Asratec
Asratec Corp., a SoftBank Group subsidiary founded in 2013 in Tokyo, develops and licenses the V-Sido real-time robot control software platform and related hardware (V-Sido CONNECT, Bilateral, CRS), and provides consulting, prototyping, and operation services to robot manufacturers and enterprises across construction, healthcare, entertainment, and telecom verticals in Japan.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Asratec does
Asratec Corp. (アスラテック株式会社) is a Tokyo-based, SoftBank Group-owned robot software company founded on July 5, 2013. Its core offering is the V-Sido family of products — real-time robot control software and hardware (V-Sido OS, V-Sido CONNECT microcontroller board, V-Sido Bilateral force-feedback controller, Asratec Cloud Robot System, VRcon for Pepper, V-Sido × Songle, and PNEUMATIC BOT) — that generates stable motion across diverse robot architectures including humanoids, quadrupeds, pneumatic robots, rehabilitation devices, and entertainment robots. The technology supports 50+ documented robot platforms and is differentiated by hardware-agnostic stability against shocks and tilted surfaces, plus integration with third-party AI/intelligence stacks such as FAIRY Devices' THINKLET Core, Hugging Face's LeRobot, ToPo-FUZZY Navigation, AWS IoT Core, and Alexa Voice Service.
Asratec monetizes primarily through V-Sido licensing/royalties to robot manufacturers and via professional services — consulting (market research, feasibility studies, V-Sido OS compliance), prototyping support, and operation support for events and remote deployments — supplemented by managed service-robot solutions in hotels, hospitals, and construction (including custom Boston Dynamics Spot deployments). Distribution combines direct enterprise field sales, SoftBank Group's network, and reseller partnerships (Robotis Japan Branch, ugo Corporation, NUWA Robotics Japan). Named customers span ROBOTIS, STMicroelectronics, NHK, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, ugo, Kanamoto (カナモト), NZAI, OriHime-D (Ory Laboratory), Fujitsu, and J-deite Ride LLP, with partnerships announced as recently as May-June 2026.
Leadership is small and technically credentialed: President & Representative Director Masato Sakatani (酒谷 正人) and Chief Robot Creator Wataru Yoshizaki (吉崎 航), the latter a 2009 IPA Mitou Super Creator who developed V-Sido. The company operates from Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, and is presently expanding into Physical AI training services, wearable robotics (powered suits with Fairy Devices), telecom-integrated 6G robotics (MWC Barcelona 2026 with NTT Docomo), and consumer-facing pneumatic robots (SoftBank shops). No revenue, funding, or headcount figures beyond the 501-1000 band are publicly disclosed.
Asratec firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Asratec
- Legal name
- アスラテック株式会社
- Website
- https://asratec.co.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Asratec Corp., a SoftBank Group subsidiary founded in 2013 in Tokyo, develops and licenses the V-Sido real-time robot control software platform and related hardware (V-Sido CONNECT, Bilateral, CRS), and provides consulting, prototyping, and operation services to robot manufacturers and enterprises across construction, healthcare, entertainment, and telecom verticals in Japan.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Asratec industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Robotics Control Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (51321), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Robot Software, Autonomy Stacks & Simulation (ROS, digital twins) (HDAAAIAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Motion Control Controllers & CNC/Robot Drives (Motion Controllers, Multi-axis) (IMAGACAH), Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH)
Keywords
Where Asratec is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Asratec business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- V-Sido Licensing: The company licenses its V-Sido robot control system to robot manufacturers. This includes V-Sido OS, V-Sido CONNECT hardware boards, and customized versions for specific robots like V-Sido for Actroid and V-Sido for I-FAIRY.
- Robot Consulting Services: Consulting services for robot business planning, market research, feasibility studies, and V-Sido OS compliance assessment. Services include market analysis, product concept definition, and partner planning.
- Prototyping Support: Prototype development support for new robots, including both hardware and software aspects. Support ranges from planning phase to technical evaluation and production phase.
- Robot Operation Support: Operation support for existing robot products, primarily for events and videos. Includes robot selection, operating environment setup, motion creation, and operation management.
- Service Robot Solutions: Comprehensive solutions for service robots including proposal, implementation support, and app development. Covers verticals like hotels, hospitals, and construction.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time | Initial consultation offered at no charge |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Asratec product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Asratec develops and licenses V-Sido, a real-time robot control software system that generates stable robot motion across diverse robot shapes, sizes, and actuator types. Alongside the software, it sells controller hardware boards, cloud robot management platforms, and provides robotics consulting, prototyping, and operation-support services to robot manufacturers and enterprises.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- V-Sido: Real-time robot control system software that can control various robots regardless of shape, size, or actuator type.
