iRobotics
iRobotics is a Japan-based remote-robotics services firm that uses micro-drones, wall-adsorption robots, and proprietary AI analytics to inspect and maintain confined and elevated spaces in railways, industrial plants, and large commercial facilities, selling Robotics-as-a-Service contracts to enterprise customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersShibuya, Japan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What iRobotics does
iRobotics (株式会社アイ・ロボティクス, founded November 2016 by Yoshiyasu Ando) is a Japan-based remote-robotics services firm providing drone and robot solutions for inspecting and maintaining infrastructure and industrial plants. Its core offering is a Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) stack built around three solution pillars: (1) a Narrow Space/High-Place Inspection Solution using palm-sized micro-drones (8–19 cm, 70–170 g) with 360° cameras to inspect confined and elevated spaces such as station ceilings, smokestacks, and underground pits; (2) an Analysis/Analytics Solution applying proprietary AI for image enhancement, 360° video compression, anomaly detection, and SfM-based 3D reconstruction, packaged with facility-specific data 'medical records'; and (3) a Wall Surface/High-Place Work Solution combining wall-adsorption robots with winch control to enable scaffolding-free painting, high-pressure washing, and inspection on walls up to and beyond 20 m. The micro-drone methodology is anchored by Japanese Patent No. 7801762 (granted January 2026) covering lighting-control inspection methods.
The company sells through an enterprise direct-sales motion to infrastructure operators, railway operators, heavy-industry plants, and large commercial facilities (e.g., JR East, Osaka Metro, Tobu Railway, ENEOS, Nippon Steel, Kajima, Tokyo Solamachi, Tokyo Distribution Center), supported by demonstrations at its 10 km drone test facility, Drone Field KAWACHI (Ibaraki), an iX Co-creation Partner Framework, and an event-driven GTM emphasis (trade shows, sewer demonstrations, drone demo flights). Pricing is quote-based, delivered as managed service rather than equipment sale, and structured around multi-year enterprise contracts. Capital comes from a Japanese VC base—Drone Fund, Monex Ventures, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, Alco Partners, and en Japan—with strategic seed participation from Koyo Machinery Industries.
Recent milestones evidence broadening scale and reach: the 40-station Osaka Metro inspection engagement, 1,000+ station-premise inspection flights and 100+ serviced confined-space sites cumulatively, headquarters relocation in July 2025 to Chiyoda-ku (Tokyo) to support co-creation, selection for JETRO/Cabinet Office's Global Startup Acceleration Program (GSAP) in August 2025 with an Illinois Industry 4.0 accelerator, MLIT catalog registration for the Antigravity A1 360° & 4K micro-drone (April 2026), and the Antigravity A1 product launch (March 2026). Headcount stands at 11–50 employees across Tokyo (HQ), Osaka, and the Ibaraki R&D facility.
iRobotics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- iRobotics
- Legal name
- 株式会社アイ・ロボティクス
- Website
- https://irobotics.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- iRobotics is a Japan-based remote-robotics services firm that uses micro-drones, wall-adsorption robots, and proprietary AI analytics to inspect and maintain confined and elevated spaces in railways, industrial plants, and large commercial facilities, selling Robotics-as-a-Service contracts to enterprise customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
iRobotics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Drone Inspection and Robotics Services
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure (IMABAIAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Robot Software, Autonomy Stacks & Simulation (ROS, digital twins) (HDAAAIAK)
Keywords
Where iRobotics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shibuya
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
iRobotics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Drone inspection and survey services: Professional services providing drone-based inspection of confined spaces, elevated areas, and infrastructure. Includes survey, data collection, and analysis as a managed service offering.
- Wall and elevated work solutions: Remote wall-adsorption robot services for painting, cleaning, and physical work on elevated surfaces, delivered as a service rather than equipment sales.
- Infrastructure inspection image analysis: Analysis and reporting services using proprietary AI and software for processing inspection data collected via drones and robots, with continuous monitoring and comparison capabilities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom enterprise solutions |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
iRobotics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
iRobotics provides remote robotics and drone-based inspection and work services for confined spaces, elevated areas, and infrastructure facilities. Core offerings include three solution pillars: (1) Narrow Space/High-Place Inspection Solution using specialized micro drones for areas inaccessible to humans, (2) Analysis/Analytics Solution using proprietary AI for image processing and anomaly detection, and (3) Wall Surface/High-Place Work Solution using wall-adsorption robots combined with winch control systems. Services are delivered as managed Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) to enterprise customers in railway, plant, energy, and commercial facility sectors.
