Creating a Robot-Friendly Environment to Solve Transportation Challenges in Multi-Unit Housing
~Nippon Steel & Sumikin Real Estate, SoftBank Robotics, Nikken Sekkei, and Nikken Housing Systems Selected as Indirect Grant Recipients for the “Reiwa 5 Innovative Robotics R&D Infrastructure Development Project”~

Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director President and CEO: Masahiro Miwa), SoftBank Robotics Corp. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director President and CEO and CEO: Fumihide Tomizawa), Nikken Sekkei Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Atsushi Omatsu),and Nikken Housing Systems Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo; Representative Director President and CEO: Hiroyuki Usami), has been selected for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s “Reiwa 5 Innovative Robotics R&D Infrastructure Development Project”*.Following this selection, we will conduct verification of specific robot use cases and their economic feasibility with the aim of creating a robot-friendly environment for material handling in multi-unit residential buildings, such as high-rise apartment complexes.

ロボットは、人手不足などの社会課題を解決するツールとして期待されており、ロボット導入が進んでいないサービスや製造業分野でも需要が高まっています。しかし、多くのロボットは、特定の企業活動などの狭い範囲での利用を前提に開発・供給されているため、個別に開発が必要で、高コスト構造となる傾向があり、それがロボットの普及を阻害する要因の一つとなっています。
経済産業省による令和5年度「革新的ロボット研究開発等基盤構築事業」は、このような状況を打開するため、既存の業務プロセスや設備環境を見直し、「ロボットフレンドリーな環境」を構築し、それに基づく実装モデルを開発することを目的に実施されます。
近年、インターネットの普及やコロナによる巣ごもりの影響もあり、インターネット通販を中心とした宅配荷物の需要は年々増加の傾向が続いています。国土交通省の調査（※１）によると、2019年度から2022年度までの宅配便等取り扱い個数の推移の成長率は約15％でした。それに伴い再配達も増加しており社会課題となっています。また、タワーマンションなどの大規模な集合住宅では、セキュリティが厳しく、建物の入口から住戸に到着するまで複数のインターフォンを押して自動ドアを通過する必要があり、荷物を届けるまでおおよそ30分もの時間を要するという事業者報告もあります（※２）。このような状況は、宅配員にとっても負担になり、住民にとってもストレスの原因となります。

※１：国土交通省「宅配便等取扱個数の推移」(令和４年度）https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/content/001625915.pdf
※２：経済産業省「第4回 持続可能な物流の実現に向けた検討会」事業者発表資料より引用

In this project, with the cooperation of a major logistics company that handles deliveries to large-scale apartment complexes, we will conduct a pilot test of a robot-based package delivery service.We will evaluate the optimal methods for utilizing robots, route planning, and coordination with users from the building entrance to individual residences. Additionally, based on data from participating companies, we will identify factors that ensure economic viability, assess the cost-effectiveness of robot implementation, and foster a more favorable market environment by increasing acceptance.
In large-scale apartment complexes, new initiatives aimed at solving transportation challenges are needed to provide a comfortable living environment. We believe that the cooperation of stakeholders is essential to achieving this.In this project, with the aim of creating a robot-friendly environment in the future, we plan to request the cooperation of logistics operators, developers, and property management companies through data provision, interviews, and other means.

Period: January 2024 – March 2024
Property Name: Livio Maison Minamisuna-cho
Address: 2-33-3 Minamisuna, Koto Ward, Tokyo

Nippon Steel & Kowa Real Estate develops and leases high-end rental condominiums for foreign residents—such as the “Intercity” series of large-scale urban development projects and the “BIZCORE” series of mid-sized, high-grade office buildings—in prime areas of central Tokyo, as well asthe “Homat” series of luxury rental condominiums for foreign residents. It is a comprehensive developer whose core businesses include the condominium sales business—represented by the “Livio” series—as well as condominium renovation projects and urban redevelopment initiatives.The Livio Life Design Research Institute, established to embody Livio’s “Life Design!” concept, is committed to creating condominium experiences that “enrich life.”

SoftBank Robotics was among the first to announce the humanoid robot “Pepper” in 2014. Since then, it has developed and launched the cleaning robot “Whiz,”the food-serving and transport robot “Servi,” and has played a pioneering role as a global robot integrator (RI) through its handling of various products, including the floor-cleaning robot “Scrubber 50” and the food-serving robot “Keenbot.”Currently, the company has 12 locations worldwide, and its products are in use in more than 70 countries. Leveraging this global network and drawing on its extensive experience and vast amounts of operational data, the company is pursuing Robot Transformation (RX) and striving toward a society where humans and robots coexist.

We are a professional services firm engaged in architectural and civil engineering design and supervision, urban design, and related survey, planning, and consulting services.For 120 years since our founding in 1900, we have been committed to creating value through “Social and Environmental Design,” which seeks solutions to both apparent and latent social issues, in order to meet the needs of society and the diverse requests of our clients.In March 2021, we declared a “Climate Emergency” as part of our efforts toward a decarbonized society. To address the challenge of a shrinking workforce, we have proposed “Smart Operation Building”—a concept that uses architectural innovations and IoT technology to reduce the administrative burden of building management—and are working toward the realization of a “Robofre Building.”

We are a group of experts in residential facilities that provides planning, design, and construction supervision for urban apartment complexes, as well as research and consulting services related to apartment building reconstruction. To flexibly adapt to changes in “lifestyles” brought about by various social issues, we participate in research on “living spaces of the future” and in the strategic product planning and development of apartment buildings and other residential properties.To realize a sustainable and fulfilling lifestyle in the coming era, we continue to take on new challenges, leveraging the expertise we have cultivated as specialists in creating housing systems, to develop frameworks that enhance “lifestyles” from a variety of perspectives.

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