Overview
The Fukushima Robot Test Field (RTF) has been developed in line with the Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework as a large-scale base for the development and verification of land, sea, and air field robots. It simulates actual operating conditions, including infrastructure and disaster sites, to enable the evaluation of robot performance and training in robot operation, which makes it a facility like no other in the world.
The RTF stands in the Minamisoma City Reconstruction Industrial Park, 1,000 m east-west and 500 m north-south in size. It comprises Unmanned Aircraft Facilities, Infrastructure Inspection and Disaster Response Robot Facilities, Underwater and Maritime Robot Facilities, and Development Base Facilities, while the Namie Town Tanashio Industrial Park is also equipped with a runway for long-range flight testing. In FY2021, competition in the Disaster Robotics Category of the World Robot Summit 2020 took place in the Mockup Plant and Mockup Tunnel.
Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework
The Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework is a Japanese government project that aims to construct new industrial infrastructure to restore the industries in the coastal Hamadori Region of Fukushima lost in the Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear disaster. The Framework is driving the implementation of projects in areas including reactor decommissioning, robots, energy, and environment and recycling. It is also implementing initiatives to form industrial clusters, develop human resources, and grow interchangeable populations.
Partnership Agreements
The Fukushima Robot Test Field has concluded the following partnership agreements to support the advancement of the Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework.
〇Cooperation agreement with the Robotics Department of the Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework Promotion Organization (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation) and the University of Tokyo Sky Frontier Research Initiative for the use of drones in society, utilizing the Fukushima Robot Test Field
・Agreement Partner: University of Tokyo Sky Frontier Research Initiative
・Date of Agreement: March 26, 2019
〇Partnership agreement toward advancing the Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework and research into tough cyber-physical AI utilizing the Fukushima Robot Test Field
・Partnership agreement toward advancing the Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework and research into tough cyber-physical AI utilizing the Fukushima Robot Test Field
・Date of Agreement: July 30, 2019
〇Cooperation agreement for advancing the Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework in addition to human resources development for, and research and development into, the prolongation of social infrastructure life, utilizing the Fukushima Robot Test Field
・Agreement Partner: College of Engineering, Nihon University
・Date of Agreement: September 30, 2019
〇Memorandum of understanding to explore opportunities for cooperation in matters related to testing of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
・Memorandum of understanding to explore opportunities for cooperation in matters related to testing of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
・Date of Agreement: December 10, 2019
〇Partnership agreement for advancing the Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework in addition to human resources development for, and research and development into, the maintenance of social infrastructure, utilizing the Fukushima Robot Test Field
・Agreement Partner: National Institute of Technology, Fukushima College
・Date of Agreement: August 19, 2020
〇Cooperation agreement for collaboration between test sites toward attainment of the “industrial revolution of the skies”
・Agreement Partners: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology Wireless Networks Research Center, Oita Industrial Research Institute
・Date of Agreement: November 27, 2020
〇Cooperation agreement for advancing the Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework utilizing the Fukushima Robot Test Field
・Agreement Partner: Man-Machine Synergy Effectors, Inc.
・Date of Agreement: July 1, 2021
〇Memorandum of understanding between Fukushima Robot Test Field, Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework Promotion Organization of Japan, and Drone Federation of India to explore opportunities for cooperation in the field of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
・Agreement Partner: Drone Federation of India
・Date of Agreement: March 7, 2022
〇Cooperation agreement toward industrial development of next-generation air mobility
・Agreement Partner: Minami-Shinsyu Iida Industry Center
・Date of Agreement: November 1, 2022
The following are other agreements that the Fukushima Prefectural Government has concluded in relation to the Fukushima Robot Test Field.
〇Agreement on verification of robots and drones utilizing the Fukushima Robot Test Field
・Agreement Partners: Fukushima Prefectural Government and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization
・Date of Agreement: November 22, 2017
⇒Learn more from here.
〇Cooperation agreement towards unmanned aircraft flight beyond visual line-of-sight
・Agreement Partners: Fukushima Prefectural Government, the Japan UAV Association (JUAV), Japan UAS Industrial Development Association (JUIDA), and the Japan Unmanned System Traffic ＆ Radio Management Consortium (JUTM)
・Date of Agreement: March 22, 2018
⇒Learn more from here.
〇Cooperation agreement between Fukushima Prefectural Government and Mie Prefectural Government for the attainment of flying cars and the air mobility revolution
・Agreement Partners: Fukushima Prefectural Government and Mie Prefectural Government
・Date of Agreement: August 2, 2019
⇒Learn more from here.
〇Agreement for the promotion of the utilization of drones, etc., in disaster responses
・Agreement Partners: Fukushima Prefectural Government, Fire and Disaster Management Agency, and Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework Promotion Organization
・Date of Agreement: November 20, 2020
⇒Learn more from here.
Operating Principles
Basic Principle
To contribute to the realization of a safe and prosperous society through the integration of robots into society.
Action Guidelines
Fukushima Robot Test Field will act as an engine driving the reconstruction of Fukushima in accordance with the following guidelines, aiming to be the representative national center in Japan for the integration of robots into society.
- We will continue to provide the world’s top robot testing environment and testing technology.
- We will promote research and development of robots in Japan and overseas, and exchange among robot operators.
- We will contribute to the creation of mechanisms for integrating robots into society and for ensuring their safety.
- We will contribute to training the next generation of human resources in robotics.
Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework Promotion Organization (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)
Director – Fukushima Robot Test Field