What Liberaware does

Liberaware Co., Ltd. (株式会社Liberaware) is a Japanese technology company that develops and commercializes non-GPS indoor industrial inspection drones and AI-powered spatial data analytics for infrastructure maintenance. Founded in 2016 in Chiba, Japan, and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market under ticker 218A in July 2024, the company is best known for its IBIS and IBIS2 drone series — described as the world's smallest-class inspection drones at approximately 20cm and 185g, engineered for narrow, dark, and hazardous confined indoor spaces such as bridge box girders, ducts, boilers, chimneys, sewer pipes, ceiling cavities, and underground pits. Proprietary technology includes dustproof motors, collision-tolerant flight control, and multi-modal SLAM navigation (LiDAR, Visual, and Motion Capture) that operates without GPS signals in temperatures from -5°C to 60°C.

The company's product portfolio spans hardware (IBIS/IBIS2 drones, the TORINOS rail-mounted autonomous inspection camera developed with Marunouchi Heat Supply), a software platform (LAPIS spatial iPaaS, which integrates drone-captured video with BIM/CIM systems and automates point cloud generation and 3D modeling), and a suite of services including annual rental plans, inspection dispatch, digital transformation image analytics, BIM modeling, OEM/entrusted development, and the Construction Progress Management Support Service launched July 2026. Project SPARROW, a government-designated national project under Japan's MLIT SME Innovation Creation Program, extends Liberaware into remote autonomous railway infrastructure inspection.

Liberaware generates revenue through a hybrid model combining drone equipment sales (IBIS/IBIS2 hardware), annual rental subscriptions with bundled training and repair services, on-demand inspection services with pilot dispatch, data processing and AI analytics add-ons, and custom OEM development. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting infrastructure owners and operators (highway, railway, water/sewage), industrial plants (steel, petrochemical, cement, power), and construction firms in Japan, with recent international expansion through Liberaware Korea (signed MOU with ALTIVION in June 2026 for civil infrastructure inspection in South Korea). The company holds ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 27001 certifications, operates a JV with JR East Group (CalTa, established July 2021) for digital twin services, and has raised approximately 3 billion yen in cumulative funding across multiple rounds from 2018 through 2026.

Name

Liberaware

Legal name

株式会社Liberaware

Website

https://liberaware.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Liberaware (TSE Growth: 218A) develops non-GPS indoor inspection drones (IBIS2), the LAPIS spatial iPaaS platform, and AI analytics for infrastructure and industrial plant inspection, serving enterprise customers in Japan's highway, railway, water/sewage, and manufacturing sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Inspection Drones

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Aerial Robotics (Drones & UAV Autonomy) (HDAAAIAG)

Keywords

• Indoor inspection drones
• Confined space inspection
• Infrastructure maintenance drones
• Non-GPS autonomous flight
• Spatial data analytics platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Chiba

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Drone Equipment Sales: Sale of proprietary drones including IBIS and IBIS2 models. Customers can purchase complete inspection drone systems including accessories.
2. Annual Rental and Service Plans: Annual rental contracts for drone equipment with bundled services including unlimited repairs/replacements, pilot training, and certification exams. Includes inspection service plans with pilot dispatch options.
3. Inspection and Measurement Services: On-demand inspection services where Liberaware-piloted drones conduct facility inspections. Covers boilers, ceilings, pipes, chimneys, ducts, and other confined spaces. Nationwide coverage with travel fees.
4. Digital Twin and Image Processing Services: Data processing services including point cloud generation, 3D modeling, ortho imaging, CAD conversion, and AI-powered anomaly detection from captured video data. Optional add-on to inspection services.
5. Custom Development (OEM): End-to-end drone and software development services from research phase through commercialization. Includes custom hardware, specialized sensors, and proprietary software solutions tailored to customer requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Liberaware develops and sells compact non-GPS inspection drones (IBIS/IBIS2) and the TORINOS rail-mounted autonomous inspection camera, alongside the LAPIS spatial iPaaS platform that converts drone-captured video into 3D point clouds, ortho images, CAD models, and AI-driven anomaly detection. The company also provides inspection, rental, autonomous patrol, BIM modeling, and OEM/custom drone development services targeting infrastructure owners, industrial plants, and construction firms.

