Name

Connected Robotics

Legal name

コネクテッドロボティクス株式会社 (Connected Robotics Inc.)

Website

https://connected-robotics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Industry Robotics

NAICS

Food Product Machinery Manufacturing (333241), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (333310)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Robots (Articulated, SCARA, Delta, Cartesian) (IMAHAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Packaging Line Automation, Robotics & Integration (Controls, Turnkey Lines) (IMALAOAL), Service & Hospitality Robots (HDAAAIAB)

Keywords

• Food factory robotics
• Food industry automation
• Robotic plating systems
• Restaurant cooking robots
• AI food handling

Headquarters

HQ city

Koganei

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Robot System Sales (One-Time Hardware): Primary revenue from sale of food-industry robot systems (Delibot S, Delibot X, Futappy, Soft Cream Robot, AI Inspection Software, prototype robots) to food factories and restaurants. Production capacity target of 30-50 units/year per product line mentioned.
2. Implementation & After-Sales Support Services: Customer-specific customization, system integration, and after-sales telephone support. Approximately 3-6 month implementation engagements with Japan-based telephone reception desk and on-call engineer support for repairs.
3. Strategic Partnership Co-Development: Co-development revenue and joint go-to-market arrangements with strategic capital alliance partners (Teraoka Seiko, Hoshizaki, Kikuchi Seisakusho, Mitsubishi HC Capital, Yaskawa Electric) covering manufacturing, distribution, and joint product development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Connected Robotics designs, manufactures, and implements robotic arms and AI-enabled automation systems for the food industry. Its portfolio spans food-factory systems (Delibot S plating robot, Delibot X filling robot, Futappy lid-closing robot, AI Inspection Software) and restaurant automation (Softcream Robot, Soba Robot, French Fries Robot, OctoChef takoyaki robot). All offerings are built on a common technology stack of advanced robot control and AI-based sensing/learning with Sim-to-Real simulation, enabling deployment into existing narrow workspaces at production-line speeds (up to 1,000 servings/hour per Delibot line and 1,500 pieces/hour for Futappy).

Product overview

Connected Robotics offers a modular portfolio of food-industry robotics products and software rather than a single unified platform. The portfolio spans two main application tracks: FOOD FACTORY robots (盛付ロボット Delibot S, 充填ロボット Delibot X, AI検査ソフトウェア, and 蓋閉ロボット Futappy) and RESTAURANT robots (ソフトクリームロボット, フライドポテトロボット, そばロボット, OctoChef たこ焼きロボット). All products are unified by the company's two core technology pillars: advanced robot control and AI-based sensing/learning, which together enable installation into existing narrow workspaces (integration of robotics products into existing operations). The Delibot family forms a coherent sub-line — Delibot S handles plating, Delibot X handles filling as an extension of the same architecture, while AI Inspection Software and Futappy serve as complementary automation modules for food-factory lines. Restaurant robots (French Fries Robot, Softcream Robot, Soba Robot, OctoChef) share the same underlying control and AI platform adapted to in-store cooking tasks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DELIBOT™ (盛付ロボット): Connected Robotics' flagship plating robot brand for food factories, including Delibot S (space-saving model) and Delibot X (filling robot variant).
• Futappy™ (蓋閉ロボット)
• ソフトクリームロボット "Reita/Reimo" (レイタくん/レイモくん)
• OctoChef (たこ焼きロボット)

