Demonstration Experiment of Quadruped Robots Utilizing Local 5G in the Tokyo NEXT 5G Boosters Project for Next-Generation Communication Technology
Liberaware, with support from TIS, conducted a demonstration experiment of a next-generation infrastructure inspection solution using local 5G and quadruped robots as part of the Tokyo NEXT 5G Boosters Project. The experiment, conducted at Tokyo Metropolitan University, verified the construction of a digital twin and data integration to address aging social infrastructure and labor shortages.
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- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 11:32
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Liberaware Inc. (Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, Representative Director: Hong-Kyu Min, hereinafter "Liberaware"), with the support of TIS Inc. (hereinafter "TIS"), which has been selected as a development promoter for the "Next-Generation Communication Technology Utilization Startup Support Project (Tokyo NEXT 5G Boosters Project)" implemented by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, conducted a demonstration experiment (PoC) of a next-generation infrastructure inspection solution utilizing robotic technology.
In this demonstration, by utilizing the real-world field of Tokyo Metropolitan University (hereinafter "TMU") and combining data acquisition by robots in a local 5G environment with next-generation communication technology, along with data integration by Aptpod Inc.'s (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Junichi Sakamoto, hereinafter "Aptpod") IoT data platform "intdash", the project aimed to construct a "digital twin" that reproduces the state of facilities in a digital space and verify its practical operation.
■ Background
While social infrastructure continues to age, challenges include a shortage of personnel to carry out inspection work and the dangers of the working environment. In particular, inspections in confined spaces, high places, and narrow areas such as plants, power stations, and underground facilities involve a heavy workload, and there is a strong demand for next-generation infrastructure inspection solutions utilizing the latest technology to achieve safe and efficient operations.
Liberaware has, until now, developed inspection solutions utilizing drones and robots that can be used in narrow, dark, and dangerous locations.
Meanwhile, TIS is promoting DX in the social infrastructure domain, leveraging its knowledge of IT infrastructure and data utilization.
Through the collaboration of both companies, the aim is to establish a new inspection work model that integrates robots and data.
■ Demonstration Overview
This demonstration was conducted utilizing the vast field of TMU, which is fully equipped with a local 5G environment and can simulate various practical operation scenarios, including indoor and outdoor areas such as lecture rooms, stairs, and outdoor passages.
For the verification, a hybrid communication environment combining local 5G, a next-generation communication technology, and general carrier communication was constructed. In an environment close to practical operation, multifaceted verifications were conducted, including the optimal use of communication infrastructure, and the following insights were accumulated:
- Verification of robot traversability
Using quadruped robots, autonomous navigation and reproducibility of driving performance were confirmed in complex environments including indoor, outdoor, and stair environments. Stable mobility was demonstrated even in environments with steps and obstacles, proving its applicability to inspection work.
- Verification of data acquisition validity
The effectiveness of data acquired by robots for inspection purposes was verified. It was confirmed that the quality of data, due to the reproducibility of the robot's driving performance, is suitable for stable grasp of site conditions, comparing patterns captured by humans and those captured by robots.
- Verification of communication environment
Verification was conducted on data acquisition using general communication equipment and local 5G, a next-generation communication technology, confirming that stable data collection and transmission are possible.
- Data integration and visualization platform (utilizing intdash)
Acquired data was integrated and visualized using Aptpod's "intdash / Visual M2M Data Visualizer". By linking video, location information, and sensor data in real-time, remote situation awareness and analysis became possible, confirming its effectiveness as a future solution platform.
■ Future Outlook
Moving forward, through continuous demonstrations of the Tokyo NEXT 5G Boosters Project, verifications will proceed from the following perspectives towards service launch:
- Replacement and efficiency improvement of inspection work by robots
- Advancement of maintenance operations through data utilization
- Establishment of a service model with practical operation in mind
In the future, we aim to expand into a wide range of fields such as power, plants, construction, and public infrastructure, contributing to the advancement of social infrastructure maintenance and management.