Product overview
iRobotics is a drone and robotics solution provider offering an integrated portfolio of inspection and work services centered on micro drones, wall-adsorption robots, and AI-powered data analysis. The core offerings consist of three main solution pillars: (1) Narrow Space/High-Place Inspection Solution using specialized micro drones (8-19cm, 70-170g) for confined space inspections; (2) Analysis/Analytics Solution leveraging proprietary AI for image clarification and anomaly detection; and (3) Wall Surface/High-Place Work Solution using adsorption robots and winch systems. These services are supported by the iX Co-creation Partner Framework for DX transformation and delivered through the Drone Field KAWACHI R&D facility. The company operates on a Robotics-as-a-Service model, providing end-to-end solutions from consulting to operations without requiring customer equipment ownership.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Drone Field KAWACHI: A comprehensive drone R&D and testing facility located in Kawachi Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, featuring a 10km outdoor flight field, indoor test arena, conference center, and accommodations.
Products and services
- Narrow Space/High-Place Inspection Solution (狭隘部・高所調査点検ソリューション) Micro drone-based inspection service for confined spaces and elevated areas inaccessible to humans, enabling safe and rapid structural assessments without scaffolding or human entry into dangerous zones. Used by railway operators, plants, and infrastructure companies for station ceilings, ducts, chimneys, and other confined space inspection.
- Analysis/Analytics Solution (分析・解析ソリューション) Post-inspection data analysis service using proprietary AI and software to process drone-captured data, generate reports, and support facility management with accumulated inspection records. Includes AI-based real-time image enhancement, similar frame integration for 360-degree video compression, and pattern classification for expert decision support.
- Wall Surface/High-Place Work Solution (壁面・高所作業ソリューション) Wall adsorption robot combined with winch control systems enabling scaffolding-free surface work including painting, high-pressure washing, and inspection for infrastructure and large-scale plants at heights exceeding 20m without scaffolding.
- Railway Station Facility Drone Inspection Technology (Patent No. 7801762) Patented inspection method and lighting control technology enabling drone-based inspection of station ceilings and infrastructure facilities. The system controls lighting in response to inspection progress and target location to achieve stable visual recognition and data acquisition in spaces where humans cannot enter.
- Antigravity A1 Micro Drone Advanced micro drone capable of 5-minute flight for rapid spatial 3D data acquisition; designed for narrow-space inspection with 360-degree and 4K camera capabilities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 工期削減20-50%、コスト低減
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use iRobotics
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
iRobotics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature5 records
iRobotics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, supporting and strategic.
- Heron AirBridgemajorエアモビリティ・ドローン運航システム領域における戦略的業務提携。ドローン自動化・運航管理システムでの連携。
- ENEOS (ENEOS株式会社)core共同してドローンを利用した石油タンクの塗装を行い、根岸製油所での有効性确认を実施。「ドローン壁面修补」ソリューションの石油タンクにおける実用性を検証。
- East Japan Railway Company (東海旅客鉄道)core新大阪駅構内の吊り天井内部の鉄桁、沓を対象とした小型ドローン調査の有用性确认を行い、土木学会への共同论文寄稿を実施。
- Nippon Steel (日本製鉄)core日本製鉄構内でのドローン壁面修补実運用化を推進。ドローンと外壁吸着ロボット等を組み合わせた решение 开发・実証実験を実施。
- Nittetsu Tex-Engine (日鉄テックスエンジ)coreドローン壁面修补の開発・展開において日本製鉄・日鉄テックスエンジの3社共同研究を実施。
- Kyoei Sangyo (協栄産業)supporting協栄産業ブースでの下水道德場展出展。埋設配管などの調査・点検 демонстрация での协業。
- Rhizomatiks (株式会社ライゾマティクス)strategic石橋素氏（ライゾマティクス取締役）が顧問に就任。メディアアート・エンターテインメント業界の革新的技術の産業転用を推進。
- Osaka Metro (大阪市高速電気軌道)coreOsaka Metroの駅舎内の天井裏土木構造物の調査に特殊マイクロ・ドローンを送り込み、構造物の点検調査ソリューションを開始。阪Metro、約40駅での調査进展中。
- Tokyo Distribution Center (東京流通センター)majorドローンを活用した新たな物流施設の運営・管理を目指して协業を開始。TRCの物流施設一部（約1,200㎡）を実証実験场所として提供。
- Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (三井住友海上)supporting連携により対物10億円の補償が付加された独自保険プランを提供。ドローン、壁面吸着ロボット等のサービスに対する保険カバー。
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
iRobotics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Flyability: Swiss maker of collision-tolerant drones (Elios series) purpose-built for confined-space inspection in industrial environments including power plants, mines, and underground infrastructure. Comparable to iRobotics in the narrow-space inspection niche where both target inaccessible indoor/hazardous environments.
