic artificial muscles that combine flexibility and high traction.
- Concrete results and economic benefits in industrial sites: Demonstrable results directly leading to increased productivity and cost reduction. For example, by using this robot to monitor and clean pipe-internal formations in semiconductor manufacturing processes, it has significantly contributed to reducing downtime in production sites.
- Remarkable academic and technical backing: Highly reliable system construction based on academic background, with 47 related academic papers and over 60 patent applications/acquisitions. Contribution to social challenges: Presenting concrete solutions for urgent issues such as improving maintenance efficiency for aging social infrastructure and addressing labor shortages.
■ Future Outlook
Solaris will accelerate the strengthening of its product lineup, starting with the commercial model "Sooha 100A," and progressively add additional functions tailored to on-site needs. We aim to deepen our solution provision using our own technology for social problems faced by private companies, such as aging infrastructure and labor shortages, and further expand our business as a leading company in the soft robotics market.
【Contact Information for this Matter】
Solaris Co., Ltd.
14-13 Higashiyama-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 174-0073
MAIL：info@solaris-inc.com
TEL ：03-5615-9560
HP：https://solaris-inc.com/
End