Product overview

Liberaware is a Japanese drone company that develops indoor industrial inspection drones and AI-powered data analytics solutions for infrastructure maintenance. Its product portfolio centers on the IBIS/IBIS2 compact inspection drone series (world's smallest-class at 20cm), the TORINOS rail-mounted autonomous inspection camera, and the LAPIS spatial iPaaS platform for integrating spatial data capture with business systems. These are complemented by service offerings including inspection and rental services, autonomous patrol services, DX (digital transformation) image analytics services, entrusted/OEM development, BIM modeling services, and the construction progress management support service built on LAPIS. The company also operates Project SPARROW, a national project for railway drone inspection. Liberaware's offerings span hardware (drones and cameras), software (LAPIS platform, image analytics), and services (inspection, patrol, DX consulting), unified by AI-powered data analytics that convert drone-captured video into actionable infrastructure management insights.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IBIS: Industry's smallest-class narrow space inspection drone, approximately 20cm in size, dust-proof motors, weighing 185g, operating temperature range -5°C to 60°C. Used for inspection of confined indoor spaces such as ducts, pipes, boiler interiors, ceiling voids, and sewer pipelines.
• IBIS2
• トリノス (Torinos)
• Project SPARROW
• LAPIS

Products and services

• IBIS2 Ultra-Compact Inspection Drone IBIS2 is a world-class compact inspection drone measuring approximately 20cm in size, designed for inspecting narrow, dark, and hazardous confined indoor spaces. Features dust-resistant motors, -5°C to 60°C operating range, 185g lightweight frame, and proprietary collision-tolerant flight control for ducts, boiler interiors, chimneys, sewers, bridge girders, and tanks.
• IBIS Inspection Drone and Rental Service Original-generation industrial inspection drone for narrow confined space inspection, available via annual rental plans with bundled unlimited repairs, pilot training, certification exams, and optional Liberaware pilot dispatch. Targets indoor spaces such as ceilings, crawl spaces, underground pits, and narrow ducts.
• TORINOS Rail-Mounted Autonomous Inspection Camera Rail-mounted autonomous inspection camera for large-scale facility patrol, supporting remote operation and autonomous scheduled patrol modes, automatic charging, up to 3km range, 35-degree climbing ability, Wi-Fi connectivity, and optical 10x zoom camera. Developed jointly with Marunouchi Heat Supply.
• LAPIS Spatial iPaaS Platform Spatial Integration Platform as a Service that connects spatial data from drones and other capture devices with business systems. Provides automated 3D point cloud generation (LAPIS 3D CORE), API integration with BIM/CIM and construction management systems, ortho image and CAD conversion, and ecosystem support for multiple device types.
• Inspection and Pilot Dispatch Service On-demand inspection service where Liberaware-certified pilots conduct confined-space inspections using IBIS/IBIS2 drones, covering boilers, ceilings, pipes, chimneys, ducts, sewers, and other inaccessible spaces. Includes video data delivery, optional image processing, 5-business-day repair turnaround, pilot training, and certification exams.
• Automatic Patrol Service Autonomous drone patrol service replacing routine inspection and monitoring tasks for data centers, large warehouses, plants, tunnels, and industrial complexes. Supports remote monitoring, AI-based judgment, self-charging drones, and customization for ongoing operations.
• DX Service (Image Processing and AI Analytics) AI-powered image analysis service that processes drone-captured video to generate point clouds, 3D models, ortho images, CAD drawings, and detects anomalies such as cracks, corrosion, and surface irregularities. Handles difficult-to-3D-model spaces including ceilings, pipes, and manufacturing equipment, with custom integration to client systems.
• Entrusted Development (OEM / Custom Drone Development) End-to-end custom drone and software development service from research phase through commercialization, covering proprietary hardware, specialized sensors, and tailored software solutions. Phases include prototype (3-6 months), demonstration (1-3 months), and final product development/implementation.
• Project SPARROW Railway Drone Inspection Platform Government-funded railway infrastructure inspection drone platform enabling remote automated drone flight, cloud-based data analysis, and digital twin visualization for railway operators. Features omnidirectional cameras, zoom cameras, 8-blade propellers, automatic flight mission planning, and integration with design BIM/CIM models.
• Construction Progress Management Support Service Industry-specific LAPIS-based service for construction sites that provides automated drone-based remote operations, automatic 3D point cloud generation, integration with construction management systems, and assisted creation of progress report documents. Enables shape comparison against design BIM/CIM models.
• BIM Service (Existing Facility BIM Modeling and Drawing) Building Information Modeling service that converts existing facilities with missing, outdated, or unknown drawings into usable BIM models and 2D drawings. Uses drones and LiDAR for point cloud capture in hard-to-measure spaces such as ceiling cavities and underground pits, delivering BIM models for renovation and maintenance planning.
• Sewerage Infrastructure Inspection Solutions Drone-based inspection solutions for sewer pipelines designed to enable human-free entry pipe inspections, including next-generation distance measurement technology and damage measurement functions. Achieves approximately 5% measurement error and detects damage as small as 2mm width.

