12th Robot Award Winners Announced
Overview
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Japan Machinery Federation announced the judging results for the 12th Robot Award, held jointly with relevant government agencies. Award recipients were selected from 73 entries. The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award went to the flexible automated warehouse “Rapyuta ASRS,” and the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Commissioner’s Award (SME and Venture Company Award) went to “Sooha,” an in-pipe inspection and cleaning robot. The awards ceremony and joint exhibition of winning robots will be held at Smart Factory Japan 2026 from November 18 to 20, 2026.
Key points
- The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award went to “Rapyuta ASRS,” and the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Commissioner’s Award (SME and Venture Company Award) went to “Sooha.”
- The awards ceremony and joint exhibition will take place at Smart Factory Japan 2026.
- Since its launch, Rapyuta ASRS has been selected for adoption at more than 30 sites and is operating at more than 10 sites.
Overview
The Robot Award recognizes companies and other organizations with outstanding achievements in advanced applications, research and development, and workforce development to promote the advancement and social implementation of robotics technology. The first award was held in fiscal 2006, and it has been held every other year since fiscal 2008.
Entries were accepted from February 16 to May 8, and 73 submissions were received. Following review by the Special Review Committee and other bodies, the award recipients were selected.
Impact
Rapyuta ASRS achieves up to 2.5 times the storage efficiency of conventional systems. Since its launch, adoption and operation have expanded across multiple logistics sites, advancing mass production and real-world implementation.
Sooha is expected to be used in semiconductor plants, chemical plants, and social infrastructure. The evaluation noted progress in contracts and adoption studies, and said that if the robot's ability to handle small-diameter pipes advances, it is expected to expand into a wide range of industries.
Details
The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award went to Rapyuta Robotics Co., Ltd. for its flexible automated warehouse “Rapyuta ASRS.” The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Commissioner’s Award (SME and Venture Company Award) went to Solaris Inc., Chuo University (Taro Nakamura and Fumiomi Ito), and Hosei University (Yasuyuki Yamada) for the in-pipe inspection and cleaning robot “Sooha.”
Rapyuta ASRS combines swarm-control AI with an anchorless modular structure, enabling installation in existing facilities without floor anchoring or large-scale foundation work. It supports phased deployment and expansion, and its Goods-to-Person approach eliminates the need for workers to walk. Each picking station achieves a processing capacity of up to 400 LPMH. Sooha mimics the peristaltic motion of earthworms, propelling itself through pipes by transmitting the inflation and contraction of axially fiber-reinforced pneumatic artificial muscles. It can navigate bends and complex piping and clean with a brush while recording images with its front-facing camera.
The awards ceremony will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon on November 18, 2026, on the main stage in East Hall 3 at Tokyo Big Sight. The joint exhibition will run daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from November 18 to 20 at the 12th Robot Award joint exhibition booth (booth F-03) in East Halls 1 to 3 at the same venue. Smart Factory Japan 2026 will be held in East Halls 1 to 3 at Tokyo Big Sight.