- Propeller Aero: Drone data analytics platform for construction, infrastructure, and mining, combining drone-captured imagery with 3D site visualization. Comparable to iRobotics in the drone-data-for-infrastructure workflow and in providing AI-driven insights to enterprise asset owners.
- Percepto: Israeli provider of autonomous drone-in-a-box solutions for industrial site inspection and monitoring, serving energy, mining, and critical infrastructure operators. Comparable to iRobotics in using drones + AI for industrial inspection, with a stronger software/automation positioning.
- Cyberhawk: UK-based drone inspection services firm specializing in asset integrity inspection for oil & gas, power, and utilities using UAVs. Comparable to iRobotics as a service-led industrial drone inspection provider with similar enterprise customer profiles and inspection-as-a-service delivery model.
- Liberaware: Japanese startup developing small indoor inspection drones for confined and hazardous spaces, including pipe and building interior inspection. Closest Japan-headquartered direct competitor to iRobotics' micro-drone narrow-space inspection business.
- Terra Drone: Tokyo-headquartered industrial drone services and solutions provider offering inspection, surveying, and UAV services across infrastructure, energy, and mining. Most directly comparable to iRobotics as a Japan-based drone inspection specialist serving similar enterprise customers and use cases.
Emerging players
- DroneDeploy: Cloud-based drone mapping and inspection software platform used across construction, agriculture, and infrastructure. Comparable to iRobotics in the data analytics and AI image-analysis layer, though it serves a broader set of customers globally and lacks Japan railway/refinery specialization.
- Sharp Grid / Sharper Shape: Drone-based inspection services and analytics for utility and infrastructure asset management, primarily serving electric utilities and transmission operators. Comparable to iRobotics in the managed-service delivery model and AI-enabled defect detection workflow for aging infrastructure.
Broad incumbents
- Skydio: US-based drone manufacturer with a strong enterprise/industrial inspection franchise across public safety, energy, and infrastructure. Comparable to iRobotics as an enterprise drone inspection provider but operates at a much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
- DJI Enterprise: Industrial arm of the world's largest commercial drone manufacturer, offering hardware plus Dock/Manage software for industrial inspection, surveying, and public safety use cases. Represents the dominant platform threat to drone inspection services like iRobotics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
iRobotics social profiles
Digital presenceiRobotics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
iRobotics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
iRobotics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
iRobotics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about iRobotics
What does iRobotics do?
iRobotics provides remote robotics and drone-based inspection and work services for confined spaces, elevated areas, and infrastructure facilities. Core offerings include three solution pillars: (1) Narrow Space/High-Place Inspection Solution using specialized micro drones for areas inaccessible to humans, (2) Analysis/Analytics Solution using proprietary AI for image processing and anomaly detection, and (3) Wall Surface/High-Place Work Solution using wall-adsorption robots combined with winch control systems. Services are delivered as managed Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) to enterprise customers in railway, plant, energy, and commercial facility sectors.
Is iRobotics a public or private company?
iRobotics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was iRobotics founded?
iRobotics was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is iRobotics based?
iRobotics is headquartered in Shibuya, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does iRobotics make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Drone inspection and survey services are the primary driver. The others are wall and elevated work solutions and infrastructure inspection image analysis.
Who are iRobotics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Flyability, Propeller Aero, Percepto, Cyberhawk, Liberaware and Terra Drone. Emerging players are DroneDeploy and Sharp Grid / Sharper Shape. Broad incumbents are Skydio and DJI Enterprise.
Does iRobotics have an API?
No public API is recorded for iRobotics.
What industry is iRobotics in?
iRobotics's product category is Industrial Drone Inspection and Robotics Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAIAL, UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure, with a secondary code of HDAAAIAK, Robot Software, Autonomy Stacks & Simulation (ROS, digital twins). Its NAICS code is 54151 and its SIC code is 7370.