- V-Sido CONNECT
- V-Sido Bilateral
- PNEUMATIC BOT
- Asratec Cloud Robot System (CRS)
- VRcon
- V-Sido x Songle
Products and services
- V-Sido OS Real-time robot control software that generates robot motion and ensures stability against sudden shocks and tilted surfaces. Applicable across various robot shapes, sizes, and actuator types, it is used by robot manufacturers to control humanoid, quadruped, and other robots.
- V-Sido CONNECT Robot control microcontroller board that mounts V-Sido functionality, designed for efficient robot development. Used by developers and manufacturers to control DYNAMIXEL and other servo-powered robots.
- V-Sido Bilateral Robot operation system that provides force feedback, allowing users to feel the force applied to the robot for intuitive control. Adopted in AI robot imitation learning kits for data collection.
- Asratec Cloud Robot System (CRS) Cloud-based platform for managing and controlling robots remotely over the internet, used for remote operation of arm robots, mobile robots, and other platforms.
- PNEUMATIC BOT Balloon robot concept that uses air to create form and a framework to move, enabling live-action capable robots with safe human interaction. Deployed in SoftBank shops featuring the 'Dad' character.
- VRcon for Pepper Remote control system that enables operation of Pepper robots over the internet via WebRTC, supporting telepresence and human-robot collaboration in care, airport, hotel, and education settings.
- V-Sido × Songle Robot control system with music synchronization that choreographs robot movements to music progression for dancing robots.
- Robotics Consulting Services Consulting for robot business planning, market research, feasibility studies, and V-Sido OS compliance assessment, including product concept definition and partner planning. First consultation offered free.
- Prototyping Support Prototype development support for new robots covering both hardware and software, from planning through technical evaluation and production phases.
- Operation Support Operation support for existing robot products, primarily for events and videos, including robot selection, operating environment setup, motion creation, and operation management.
- Service Robot Solutions Comprehensive solutions for service robots including proposal, implementation support, and app development, covering verticals such as hotels, hospitals, and construction.
- Physical AI Practice Seminar Physical AI training course combining lectures and hands-on practice with robot arms for imitation learning, helping businesses adopt Physical AI.
Quantifiable outcome
- Successfully demonstrated at major events including IAAPA Attractions Expo 2018, Embedded Technology 2017/2018, CEATEC JAPAN, and Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Asratec
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Asratec technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration19 records
AI capability10 records
Feature6 records
Asratec partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and flagship.
- NUWA Robotics Japan (NUWAロボティクスJAPAN)coreDistribution partnership for NUWA Robotics products including Kebbi 3 AI communication robot and Collibot signage robot. Expands Asratec's service robot lineup beyond autonomous delivery robots.
- Pian31cchi (株式会社ピアニジュウイチ)strategicJoint development of pneumatic balloon robots including Ota-san pneumatic robot and Nyu-suke. Partnership combines Asratec's V-Sido control with Pian31cchi's balloon costume technology for safe human-robot interaction.
- Fairy Devices (フェアリーデバイセズ)strategicJoint development of open-source smart powered suit. Fairy Devices' THINKLET Core AI intelligence platform integrated with V-Sido for robot control. Project aims to democratize powered suit technology using home center available materials.
- Tokai Shōji Fuzzy Robot Laboratory (株式会社東海林ファジィロボット研究所)strategicTechnical cooperation for sensorless 6G robot with NTT Docomo. Tokai Shōji provides ToPo-FUZZY Navigation for autonomous movement while Asratec provides V-Sido control. Demonstrated at MWC Barcelona 2026.
- ugo (ｕｇｏ株式会社)coreV-Sido Bilateral adopted for ugo's AI Robot Imitation Learning Kit's dedicated bilateral controller. Partnership enables intuitive robot operation through force feedback for imitation learning applications.
- Kawasaki Heavy Industries (川崎重工業)flagshipTechnical cooperation for RHP Bex quadruped robot. V-Sido generates walking motions based on rider commands and sensor information. Robot can carry 100kg and transforms between walking and wheel modes.
- Sansei Technologies (三精テクノロジーズ)flagshipJ-deite Ride LLP partnership for developing ridable transforming humanoid robot J-deite RIDE. Sansei Technologies handles amusement ride commercialization. Partnership led to J-deite RIDE public demonstrations at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2018.
- BRAVE ROBOTICS (株式会社BRAVE ROBOTICS)flagshipJ-deite Ride LLP partnership for transforming robot development. BRAVE ROBOTICS designed hardware including unique transforming mechanism. V-Sido controls all robot motions including transformation, walking, and driving.
- ROBOTIScoreROBOTIS humanoid robot ROBOTIS OP2 officially compatible with V-Sido. V-Sido CONNECT bundled sales through Robotis Japan Branch. Partnership enables open platform robot control with V-Sido's real-time motion generation.