Products and services

• Delibot S (盛付ロボット) Plating robot that picks up a specified weight of irregularly shaped prepared food (e.g., potato salad, kinpira, hijiki stew) and places it onto a tray for food factories. Industry-first prepared-food plating automation supporting up to 1,000 servings/hour per line via 4-robot collaboration, with 400 servings/hour per robot, 50-250g servings, 0.8m x 0.8m footprint, and magnet-based quick-change hand system.
• Delibot X (充填ロボット) Conveyor-type filling robot that automates filling of prepared food into containers (e.g., sauce dispensing onto bento boxes, cream piping onto desserts) for food factories. Patented technology (Patent 7710270) determines optimal robot path based on container positions other than center of gravity, enabling accurate path planning even when containers are randomly oriented on conveyor belts.
• AI Inspection Software (AI検査ソフトウェア) AI-based food inspection software that uses image processing and machine learning to detect irregularities, defects, or quality issues on food production lines. Complements the Delibot family as an inspection module for factory automation, leveraging the company's proprietary computer-vision technology specialized for irregular, soft, and diverse food items.
• Softcream Robot (ソフトクリームロボット / Reita-kun) Soft serve ice cream robot that automates the full process from order to serving, including cone dispensing and weight-sensing for consistent swirl size. Production capacity 133 units/hour (27 seconds each), 14 layout patterns, with optional contactless flow including tablet ordering and cashless payment. Deployed at 20+ tourist sites, roadside stations, and service areas across Japan.
• Futappy (蓋閉ロボット / Capping Robot) Lid-closing robot system that places and seals lids on food containers on conveyors. Handles multiple container shapes (square, rectangular, oval), sizes, and latching styles (outer/inner fit, noodle fit) via quick-changer hand swap. Up to 1,500 containers/hour (industry-fastest at launch), 1780x1075mm footprint, with sensor-based OK/NG judgment of capping success. Deployed at Kyotaru Central Kitchen and Delimo factories.
• French Fries Robot (フライドポテトロボット) Robot that automatically picks up potato baskets, lowers them into the 180°C fryer, shakes them for even cooking, drains oil, and delivers fries to the bagging station. Also applicable to fried chicken and nuggets. Compact size for narrow kitchens, with safety sensors for human collaboration. First deployed at BEX BURGER Lab store in Minamisoma, Fukushima.
• Soba Robot (そばロボット) Two-arm cooking robot that automates the full soba noodle process — boiling, washing, and tightening — at up to 150 servings/hour. Japan's first practical-store deployment of a two-arm collaborative soba cooking robot, operating at JR East's そばいち stores. Co-developed with THK in a modular variant for customizable layouts.
• OctoChef (たこ焼きロボット) Automatic takoyaki (octopus ball) cooking robot that turns takoyaki balls while cooking. Used in stand-alone takoyaki stores and demonstrated at the 5th Takeshiba Summer Festival (August 2019) as part of the Tokyo Robot Collection program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3-4 direct-hire staff replace 7-8 worker line (Maxvalu Tokai, 4 Delibot units)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• AI Robot Association (AIRoA / 一般社団法人AIロボット協会)minorOthers · 1 March 2025Joined AIRoA (General Incorporated Association AI Robot Association) as a nurture member company in March 2025; participation supports industry-wide collaboration in AI robotics.
• FingerVision Co., Ltd. (株式会社FingerVision)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Co-applicant with Connected Robotics on MAFF Small and Medium Enterprise Innovation Creation Promotion Project (Phase 3 Fund Project); 13-company consortium established to innovate and socially implement food handling technology for the food industry, with approximately 2.4 billion yen total budget over 4 years.
• Closer Co., Ltd. (株式会社Closer)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Co-applicant with Connected Robotics on MAFF Phase 3 Fund Project; member of 13-company consortium for food handling technology innovation and social implementation; consortium total budget approximately 2.4 billion yen over 4 years.
• RT Corporation (株式会社アールティ)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 September 2023Partner in METI robot-friendly environment project for establishing UI guidelines and cooperation framework for food factory robot implementation; member of 16-company team led by Japan Sozai Association.
• Teraoka Seiko Co., Ltd. (株式会社寺岡精工)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Strategic and capital alliance established October 2022 and continued through Series B February 2023. Teraoka Seiko provides packaging equipment, high-speed labelers, food inspection devices and label inspection equipment for supermarket process centers and convenience store vendors. Connected Robotics provides advanced robot control technology for the upstream food handling stage. Collaboration aims to create new markets and solve harsh labor conditions in food factories. Chairman/CEO Kazuharu Teraoka also serves as Board Director of Connected Robotics.
• Hoshizaki Corporation (ホシザキ株式会社)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Strategic and capital alliance established October 2022 and continued through Series B February 2023. Previously co-developed dishwasher robot automation. Joint goal to develop unique new products addressing labor shortage and hygiene needs in food service industry; collaboration also expected to serve as human resource development opportunity.
• Kikuchi Seisakusho Co., Ltd. (株式会社菊池製作所)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Strategic and capital alliance partner providing manufacturing support from design through various mold fabrication, prototyping, mass production, and assembly. Also supports sales and capital aspects. Hosts Connected Robotics Minamisoma Laboratory inside its Minamisoma Factory.
• Yaskawa Electric Corporation (株式会社安川電機)flagshipTechnology or Integration · 1 February 2023Capital alliance and technology partnership. Plans to integrate Yaskawa's industrial MOTOMAN robots with Connected Robotics' software for food industry solutions. Co-targets automation in primary industries (agriculture, fishery) as part of stable food supply chain.
• Japan Sozai Association (一般社団法人日本惣菜協会)flagshipOthers · 1 September 2021Lead organization of METI's robot-friendly environment project (令和3年度 革新的ロボット研究開発等基盤構築事業) in which Connected Robotics participates alongside 15 member user companies and cooperating companies (RT, Ichibiki, ExaWizards, FA Products, Office FA.com, Groovenauts, Gourmet Delica, Delicasite, Nissen Delica, Japan Support System, Hirai, FamilyMart, Fujimoto Foods, Maxvalu Tokai). Resulted in industry-first prepared-food plating robot systems including tray-supply integrated model, space-saving model, and super-high-speed capping robot.
• subLime Co., Ltd. / BEX BURGER (株式会社subLime)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Co-development agreement for hamburger shop-dedicated cooking robot signed June 30, 2021. Supports BEX BURGER's franchise expansion plan (target: 1,000 branches) and aims to solve labor shortage challenges in food service. Robot demonstrated at BEX BURGER Lab store in Minamisoma, Fukushima.
• JR East Group / JR East Startup Co., Ltd. (東日本旅客鉄道株式会社 / JR東日本スタートアップ株式会社)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Strategic and capital partnership established December 2020 for development and deployment of station soba robot (soba-ichi). Previously selected for JR East Startup Program (November 2019). Implementation includes single-arm robot demonstration at soba-ichi nonowa Higashi-Koganei and dual-arm robot installation at soba-ichi Perie Makuhari (March 2021) - Japan's first in-store deployment of dual-arm cooking robot.
• THK Co., Ltd. (THK株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2020Co-developed new soba robot with THK, leveraging THK's module parts to allow customization of arm length and linear motion extension to fit kitchen layout; horizontal-axis linear motion design expands arm range of motion. Jointly exhibited at Foodtech Japan 2020 (November 25-27) at THK's booth.
• Nexea East Japan Co., Ltd. (ネクセリア東日本株式会社)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2020Operates Pasar Miyoshi service area (Kan-Etsu Expressway); hosted contactless soft-serve ice cream robot demonstration July 28 - August 16, 2021. The demonstration was the first in-store proof of concept for Connected Robotics' contactless food service offering.
• NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization / 国立研究開発法人新エネルギー・産業技術総合開発機構)coreOthers · 1 December 2019Selected for NEDO's 2019 R&D Venture Support Program (Seed Stage) with up to 70 million yen subsidy; funding used for Sim-to-Real image-recognition R&D for robot dishwashing systems. Also a member of METI/NEDO Robot Implementation Model Construction Task Force (December 2019).
• IBM Japan / IBM BlueHubcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 September 2017Selected (September 2017) for IBM Japan's BlueHub incubation program (4th cohort); collaboration on combining IBM Watson AI technologies with CR's robotics software expertise for more advanced food service robot systems.
• Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT / 東京農工大学)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Foundational research collaboration since the company's early years. Connected Robotics relocated head office to TUAT campus building in December 2017 and still maintains its laboratory inside TUAT Building 13. Joint team TCR with TUAT won WRS2018 Future Convenience Store Challenge awards.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TechMagic Inc. Tokyo-based food-industry robotics startup developing cooking and dishwashing robots for restaurants and food factories. Most direct Japanese peer to Connected Robotics with similar target markets (food service + central kitchens), analogous venture-stage profile, and overlapping product lines.
• RT Corporation: Japan-based robotics company and Connected Robotics' partner in the METI robot-friendly environment project for food factories. Develops robot platforms including service and food industry applications, making it a direct peer in Japan-domestic food robotics.

