NOK Applies "Sotto" Brain to Logistics Safety Management; Participates in Development and Pilot Program for Forklift Accident Prevention
NOK is applying its brainwave measurement technology, "Sotto" Brain, initially developed for dementia prevention, to safety management in logistics. The company is participating in a joint project to develop and pilot a forklift accident prevention program that visualizes operator states via brainwave data to reduce accident risks.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 12:42 (1h 10m after Collected)
NOK Corporation (Headquarters: Shiba-Daimon, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President & Group CEO: Masao Tsuru; hereinafter "NOK") is applying its brainwave measurement technology, which was developed for dementia prevention, to safety management in logistics. NOK is participating in a joint project, "Forklift Accident Prevention Program"*, along with four other companies, including Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. (Headquarters: Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President: Koji Ishikawa), for its development and pilot testing.
This program aims to visualize the operator's state during forklift operation using brainwave data, thereby reducing the risk of accidents. In this project, NOK is responsible for acquiring brainwaves during work using a helmet-type device equipped with "Sotto" Brain, a dry rubber electrode for brainwaves.
In addition to developing the helmet-type device for acquiring brainwaves during work, NOK supported this initiative both technically and in terms of practical testing by providing its own logistics center as a demonstration site. The pilot experiment was conducted from July 2025 to January 2026, confirming the effectiveness of this program. Commercialization is planned for the future.
Helmet-type "Sotto" Brain
■Background of Development: Applying Healthcare Technology to "Safety Management"
NOK's brainwave measurement technology, developed for dementia prevention, is characterized by its ability to acquire faint brainwaves even in daily environments and during movement. Based on these characteristics, the application to safety management in logistics sites was discussed and considered. As a result, an initiative was launched to visualize the operator's state during forklift operation as biometric data, leading to accident suppression. This has made it possible to objectively grasp the worker's state, which was previously difficult to ascertain, and to incorporate a new approach into safety management.
■Towards Social Implementation: Developing Appropriate Devices for Logistics Sites and Demonstrating in Own Logistics
NOK has approached the practical implementation of this program from both technical and demonstrative aspects.
Assuming use in logistics sites, existing brainwave measurement devices were improved into a helmet-integrated type, creating an environment where brainwaves can be acquired even during work. This made it possible to measure the operator's state in real-time within actual operations without increasing the burden on the operator.
Furthermore, NOK provided its logistics center as a demonstration field, conducting data acquisition and verification in an actual work environment. This confirmed the practicality of this program in an operable form on-site, going beyond theoretical considerations.
■Future Outlook
Leveraging the insights gained from this program, NOK will technically support the advanced prediction of accidents and risk assessment through the acquisition of highly accurate biometric data. The company also aims to implement new data-driven safety management by expanding its application from the logistics sector to various work environments, including manufacturing sites.
Under the philosophy of "Essential Core Manufacturing—Monozukuri that handles core areas indispensable to society," the NOK Group will promote the social implementation of technology that visualizes human states, contributing to the safety and security of workers.
■About "Sotto" Brain
"Sotto" Brain is a dry rubber electrode that can acquire faint brainwaves in microvolt units with high accuracy from the forehead and earlobe. NOK's compounding technology, which uniformly disperses metal particles in rubber, achieves conductivity close to that of metal. It is gentle on the skin, reusable, and allows stress-free data acquisition by simply pressing it lightly.
* "Sotto" and "sotto" are registered trademarks of NOK. (Trademark registration numbers 6754240, 6747684, 6747683)
※"Forklift Accident Prevention Program"
This is a joint project by five companies: NOK, Sompo Japan Insurance Inc., Sompo Risk Management Inc., Little Software Inc., and Toyota L&F Kanagawa Co., Ltd. It involves building a program that acquires and analyzes brainwave data of forklift operators to manage safety. Through pilot testing, it was confirmed that data on operator characteristics and physical/mental states contributing to accident prevention can be obtained. Using these results, the program aims to reduce accident risks through specific education and support tailored to individual characteristics and optimal personnel placement based on scientific evidence.