- STMicroelectronicsflagshipJoint development of demonstration robot based on ROBOTIS OP2 integrating ST microcontrollers, sensors, and components. Asratec provided V-Sido CONNECT for robot control. Robot featured at Embedded Technology exhibitions and Smart Industry demos worldwide.
- NHK (日本放送協会)strategicCooperation in development of Domo-kun mascot character robot. Asratec provided V-Sido OS, motion creation, and operation support. Robot debuted at ABU Robocon 2017 Tokyo.
- Kanamoto (株式会社カナモト)coreKanaRobo construction robot rental service. V-Sido controls dual-arm bipedal robot for remote construction machine operation. Partnership enables disaster recovery and hazardous area work applications.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Asratec competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mujin: Tokyo-based Mujin provides intelligent robot control software for industrial and logistics robots. As a fellow Japan-headquartered robot-software vendor, Mujin is a direct comparable in selling control intelligence to robot manufacturers and system integrators.
- Open Robotics (ROS/ROS2): Open Robotics develops ROS/ROS2, the dominant open-source robot operating system and middleware. ROS competes with V-Sido as the alternative control framework that many manufacturers choose over proprietary stacks like Asratec's.
- ROBOTIS: ROBOTIS manufactures DYNAMIXEL servos and humanoid robots (OP2, DARWIN-MINI) compatible with V-Sido. Asratec and ROBOTIS are tightly coupled technology partners but compete in the broader ecosystem of robot-control and humanoid-platform providers.
Broad incumbents
- NVIDIA (Isaac Robotics Platform): NVIDIA provides the Isaac robotics platform combining GPU hardware, simulation (Isaac Sim), and AI software for robot autonomy — directly competing with Asratec's V-Sido at the autonomy-stack layer for advanced robotics developers.
- Boston Dynamics: Boston Dynamics builds advanced mobile robots (Spot, Atlas) with proprietary control stacks. Although more vertically integrated, Boston Dynamics competes for the same enterprise-robotics mindshare and shares Kanamoto's Spot deployment as an Asratec service.
- FANUC: FANUC is a major Japanese industrial robot and CNC manufacturer with proprietary motion-control software. Asratec's motion-controller IP overlaps with FANUC's domain in industrial automation and robotics.
- Yaskawa Electric: Yaskawa is a leading Japanese motion-control and industrial robot manufacturer (Motoman series). Its motion-control software and controller products overlap with V-Sido's industrial-automation positioning in the Japan manufacturing market.
- Universal Robots: Universal Robots is a leading collaborative robot (cobot) vendor whose URCap ecosystem and control architecture compete with V-Sido's positioning as a hardware-agnostic control layer for diverse robot morphologies.
- SoftBank Robotics: SoftBank Robotics designs and sells humanoid robots (Pepper, Whiz) and is a sibling entity within the SoftBank Group. While Asratec supplies control software to Pepper (VRcon), SoftBank Robotics represents an internal peer for service-robot solutions.
Emerging players
- Preferred Networks: Preferred Networks builds AI/deep-learning platforms applied to robotics and industrial automation. Its autonomy and motion-planning tooling overlaps with V-Sido's positioning as an intelligence layer for robots, particularly in Japan's manufacturing ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Asratec social profiles
Digital presenceAsratec financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Asratec leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Asratec funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Asratec 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 Asratec
What does Asratec do?
Asratec develops and licenses V-Sido, a real-time robot control software system that generates stable robot motion across diverse robot shapes, sizes, and actuator types. Alongside the software, it sells controller hardware boards, cloud robot management platforms, and provides robotics consulting, prototyping, and operation-support services to robot manufacturers and enterprises.
Is Asratec a public or private company?
Asratec is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Asratec founded?
Asratec was founded in 2013. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Asratec based?
Asratec is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Asratec make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. V-Sido Licensing is the primary driver. The others are robot Consulting Services, prototyping Support, robot Operation Support and service Robot Solutions.
Who are Asratec's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mujin, Open Robotics (ROS/ROS2) and ROBOTIS. Broad incumbents are NVIDIA (Isaac Robotics Platform), Boston Dynamics, FANUC, Yaskawa Electric, Universal Robots and SoftBank Robotics. Preferred Networks is listed as an emerging player.
Does Asratec have an API?
No public API is recorded for Asratec.
What industry is Asratec in?
Asratec's product category is Robotics Control Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAAAIAK, Robot Software, Autonomy Stacks & Simulation (ROS, digital twins), with a secondary code of IMAGACAH, Motion Control Controllers & CNC/Robot Drives (Motion Controllers, Multi-axis). Its NAICS code is 51321 and its SIC code is 7371.