Broad incumbents

• Yaskawa Electric Corporation: Japanese industrial robot market leader (MOTOMAN line) and Connected Robotics' strategic capital and technology partner. Operates broadly across factory automation with much larger scale; relevant because Yaskawa's industrial robots could be adapted for food industry use and represents both an investor and a potential competitive threat.
• FANUC Corporation: Global leader in industrial robots (articulated, SCARA, delta) and CNC systems. While not focused on food industry specifically, FANUC's broad product line overlaps with industrial robot category (IMAHAHAA) and represents the type of large incumbent that could enter the food-handling niche over time.
• Hoshizaki Corporation: Japan-headquartered global leader in commercial kitchen equipment (ice machines, refrigerators, dishwashers) and Connected Robotics' strategic capital partner. Provides distribution into commercial food service and previously co-developed dishwasher robot automation; relevant as both a partner and a broad incumbent in the same end markets.
• Kawasaki Heavy Industries (Robotics Division): Japanese conglomerate with major industrial robotics division producing articulated robots for diverse applications. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the industrial robot category that could expand into food-handling applications.

Emerging players

• Mujin Inc. Japan-based industrial robotics AI company providing robot intelligence and motion planning for warehouse and factory automation. Comparable to Connected Robotics' Sim-to-Real AI and robot control technology stack, though focused more on logistics/picking than food handling.
• Miso Robotics: US-based food service robotics company known for Flippy (fry station robot) and other restaurant automation. Comparable to Connected Robotics' French Fries Robot and restaurant-side product line, though focused on the US quick-service restaurant market rather than Japan.
• Bear Robotics: US-based service robotics company (Servi robot) for restaurant food running and serving. Comparable in restaurant automation category, though focused on serving/running tasks rather than cooking tasks, and operates in different geography.
• Picnic Works Inc. US-based food robotics company building pizza and food assembly automation systems. Comparable in food production automation niche, though focused on US pizza chains versus Japan's prepared-food factories; represents an international peer pursuing a similar thesis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ConnectedRoboticsYoutube
• Xx.com/cr_foodtech
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connected-robotics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors25 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Connected Robotics