▼ About the Next-Generation Communication Technology Utilization Startup Support Project (Tokyo NEXT 5G Boosters Project)
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government aims to foster globally competitive startups in Tokyo by leveraging the diverse fields of Tokyo, from urban areas to suburbs, mountainous regions, and remote islands. This project aims to create new businesses and innovations utilizing next-generation communication technologies, including 5G, to improve the quality of life (QOL) of Tokyo residents and enhance the corporate value of each startup. This project recruits and selects development promoters who collaborate with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to provide multifaceted support to startups. Development promoters will promote the development and commercialization of supported startups over three fiscal years, in cooperation with partner businesses (telecommunication carriers).
In this demonstration, by utilizing the real-world field of Tokyo Metropolitan University (hereinafter "TMU") and combining data acquisition by robots in a local 5G environment with next-generation communication technology, along with data integration by Aptpod Inc.'s (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Junichi Sakamoto, hereinafter "Aptpod") IoT data platform "intdash", the project aimed to construct a "digital twin" that reproduces the state of facilities in a digital space and verify its practical operation.
■ Background
While social infrastructure continues to age, challenges include a shortage of personnel to carry out inspection work and the dangers of the working environment. In particular, inspections in confined spaces, high places, and narrow areas such as plants, power stations, and underground facilities involve a heavy workload, and there is a strong demand for next-generation infrastructure inspection solutions utilizing the latest technology to achieve safe and efficient operations.
Liberaware has, until now, developed inspection solutions utilizing drones and robots that can be used in narrow, dark, and dangerous locations.
Meanwhile, TIS is promoting DX in the social infrastructure domain, leveraging its knowledge of IT infrastructure and data utilization.
Through the collaboration of both companies, the aim is to establish a new inspection work model that integrates robots and data.
■ Demonstration Overview
This demonstration was conducted utilizing the vast field of TMU, which is fully equipped with a local 5G environment and can simulate various practical operation scenarios, including indoor and outdoor areas such as lecture rooms, stairs, and outdoor passages.
For the verification, a hybrid communication environment combining local 5G, a next-generation communication technology, and general carrier communication was constructed. In an environment close to practical operation, multifaceted verifications were conducted, including the optimal use of communication infrastructure, and the following insights were accumulated:
- Verification of robot traversability
Using quadruped robots, autonomous navigation and reproducibility of driving performance were confirmed in complex environments including indoor, outdoor, and stair environments. Stable mobility was demonstrated even in environments with steps and obstacles, proving its applicability to inspection work.
- Verification of data acquisition validity
The effectiveness of data acquired by robots for inspection purposes was verified. It was confirmed that the quality of data, due to the reproducibility of the robot's driving performance, is suitable for stable grasp of site conditions, comparing patterns captured by humans and those captured by robots.
- Verification of communication environment
Verification was conducted on data acquisition using general communication equipment and local 5G, a next-generation communication technology, confirming that stable data collection and transmission are possible.
- Data integration and visualization platform (utilizing intdash)
Acquired data was integrated and visualized using Aptpod's "intdash / Visual M2M Data Visualizer". By linking video, location information, and sensor data in real-time, remote situation awareness and analysis became possible, confirming its effectiveness as a future solution platform.
■ Future Outlook
Moving forward, through continuous demonstrations of the Tokyo NEXT 5G Boosters Project, verifications will proceed from the following perspectives towards service launch:
- Replacement and efficiency improvement of inspection work by robots
- Advancement of maintenance operations through data utilization
- Establishment of a service model with practical operation in mind
In the future, we aim to expand into a wide range of fields such as power, plants, construction, and public infrastructure, contributing to the advancement of social infrastructure maintenance and management.
▼ About the Next-Generation Communication Technology Utilization Startup Support Project (Tokyo NEXT 5G Boosters Project)
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government aims to foster globally competitive startups in Tokyo by leveraging the diverse fields of Tokyo, from urban areas to suburbs, mountainous regions, and remote islands. This project aims to create new businesses and innovations utilizing next-generation communication technologies, including 5G, to improve the quality of life (QOL) of Tokyo residents and enhance the corporate value of each startup. This project recruits and selects development promoters who collaborate with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to provide multifaceted support to startups. Development promoters will promote the development and commercialization of supported startups over three fiscal years, in cooperation with partner businesses (telecommunication carriers).