Smile Robotics

What Smile Robotics does

Smile Robotics is a Tokyo-based robotics company founded in June 2019 that develops mobile manipulator robots — autonomous robots combining wheeled bases with robotic arms — for service environments where humans work. The company's product portfolio centers on three proprietary hardware systems: ACUR-C, an arm-equipped autonomous robot that performs dish collection and serving in restaurants, healthcare and nursing care facilities, and accommodation restaurants without ceiling/floor guides or remote operation; Shelf-E, a separable-combination shelf transport robot that automatically docks with shelves for retail and commercial internal logistics; and Haruna, an indoor mobile robot development platform sold to robotics researchers and developers at a JPY 1,990,000 base price with optional arm and sensor configurations.

Underlying the hardware is a vertically integrated software stack including OpenRR, a Rust-based open-source robot application framework released under Apache 2.0 that allows programming independent of ROS1 or ROS2, supported by in-house kinematics, URDF visualization, RRT-connect, trajectory interpolation, and ROS tf implementations; and cloud-bra.in, a cloud-based SLAM service that automatically generates maps for mobile robots. AI and perception capabilities draw on established toolkits (PCL, Open3D, OpenCV, MoveIt) rather than proprietary models.

The company generates revenue through direct hardware sales of its three products and through professional services including joint development, contract R&D, and consulting targeted at robot development companies and enterprise clients. The customer base spans restaurants, healthcare/nursing care, accommodations, retail/commercial facilities, and robotics developers, with execution via a consultative direct-sales motion and dedicated enterprise inquiry channels. The company was founded by Takashi Ogura (ex-SCHAFT/Google, ex-Toyota, ex-University of Tokyo JSK), with Hiroyuki Sunazuka as COO. The entity rebranded to Synchrobo Co., Ltd. (株式会社シンクロボ) in 2023 while continuing to operate under the Smile Robotics brand.

Name

Smile Robotics

Legal name

Smile Robotics, Inc.

Website

https://smilerobotics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Smile Robotics is a Tokyo-based robotics company developing mobile manipulator robots for service environments, including the ACUR-C autonomous dish-collection robot, the Shelf-E shelf transport robot, and the Haruna mobile robot development platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Service Robotics

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Service & Hospitality Robots (HDAAAIAB)

Keywords

• Mobile manipulator robots
• Service robotics
• Autonomous dish collection
• Robot development platform
• Cloud robotics

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Proprietary Product Sales (ACUR-C): Sale of arm-equipped autonomous dish delivery/collection robots for restaurants, healthcare facilities, and accommodations. Hardware product with integrated software.
2. Shelf-E Robot Sales: Sale of separation-combination shelf transport robots for retail, restaurants, and commercial facilities.
3. Haruna Development Platform Sales: Sale of indoor mobile robot development platforms to robotics researchers and developers. Base price 1,990,000 JPY (excluding tax), with optional arm and sensor configurations.
4. Joint Development and Contract R&D: Joint development, joint research, and contract-based development services for companies with robot-related challenges. Specializes in software development, particularly R&D-phase work using ROS/ROS2 and Rust.
5. Consulting Services: Technical consulting for robot utilization strategy, optimal robot selection, operations design, and technical supervision. Also provides Rust-based robot development support and project management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Smile Robotics designs, manufactures, and sells autonomous mobile manipulator robots for service environments. The product line includes ACUR-C (arm-equipped autonomous dish collection robot for restaurants, healthcare, and accommodations), Shelf-E (separable/combinable shelf transport robot for retail and commercial facilities), and Haruna (indoor mobile robot development platform sold to researchers and developers). The company supports its hardware with proprietary software including the OpenRR Rust-based open-source robotics framework and cloud-bra.in cloud robotics service for SLAM-based mapping, and also provides joint development, contract R&D, and consulting services.

