Revolutionizing Tea Garden Covering Work! AutoCover to Conduct Demonstration Experiments in Tea Gardens in Autumn 2026 After Material Deployment Tests in Toyohashi

For tea farmers, covering work will no longer be an excessive burden. Furthermore, by establishing automated covering work in the field, the difficulties of continuing operations due to labor shortages and an aging workforce will be alleviated, leading to the maintenance of agricultural land in mountainous and hilly areas and the suppression of an increase in abandoned land. Our company supports April Dream, a project that aims to make April 1st a day for companies to announce their dreams. This press release is the dream of "AutoCover Inc." AutoCover Inc. is working on automating and streamlining the covering work essential for cultivating high-grade teas such as matcha and gyokuro. In March 2026, the company conducted a 2-meter wide covering material deployment test at a test site in Toyohashi City, confirming basic operations. Moving forward, demonstration experiments are planned for autumn 2026 in tea gardens in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Mie Prefecture, and Kyoto Prefecture.

■ Challenges in Tea Garden Covering Work

In the cultivation process of matcha and gyokuro, "covering work," which involves covering the entire tea garden with shading material for a certain period before harvest, is a crucial process that affects quality. However, it requires handling heavy materials in sloped or uneven fields, and the work is concentrated over a short period, posing a significant burden in terms of both personnel (securing personnel) and safety. As the agricultural workforce ages, the mechanization and labor-saving of such heavy labor processes are direct challenges for the sustainable operation of the tea industry. AutoCover is developing a drone-based covering work support system as a means to both reduce on-site burden and improve work reproducibility.

■ AutoCover's Initiatives

AutoCover is developing a system that combines 3D measurement data from drones with the digital twin concept cultivated in the manufacturing industry to optimize flight plans according to tea garden terrain and support the deployment and retrieval of covering materials. Currently, the company is using a logistics drone equipped with a proprietary attachment to verify the covering material deployment process according to on-site conditions. Through future tea garden demonstrations, the company plans to quantitatively confirm the effects of reducing working hours, safety, and operability.

■ Entry into STATION Ai and Presentation at Aichi Startup Battle 2025

In February 2026, AutoCover moved into "STATION Ai" (Nagoya City), a startup support hub promoted by Aichi Prefecture. Leveraging an environment conducive to collaboration with companies and research institutions in the manufacturing, agriculture, and ICT sectors, the company is accelerating its efforts in both development and business collaboration. In the same month, it also presented at "Aichi Startup Battle 2025," announcing its concept and progress in automating tea garden covering work using drones.

■ Initiatives Towards Tea Garden Demonstrations in Autumn 2026

Based on the test results in Toyohashi and discussions with local farmers and agricultural corporations, demonstration experiments are planned for autumn 2026 at the following three locations. We have received approval from cooperative farmers and agricultural corporations at each location. - Aichi Prefecture (Toyota City): Verification of deployment accuracy and flight stability in flat tea gardens. This will serve as a demonstration model within Aichi Prefecture. - Mie Prefecture: Confirmation of deployment operations and practicality in tea gardens in Mie, known as a production area for "kabusecha" (shaded tea). - Kyoto Prefecture: Verification of operations in sloped tea gardens to acquire data for adapting to mountainous and hilly conditions. Through these demonstrations, the company plans to organize on-site challenges and continue development towards practical application as a service, while making improvements based on various terrains and working conditions.

■ Collaboration and Media Inquiries

We extend our sincere gratitude to K-Tech Co., Ltd., VISM corporation Inc., Japan Drone Business Support Association, and MUSASHi Innovation Lab CLUE for their significant cooperation in promoting this initiative. - K-Tech Co., Ltd. - VISM corporation Inc. - Japan Drone Business Support Association We welcome inquiries from companies, organizations, local governments, and media representatives interested in demonstration collaboration, technical cooperation, or media coverage. Please feel free to contact us at the address below.

■ Company Overview

Company Name: AutoCover Inc. Representative: CEO Li Xin Location: Showa-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture Established: November 2024 Business Activities: Automation support for agricultural work using drones, development and provision of agricultural DX solutions URL: https://www.autocover.co.jp/ E-mail: rikin@autocover.jp "April Dream" is a project by PR TIMES where companies announce their dreams on April 1st that they hope to achieve someday. We are seriously aiming for the realization of this dream.