From left to right, STATION Ai, a screenshot from the robot management software (© TOPPAN Holdings Inc.), and a carrier robot in operation

TransBots® digital twin solution adopted by Japan’s largest open innovation facility to support robot-friendly environment

Tokyo – TOPPAN Holdings Inc. (TOPPAN Holdings) has developed a digital twin solution called TransBots® that enables remote management and control of multiple different types of robots using three-dimensional virtual spaces.

TransBots® has now been adopted by STATION Ai,1 Japan’s largest open innovation support hub, which will be launched by STATION Ai Corp. in October this year in Tsurumai, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.

Background and overview

In response to Japan’s shrinking labor force, in recent years the use of service robots is being considered in a wide range of fields, including cleaning, security, catering, and transportation. However, controlling and managing multiple different types of robots can be difficult because robots and control systems differ depending on the manufacturer and model. Another challenge is the time and cost associated with coordinating with elevators and other equipment and adjusting the operating range of robots in line with the structures of buildings. To address these various issues, in 2021 TOPPAN developed TransBots®, a digital twin solution that makes it possible to centrally manage and control each robot remotely in a digital twin.

TransBots® has now been selected for use at STATION Ai, which will open in October as Japan’s largest open innovation facility. STATION Ai aims to be Japan’s leading robot-friendly environment,2 facilitating pilot projects by startup businesses developing robots, user companies that want to introduce robots, and robot systems integrators (companies that implement and operate robots).

For the opening of STATION Ai, TOPPAN Holdings will create a 3D virtual replica of the facility by combining 3D measurement of the space inside with BIM data used for design. Two THOUZER E2 TOPPAN Custom3 robots and one Cuboid4 autonomous mobile robot, developed by SoftBank Corp., with a signage function will be connected to TransBots® to enable smooth robot operation.

Going forward, TOPPAN Holdings is planning pilot testing and other co-creation activities in collaboration with start-ups moving into STATION Ai, and will contribute to driving the social implementation of new service robots.

Features of TransBots®

1) Robots and various information are visualized in a 3D virtual space in real time to enable central control
The application of 3D measurement and VR technologies accumulated through the TOPPAN Group’s extensive research and development makes it possible to reconstruct a 3D virtual environment that enables intuitive and remote management and control of each robot. In addition to robots, it is anticipated that it will be possible to display information from IoT sensors and visualize other diverse information, including links to external web services.

2) Microservice architecture allows for flexible application construction
TransBots® employs a microservice architecture using a lightweight communication protocol to connect the cloud to administrator PCs, mobile devices, robots, and other devices dispersed in various locations. This makes it possible to collate information not just from devices but also from AI engines (human detection/speech recognition) and other external services to enable flexible construction of multiple applications.

TransBots® website: https://www.holdings.toppan.com/en/transbots/ 

The future
TOPPAN Holdings intends to support solutions to raise labor productivity in offices, airports, stations, warehouses, factories, and more by expanding the functions of TransBots® to enable the use of digital twin technologies for coordination of various robots, equipment, and IoT devices.

1. STATION Ai: Japan’s largest open innovation facility, due to open in October 2024 at 1-2-32 Tsurumai, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. https://stationai.co.jp/e 
2. Robot-friendly environment: An environment in which user-side work processes and the facility environment support the introduction of robots.
3. THOUZER E2 TOPPAN Custom: Version of THOUZER E2 (https://doog-inc.com/en/type-transport/) customized to TOPPAN Holdings’ specifications.
4. Cuboid: https://www.ros-sier.com/en/raas/cuboid