Product overview

Smile Robotics develops service robots for environments close to humans, from factories to stores to homes. The product portfolio centers on three proprietary hardware products: ACUR-C (arm-equipped autonomous dish collection robot for restaurants and facilities), Shelf-E (separable/combinable shelf transport robot), and Haruna (indoor mobile robot development platform). Supporting the hardware is OpenRR, a Rust-based open-source robot application framework, and cloud-bra.in, a cloud robotics service for autonomous mapping. All products feature vertically integrated hardware and software developed in-house.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ACUR-C (Autonomous Clear Up Robot Type-C) Arm-equipped autonomous mobile manipulator for restaurants, healthcare facilities, nursing care, and accommodations that automates dish serving and collection. Features a redundant DOF arm reaching 90cm to grasp dishes, omnidirectional movement, 360-degree obstacle detection via LiDAR and four 3D cameras, 5-hour battery life, and 27kg load capacity. Eliminates need for staff/customer plate hand-offs and operates without ceiling/floor guides or remote control.
• Shelf-E Separable/combinable shelf transport robot that automatically attaches to and detaches from shelves. Enables multiple shelves per robot to eliminate wait times, allows customers to design shelves independently of robot aesthetics, and supports autonomous operation without guides or remote control for retail, shopping centers, and commercial facilities.
• Haruna Mobile Robot Development Platform Indoor mobile robot development platform for comfortable and rapid robot development. Features zero downtime with charging-while-developing capability, ROS1/ROS2 support, open-source code, up to 10-hour runtime, 40kg+ load capacity, and a 10km/h max speed. Sold to robotics researchers and developers for 1,990,000 JPY with optional arms (Kinova Gen3, UFactory UArm/Lite6) and sensors (ZED2i).
• Joint Development and Contract R&D Services Joint development, joint research, and contract-based development services for companies needing specialized robotics software capabilities, including R&D-phase work using ROS/ROS2, Rust, 3D environment recognition, and service robot development.
• Robotics Consulting Services Technical consulting covering robot utilization strategy, optimal robot selection, operations design, and technical supervision. Also includes Rust-based robot development support and project management for clients building or deploying robotic systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• ACUR-C operates 5 hours on battery, collects dishes at 1m distance, 27kg load capacity
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability5 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Iris Ohyama GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Iris Ohyama Group (アイリスオーヤマグループ) acquired shares in Smile Robotics in July 2023. This represents a significant strategic investment, likely enabling mass production capabilities and access to Iris Ohyama's consumer electronics manufacturing expertise and distribution channels in Japan.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Keenon Robotics: Keenon produces service robots for restaurants, hotels, and hospitals — directly comparable to Smile Robotics' ACUR-C dish-collection robot. Both target labor-constrained food-service environments in Asia.
• Bear Robotics: US-based Bear Robotics builds autonomous serving robots (Servi, Carti) for restaurants — the same restaurant-automation use case as Smile Robotics' ACUR-C, with similar SLAM-based mobile manipulation architecture.
• Pudu Robotics: Pudu (BellaBot, KettyBot, Holabot) is a leading global maker of restaurant delivery and reception robots, competing head-to-head with Smile Robotics' ACUR-C for restaurant and hospitality customers.
• SEQSENSE: Tokyo-based SEQSENSE develops autonomous security and patrol robots for buildings and facilities, using SLAM-based navigation. Like Smile Robotics, it is a small Japanese startup commercializing mobile autonomous robots for service environments.

Broad incumbents

• Cyberdyne: Cyberdyne is a Japanese robotics company known for the HAL exoskeleton and cleaning/transport robots for healthcare and facilities — adjacent to Smile Robotics' nursing-care and accommodation segments.
• Yaskawa Electric: Yaskawa is a major Japanese industrial and collaborative robotics manufacturer. Its Motoman robotics arm products and humanoid robot research represent both a potential supplier and competitor for Smile Robotics' manipulation technology.
• SoftBank Robotics: SoftBank's robotics arm (Pepper, Whiz) develops commercial service robots for retail, hospitality, and food service — directly overlapping Smile Robotics' target verticals of restaurants and accommodations, but at much greater scale and capital.
• Boston Dynamics: Boston Dynamics builds mobile manipulation robots (Stretch, Spot) with comparable SLAM, navigation, and arm-control technology stacks. While primarily targeting logistics today, its technology overlaps Smile Robotics' autonomous mobile manipulation platform.

Regional players

• Preferred Networks: Tokyo-based Preferred Networks develops AI/robotics technologies including service robots for logistics and hospitality. As a Japanese deep-tech peer with deep capital, it competes for talent, partners, and customers in Smile Robotics' home market.

Others

• Toyota (Partner Robot / Human Robotics): Toyota's Partner Robot division — Smile Robotics CEO Takashi Ogura's former employer — develops service and human-support robots. While not directly commercializing restaurant robots today, Toyota represents the deep-pocketed incumbent that could enter Smile Robotics' niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/synchrobo
• GitHubgithub.com/smilerobotics
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SmileRobotics
• Facebookfacebook.com/SmileRoboticsJP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smilerobotics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 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 Smile Robotics