Rikei Corporation (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Satoru Isaka; hereinafter “Rikei”) is pleased to announce that the company will participate as one of R&D organizations in the research and development project “Establishment of Small Unmanned Aircraft Swarm System” through Cooperative Innovation of Digital Twin Technology (tentative name; hereinafter “the project”) that the Japan Science and Technology Agency (hereinafter “JST”) issued a public call for proposals　and adopted under Key and Advanced Technology R&D through Cross Community Collaboration Program (hereinafter “K Program”).

The project was adopted on October 31, 2023, as a research and development project under “Autonomous and distributed control technology for small unmanned aerial vehicles” of “Autonomous and distributed control technology and detection technology for multiple small unmanned aerial vehicles to enhance safety use of airspace” that is one of the K Program’s R&D concepts.

Purpose of the Project

The purpose of the K Program is to foster advanced and important technologies based on the vision and development concept which the Japanese government set forth , and to conduct research and developments to ensure that Japan continues to secure a firm position in the international community over the medium to long term.
The research and development concept for which this project was selected aims to ensure both the utilization of a large number of small unmanned aerial vehicles and ensuring airspace safety in the future.
Specifically, it means to equip advanced autonomous control and distributed control technology that enable multiple small unmanned aerial vehicles work together to carry out missions such as information gathering and rescue support in unknown, complex, and non-GNSS environments, for example disaster areas, structures like infrastructure and plants, and areas affected by electromagnetic waves such as around high-voltage lines.

Details of the Project

In order to achieve the above objectives, the research and development organizations in the project, including Rikei that are in charge of constructing innovative control technologies and systems to realize autonomous swarm flight in harsh environments. In order to realize swarm flight by multiple small unmanned aerial vehicles, it is necessary to develop technologies to estimate and grasp their own spatial position and share it among the multiple small unmanned aerial vehicles.
In the development of the technology, Rikei will be responsible for the construction of a virtual environment that enables various sensor simulations for swarm flight, aiming to establish sensor technology as early as possible.

Structure of the R&D

The project is to be conducted under the R&D structure led by Yuichiro Sueoka, Assistant Professor of Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University.

Schedule of the Project

From December 2023 to March 2028

Scale of the Project

The maximum total R&D cost for each project is set at 1 billion yen (including indirect costs; the amount is the total cost for all organizations participating in the R&D). The actual amount will be determined through discussions with JST and the program officer who will direct and supervise the R&D concept, “Autonomous and distributed control technology and detection technology for multiple small unmanned aerial vehicles to enhance safety use of airspace”

About Rikei Corporation

Since its establishment in 1957 as a solution vendor in the IT and electronics industries, Rikei Corporation has provided a variety of solutions ranging from systems to networks, VR/AR contents, electronic materials and electronic devices.

Rikei proposes solutions that utilize cutting-edge technologies and advanced products from Japan and overseas, and contributes to business development such as improving efficiency of operations and profits of customers.

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