NSK and RT Corporation will unveil a prototype of a domestically developed quadruped robot and an autonomous patrol demonstration for the first time at the Robotics NEXT Tokyo 2026 venue. The companies will demonstrate the prototype and present their plans for future collaboration.
Against the backdrop of their capital and business alliance, NSK and RT Corporation will unveil a prototype of a domestically developed quadruped robot and an autonomous patrol demonstration for the first time at Robotics NEXT Tokyo 2026. The exhibition is intended to showcase a solution that combines NSK's tribology technology with RT Corporation's capabilities in developing finished products and services, with the aim of realizing patrol and inspection services for industrial sites.
The prototype measures approximately 900 mm in overall length, 400 mm in overall width and 500 mm in height when standing, weighs approximately 20 kg, and can carry equipment weighing up to 7 kg. The companies will prioritize a domestic design, manufacturing and maintenance structure, and establish a system that allows the robot to be improved according to its intended application.
The autonomous patrol demonstration will show the robot navigating a route simulating stairs and ramps, with the envisaged operation extending to checking and recording meter readings inside factories and enabling remote monitoring. Through this exhibition, feedback from visitors on site-specific challenges, onboard equipment, traversability and operating time will be incorporated into the products and services.
Going forward, the companies will advance testing and product development based on the prototype, with the aim of launching a mass-production model around spring 2028 and producing and supplying a cumulative total of 10,000 units in Japan and overseas by the mid-2020s. They will expand collaboration with parts manufacturers and robotics companies, with a view to developing patrol and inspection services that combine parts procurement, manufacturing and operational services.