For more details, please refer to the joint press release (attached) announced on April 24, 2026.
Inquiries regarding the release:
NOK Corporation CEO Office Corporate Affairs Corporate Communications Department
TEL: 03-5405-6372 Mail: mb_nok_corporate_affairs＠jp.nokgrp.com
■About NOK Corporation
Keywords:
This program aims to visualize the operator's state during forklift operation using brainwave data, thereby reducing the risk of accidents. In this project, NOK is responsible for acquiring brainwaves during work using a helmet-type device equipped with "Sotto" Brain, a dry rubber electrode for brainwaves.
In addition to developing the helmet-type device for acquiring brainwaves during work, NOK supported this initiative both technically and in terms of practical testing by providing its own logistics center as a demonstration site. The pilot experiment was conducted from July 2025 to January 2026, confirming the effectiveness of this program. Commercialization is planned for the future.
Helmet-type "Sotto" Brain
■Background of Development: Applying Healthcare Technology to "Safety Management"
NOK's brainwave measurement technology, developed for dementia prevention, is characterized by its ability to acquire faint brainwaves even in daily environments and during movement. Based on these characteristics, the application to safety management in logistics sites was discussed and considered. As a result, an initiative was launched to visualize the operator's state during forklift operation as biometric data, leading to accident suppression. This has made it possible to objectively grasp the worker's state, which was previously difficult to ascertain, and to incorporate a new approach into safety management.
■Towards Social Implementation: Developing Appropriate Devices for Logistics Sites and Demonstrating in Own Logistics
NOK has approached the practical implementation of this program from both technical and demonstrative aspects.
Assuming use in logistics sites, existing brainwave measurement devices were improved into a helmet-integrated type, creating an environment where brainwaves can be acquired even during work. This made it possible to measure the operator's state in real-time within actual operations without increasing the burden on the operator.
Furthermore, NOK provided its logistics center as a demonstration field, conducting data acquisition and verification in an actual work environment. This confirmed the practicality of this program in an operable form on-site, going beyond theoretical considerations.
■Future Outlook
Leveraging the insights gained from this program, NOK will technically support the advanced prediction of accidents and risk assessment through the acquisition of highly accurate biometric data. The company also aims to implement new data-driven safety management by expanding its application from the logistics sector to various work environments, including manufacturing sites.
Under the philosophy of "Essential Core Manufacturing—Monozukuri that handles core areas indispensable to society," the NOK Group will promote the social implementation of technology that visualizes human states, contributing to the safety and security of workers.
■About "Sotto" Brain
"Sotto" Brain is a dry rubber electrode that can acquire faint brainwaves in microvolt units with high accuracy from the forehead and earlobe. NOK's compounding technology, which uniformly disperses metal particles in rubber, achieves conductivity close to that of metal. It is gentle on the skin, reusable, and allows stress-free data acquisition by simply pressing it lightly.
* "Sotto" and "sotto" are registered trademarks of NOK. (Trademark registration numbers 6754240, 6747684, 6747683)
※"Forklift Accident Prevention Program"
This is a joint project by five companies: NOK, Sompo Japan Insurance Inc., Sompo Risk Management Inc., Little Software Inc., and Toyota L&F Kanagawa Co., Ltd. It involves building a program that acquires and analyzes brainwave data of forklift operators to manage safety. Through pilot testing, it was confirmed that data on operator characteristics and physical/mental states contributing to accident prevention can be obtained. Using these results, the program aims to reduce accident risks through specific education and support tailored to individual characteristics and optimal personnel placement based on scientific evidence.
For more details, please refer to the joint press release (attached) announced on April 24, 2026.
Inquiries regarding the release:
NOK Corporation CEO Office Corporate Affairs Corporate Communications Department
TEL: 03-5405-6372 Mail: mb_nok_corporate_affairs＠jp.nokgrp.com
■About NOK Corporation
Keywords: