JUIDA Newsletter 28 May 2025

  • June 2, 2025
JUIDA 28 May, 2025

TOP NEWS

 

Japan Drone Show Association Holds Japan’s First Drone Show Contest

 

The Japan Drone Show Association announced on March 31, 2025, that it held the “Japan Drone Show Creativity Awards 2024” to further develop the drone show industry and enhance its culture. The awards featured five categories, and in the “Entertainment Category,” “STAR ISLAND 2024,” organized by the STAR ISLAND Executive Committee (show management company: Redcliff Co., Ltd.) and held at venues including the Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka in Fukuoka City, was selected as the Grand Prix winner. In the “Regional Revitalization Category,” the Grand Prix was awarded to “Kamishihoro Christmas Drone Show 2024,” hosted by the Kamishihoro Town Drone Content Executive Committee (show management company: No Drone Show Co., Ltd.) in Kamishihoro Town, Hokkaido.

 

Japanese page https://droneshow.jp/news/wqw4pgx8nrm7

 

Triple Bottom Line Unveils Vision Concept for Next-Generation Railway Inspection Drones Co-Created with AI

 

Triple Bottom Line LLC announced on April 3, 2025, that it has handled and released the vision concept design for the next-generation railway inspection drone being developed as part of “Project SPARROW,” a railway inspection solution using drones adapted to the railway environment, for which Liberaware Co., Ltd. is advancing technical verification. This project utilizes AI in product design to achieve new shapes unattainable with conventional design methods. Triple Bottom Line states that it has adopted an approach of “From Idea to Form” to transform abstract concepts into concrete shapes, designing a vision concept for a drone that combines practicality and aesthetics. This product is scheduled to be exhibited at a booth at the international exposition to be held in Osaka in the summer of 2025.

 

Japanese page https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000005.000091491.html

 

ATR Develops Wireless Power Supply Technology for In-Flight Drones

 

Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR), specifically its Wave Engineering Laboratories, announced on March 27, 2025, that a research group led by Dr. Takayuki Matsumuro, a researcher at the institute, has developed a new technology for wirelessly powering drones in flight. This technology forms a special beam called an “air-core beam,” in which the intensity at the center where radio waves propagate becomes zero. This allows power to be supplied to equipment such as cameras mounted on the drone without causing interference. ATR states that this technology will serve as a foundation for drones to perform various missions while being powered in flight, and it is expected to lead to the practical application of wireless power transmission and its application in diverse fields in the future.

 

Japanese page https://www.atr.jp/topics/press_250327.html

 

Osaka Metro Completes “Osakako Vertiport” Dedicated to Flying Cars

 

Osaka Metro Co., Ltd. announced on March 28, 2025, the completion of “Osakako Vertiport,” a takeoff and landing site outside the Expo site in Yumeshima, which will be used for demonstration flights of “flying cars” developed by SkyDrive Inc. during the Osaka-Kansai Expo. The vertiport facility is equipped with a hangar for maintenance, refueling, and standby of flying cars, a landing and takeoff area for flying cars, and passenger facilities where visitors can experience everything from facial recognition check-in to boarding a mock-up. It also has functions as a hub connecting with other mobility options such as on-demand buses and shared bicycles. Osaka Metro also plans to hold events for the general public at this vertiport in addition to the flying car demonstration flights.

 

Japanese page https://subway.osakametro.co.jp/news/news_release/20250328_osakako_vertiport.php

 

Renesas Launches Battery Management Solution to Shorten Battery Design Time

 

Renesas Electronics Corporation announced on March 18, 2025, the launch of the “R-BMS F (Renesas Battery Management System with Fixed Firmware) Solution,” an all-in-one battery management system development platform that significantly shortens the battery design period for various battery-powered devices such as e-bikes, vacuum cleaners, robots, and drones. This product is offered as two types of all-in-one kits: a 2- to 4-cell kit and a 3- to 10-cell kit. The kits include a battery remaining capacity management IC (FGIC) with a built-in analog front-end and microcontroller, pre-validated firmware, monitoring software tools, parameter setting tools, a complete set of documentation including manuals, and an evaluation board.

 

Japanese page https://www.renesas.com/ja/about/newsroom/renesas-unveils-complete-lithium-ion-battery-management-platform-pre-validated-firmware

 

Liberaware Collaborates with Five Railway Operators for Railway Inspection Initiatives

 

Liberaware Co., Ltd., CalTa Co., Ltd., and KDDI Smart Drone Co., Ltd. announced on March 14, 2025, that they have signed agreements with East Japan Railway Company, Central Japan Railway Company, West Japan Railway Company, Kyushu Railway Company, and Seibu Railway Co., Ltd., respectively. This agreement aims to develop autonomous drones capable of patrolling railway sites, conducting various inspections, and confirming facility conditions during disasters, as well as a digital twin platform for viewing and analyzing the collected information. The goal is to improve the safety and productivity of railway infrastructure inspections and ensure the safe and stable transportation of railways in the future. Specifically, it is expected to reduce high-altitude and nighttime work in inspection operations, speed up responses to transportation disruptions, and enhance equipment management through the accumulation of data.

 

Japanese page https://liberaware.co.jp/%e9%89%84%e9%81%93%e7%92%b0%e5%a2%83%e3%81%ab%e5%af%be%e5%bf%9c%e3%81%97%e3%81%9f%e3%83%89%e3%83%ad%e3%83%bc%e3%83%b3%e3%82%92%e7%94%a8%e3%81%84%e3%81%9f%e9%89%84%e9%81%93%e7%82%b9%e6%a4%9c%e3%82%bd/

 

Metropolitan Expressway Company and Partners Conduct Nighttime Drone Inspection Pilot Test

 

Metropolitan Expressway Company Limited, Shutoko Engineering Company Limited, JDRONE Co., Ltd., Aerosense Inc., KDDI Smart Drone Co., Ltd., and NTT Communications Corporation announced on March 17, 2025, that they conducted a demonstration experiment of autonomous flight, etc., over a round trip of approximately 2.8 km using drones.

The purpose is to establish a rapid and reliable inspection method in the event of a disaster. This time, considering the occurrence of a night-time disaster, they conducted a demonstration of long-distance flight between multiple drone ports that can automatically take off, land, and charge drones, as well as verifying video visibility during night flight. As a result, they obtained valuable verification results towards establishing aircraft selection, inspection methods for flight in dark places during night-time disasters, and inspection methods using multiple drone ports. On the other hand, they also identified issues for more practical operation.

 

Japanese page https://www.shutoko.co.jp/company/press/2024/data/03/17_drone/

 

Mitsubishi Logistics and Partners Conduct Demonstration Test on Using Flying Cars in Air Medical Services

 

Mitsubishi Logistics Corporation, Mediceo Corporation, and Airbus Helicopters Japan Co., Ltd. announced on March 10, 2025, that they conducted a demonstration experiment to verify the use of flying cars in the field of aeromedical services. Assuming a natural disaster had occurred, the experiment utilized a state-of-the-art helicopter that simulated a flying car to transport pharmaceuticals and medical personnel on three routes: urban areas, mountainous areas, and remote islands in Osaka and Hyogo prefectures. As a result, they were able to confirm the initially set goals of “preliminary understanding of necessary stakeholders and emergency procedures” and “preparation for smooth coordination during social implementation.” They will continue to further explore social implementation.

 

Japanese page https://www.mitsubishi-logistics.co.jp/news/2025/20250310_01.html

 

Impress Releases “Drone Business Market Research Report 2025”

 

Impress Corporation announced on March 25, 2025, the release of a new industry research report, “Drone Business Survey Report 2025,” which summarizes the survey results on the domestic drone business. According to the report, the market size of the drone business in Japan for fiscal year 2024 is estimated to be 437.1 billion yen, an increase of 51.7 billion yen (13.4% year-on-year growth) from 385.4 billion yen in fiscal year 2023. Furthermore, the average annual growth rate from fiscal year 2024 to fiscal year 2030 is projected to be 15.2%, with the market size reaching 1.195 trillion yen in fiscal year 2030. The report consists of “Analysis of the Drone Business Market,” “Current Status and Challenges of the Drone Business by Industrial Field,” “Trends of Each Government Ministry and Agency,” and “Company Trends,” totaling 562 pages in A4 size.

 

Japanese page https://research.impress.co.jp/topics/list/drone/710

 

Sagawa Express and Partners Conduct Final Public Demonstration for Drone Logistics Deployment

 

Sagawa Express Co., Ltd., EAMS Robotics Co., Ltd., Japan Weather Association, and Sundrug Co., Ltd. announced on April 7, 2025, the final public demonstration of their drone delivery project, which has been underway after being selected as a supported project in the “Drone Logistics Service Social Implementation Promotion Project” conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. This demonstration, a first for the project, involved one operator simultaneously flying two drones on two routes with different airspaces. Additionally, they verified reception methods, coordination with retail delivery and operational flows, contactless delivery using delivery lockers for labor saving, and the overall operation of Level 3.5 flights. The four companies will continue to work on building new delivery networks.

 

Japanese page https://www2.sagawa-exp.co.jp/newsrelease/detail/2025/0407_2421.html

 

Weathernews to Develop New Operational Safety Management System for Drones and Helicopters in Disaster Situations

 

Weathernews Inc. announced on April 3, 2025, that it has been selected for the Economic Security Promotion Program (K Program) in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and others. By the end of fiscal year 2025, Weathernews aims to put into practical use an “AI Risk Alert System,” a “Low-Altitude Aviation Weather Observation System,” and “Low-Altitude 4D High-Definition Weather Prediction Operational Technology.” The company will play a role in developing a new aviation weather system necessary for the safe operation of drones and helicopters active during disasters and emergencies. This aviation weather data will be provided as an API and linked to the flight safety management system being developed by JAXA, as well as being offered on a dedicated website for aviation and drone operators.

 

Japanese page https://jp.weathernews.com/news/50222/

 

Aerosense Launches Initiative to Revitalize Remote Islands Using VTOL Drones

 

Aerosense Inc. announced on April 9, 2025, that it will start a project to revitalize inter-island activities as part of the “Tokyo Treasure Islands Challenge Project,” which is part of the “Tokyo Treasure Islands Project” implemented by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

The company will conclude disaster countermeasures agreements with local governments and will conduct regular patrols, monitoring, emergency surveys, and transportation of goods using the “Aerobo Wing” VTOL drone, as well as surveillance and surveys of forests, oceans, and illegal fishing. In addition, they plan to use drones for inter-administrative mail, prescription deliveries, postal items, and small online shopping items. To promote the appeal of the islands, they will also continuously film and edit aerial footage using drones and distribute it through platforms such as YouTube. A representative will be stationed on Shikinejima, which will serve as the base of operations, for two years starting in April 2025.

 

Japanese page https://aerosense.co.jp/media/pressrelease/20250409_pressrelease

 

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Issues Guidelines for Safe Simultaneous Operation of Multiple Drones

 

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) announced on March 28, 2025, the formulation of the “Guidelines for Safe Simultaneous Operation of Multiple Unmanned Aircraft” (First Edition) with the aim of promoting and expanding the simultaneous operation of multiple unmanned aircraft (multiple aircraft simultaneous operation) by a single operator. This is a compilation of the findings of the “Study Group for Promoting and Expanding Simultaneous Operation of Multiple Aircraft,” which consists of businesses, relevant government ministries and agencies, etc. The guidelines describe the requirements for “aircraft,” “operators,” and “operation management” related to the simultaneous operation of multiple aircraft, as well as verification of anticipated operational risks and examples of countermeasures. MLIT states that it will continue to revise the guidelines, etc., as needed in the future.

 

Japanese page https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/kouku10_hh_000276.html

 

Goka Town in Ibaraki Prefecture Offers Drone Experience Through Furusato Nozei Program

 

Goka Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, introduced on March 28, 2025, its “Drone Experience & Drone Rice Present” offered as a return gift for hometown tax donations. Donors receive a brief lecture on drones and then actually fly a drone in a rice paddy in the town where TUGUYO Co., Ltd. uses drones for tasks such as sowing seeds and spraying pesticides to grow rice. Additionally, donors receive 2 kg of “Drone Rice” actually harvested from that paddy. Goka Town is currently focusing on experience-based return gifts to gain fans of the town and also offers other return gifts such as drone flight training courses and skill certification courses.

 

Japanese page https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000079.000127418.html

Credit to: JUIDA

/ATOS and JUIDA ASSOCIATIONS have united their interests in the drone industry by signing                        a Memorandum of understanding and support in October, 2023/