Quantifiable outcome

• 38% reduction (7 days) in annual nighttime lane closures for highway bridge inspection
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability9 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ALTIVION CO., LTD.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Liberaware Korea and ALTIVION signed MOU for strategic partnership in civil infrastructure inspection and management in South Korea. Combines Liberaware Korea's compact drone technology for confined space inspections with ALTIVION's DroneSquare platform for data management and 3D visualization. Aims to shift from one-off inspections to ongoing data utilization enabling sophisticated comparative maintenance analysis.
• KDDI Smart Drone CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2026Collaboration on Sagami Dam renewal project demonstrating Level 3.5 BVLOS drone operations with automated charging ports. KDDI Smart Drone provides autonomous charging port drones and flight route management; Liberaware provides spatial iPaaS LAPIS for automated point cloud data generation. Partnership enables remote automated inspection reducing manual intervention.
• Obayashi CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2026Obayashi provides construction site for Sagami Dam renewal project demonstration. Partnership demonstrates automated drone inspection technology integration with construction workflow, enabling quality control and safety management using generated point cloud data combined with design BIM/CIM models.
• Nissui Consulting Co., Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Capital and business alliance where Nissui Consulting acquired 310,200 shares through third-party allocation for approximately 500 million yen. Combines Nissui's water infrastructure planning and maintenance expertise with Liberaware's confined space inspection drone technology and AI/DX capabilities. Jointly develops inspection solutions and conducts demonstration projects for water supply and sewage sector digital transformation.
• Nippon Hume CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2026Capital and business alliance to utilize digital technology (drones) in sewer pipeline inspection and diagnosis in Japan. Nippon Hume contributes expertise as pipe material manufacturer; Liberaware provides high-performance inspection drone technology for confined and narrow spaces. Aims to develop new survey and diagnostic technologies to enhance infrastructure inspection and repair capabilities.
• Kansei Kogyo Co., Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2026Part of three-company sewer industry alliance with Liberaware. Combines Liberaware's narrow space inspection drone IBIS and AI/DX technology with on-site knowledge and customer networks of three partner companies. Addresses aging infrastructure and labor shortages by establishing frameworks for on-site workflows, evaluation criteria, and data utilization across planning, design, construction, and maintenance management value chain.
• CalTa Corporation (Joint Venture with JR East Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021Joint venture with JR East Group established in July 2021 to promote digital twin solutions for infrastructure. CalTa launched Trancity digital twin software service in March 2022. Represents deep integration with major railway operator for technology development and market deployment.
• Marunouchi Heat Supply CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development partner for Torinos rail-mounted inspection camera. Marunouchi Heat Supply contributed to product conceptualization and usability review based on experience managing approximately 30km of heat supply tunnels in Tokyo's Marunouchi district. Provided expertise on inspection operation requirements and operational considerations for confined tunnel environments.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Broad incumbents

• Parrot SA: French drone manufacturer serving commercial and government markets with professional UAVs, including inspection-focused models, comparable as a European industrial drone incumbent.
• Skydio: US-based autonomous drone maker known for obstacle-avoidance flight autonomy, an adjacent competitor whose autonomy software and enterprise inspection offerings overlap with Liberaware's SLAM-based navigation.
• Autel Robotics: Chinese drone maker with commercial and enterprise product lines, comparable as a broad hardware incumbent whose enterprise drones overlap with Liberaware's industrial inspection positioning.
• DJI: Global drone market leader offering commercial and industrial UAVs across many categories; a broad incumbent whose entry into the indoor-confined-space niche would directly threaten Liberaware's positioning.

Regional players

• OPTiM: Japanese SaaS and AI/drone platform provider offering agriculture, construction, and infrastructure DX solutions; a regional competitor overlapping with Liberaware's LAPIS-based digital transformation services.
• Terra Drone: Japanese industrial drone services and platform company providing surveying, inspection, and UAV solutions domestically and in Asia; a regional peer addressing overlapping infrastructure inspection customers in Japan.

Emerging players

• DroneDeploy: Drone data platform for mapping, inspection, and asset management with a focus on construction and energy; comparable as a software/data layer that competes for the analytics budget adjacent to Liberaware's LAPIS offering.

Direct peers

• Flyability: Swiss maker of the Elios series of collision-tolerant indoor inspection drones, the closest direct competitor to Liberaware's IBIS/IBIS2 in the confined-space industrial inspection market.
• Percepto: Israeli autonomous drone-in-a-box provider for industrial inspection and security, comparable to Liberaware's TORINOS patrol service and indoor autonomous flight stack.
• Cyberhawk: UK-based industrial inspection drone services company serving oil & gas, utilities, and infrastructure; comparable as a service-led peer delivering drone-based inspection outcomes for similar end markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/liberaware
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@liberaware3890
• Facebookfacebook.com/liberaware
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/liberaware

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors14 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 Liberaware