Piezo Sonic Selected as One of METI's '300 Vibrant SMEs', Expanding Motor and Robotics Technologies that Execute AI Decisions in the Real World

Piezo Sonic Inc. (Headquarters: Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture; CEO: Kohei Tada) was selected in the Overseas Development Category of the '2025 300 Vibrant Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Micro Enterprises' organized by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and was honored at an award ceremony held on May 29, 2026.

About the '300 Vibrant SMEs and Micro Enterprises' The '300 Vibrant SMEs and Micro Enterprises' is an award program that recognizes SMEs and micro enterprises that contribute to the development of Japan's economy and regional economies through the development of exceptional products and services or unique business expansions. Our company was selected in the Overseas Development Category in recognition of our efforts to expand advanced technology originating in Japan to the global market through the development and manufacturing of ultrasonic motors and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). During the selection process, we received the following evaluation: 'Through unremitting ingenuity and diligent efforts, the company has driven the improvement of our nation's industrial international competitiveness and the revitalization of the regional economy. Such initiatives serve as a model for others.'

Bringing Motor Technology from Japan to the World Piezo Sonic was founded in December 2017 and has advanced the research, development, and commercialization of ultrasonic motor technology primarily in Ota-ku, Tokyo. Our ultrasonic motors (Piezo Sonic Motors) feature high torque compared to electromagnetic motors of the same size, along with highly accurate positioning performance, unpowered holding capabilities, and non-magnetic properties. Due to these characteristics, they are utilized in fields demanding high precision and high reliability, such as medical devices, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, aircraft instrumentation, and precision measurement devices. Furthermore, in joint research with JAXA, we have also worked on developing motors for lunar exploration robots, pursuing improvements in durability and reliability required in extreme environments. Currently, adoption by advanced equipment manufacturers domestically and internationally is progressing, accelerating our expansion into the global market with motor technology originating in Japan.

Delivering Value Created by AI to the Real World In recent years, with the evolution of generative AI and AI agents, it is becoming commonplace for AI to analyze information, make decisions, and offer proposals. However, no matter how excellent the decisions made by AI are, actuators and robots that continue to operate accurately are necessary to realize that value in the real world. To use a human analogy, AI is the brain, and motors and robots are the body. Piezo Sonic's ultrasonic motors are utilized as actuators to accurately execute sensing and AI decision results, thanks to their highly accurate positioning performance and high reliability. We are not just providing standalone motors; we aim to build a technological foundation that translates AI decisions into real-world value.

Autonomous Mobile Robot 'Mighty-D4' Connecting Indoors and Outdoors One such initiative is the Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) 'Mighty-D4'. Piezo Sonic is advancing the development not only of ultrasonic motors but also of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) that can move seamlessly indoors and outdoors. In fields such as logistics facilities, construction sites, infrastructure inspection, and security, responding to labor shortages and improving operational efficiency are major challenges. The Mighty-D4 is being developed as a mobile platform that connects AI decisions to actual movement and tasks, capable of handling steps and outdoor road surfaces that are difficult for typical indoor-focused AMRs to navigate. In the future, we aim for this to become a foundational technology supporting a Physical AI society where AI makes decisions and robots execute them.

A Challenge Aimed at the Global Market At Piezo Sonic, we develop motors, robots, and software in-house, challenging the global market with technology originating in Japan. To date, we have received awards such as the Good Design Award, CES Innovation Award, and the Grand Prize of the Japan Society for Precision Engineering Monodzukuri Award, receiving high evaluations in both technological capability and design. We view this selection for the '300 Vibrant SMEs and Micro Enterprises' as recognition not only of our technological strength but also of our ongoing efforts to expand Japanese motor and robotics technology into the global market. Piezo Sonic will continue to deliver the value of Japanese manufacturing to the world through ultrasonic motor and robotics technology, while contributing to the construction of a new industrial foundation in the AI era.

Comment from CEO Kohei Tada I am deeply honored to be selected for the Overseas Development Category of the '300 Vibrant SMEs and Micro Enterprises'. We take this selection as recognition not only of our ultrasonic motor and robotics technologies themselves, but also of our activities in delivering them to customers domestically and internationally, and working to expand them to overseas markets as technology originating in Japan. Since its founding, Piezo Sonic has continued to refine its unique motor technology in fields where high precision and high reliability are demanded. Today, that technology is utilized in a wide range of fields, including medical devices, precision measurement instruments, and industrial equipment. In recent years, due to the evolution of AI technology, an era where AI decides and robots or machines execute is becoming a reality. However, no matter how excellent an AI's decision is, social implementation cannot be realized without actuators and robots to execute it accurately. We will continue to provide technologies that translate AI decisions into real-world value through ultrasonic motor and robotics technology, contributing to the improvement of Japan's industrial competitiveness and the resolution of social issues.

Piezo Sonic Inc. is a company that develops motor and robotics technologies to translate AI decisions into real-world value. In recent years, due to the evolution of generative AI and AI agents, AI has become capable of analyzing information, making decisions, and proposing solutions at speeds exceeding human capability. However, to execute those decisions in the real world and deliver them as value to people's lives and industries, 'moving mechanisms' are necessary. We believe that if AI is the brain, then motors and robots are the body. Piezo Sonic provides technologies to execute AI decisions accurately and reliably through the development of ultrasonic motors featuring high precision, high torque, and unpowered holding capabilities, as well as Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). The founder has been involved in the research and development of ultrasonic motors for over 28 years, achieving the extended lifespan that was previously a challenge. Our company's ultrasonic motors are adopted in fields demanding high precision and high reliability, such as medical devices, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, precision measurement instruments, and aircraft instrumentation. Additionally, leveraging our strength in developing everything from hardware to software in-house, we are developing the autonomous mobile robot 'Mighty', which can travel seamlessly indoors, outdoors, and on rough terrain.