Summary of domestic trends in avatar robots (2025 edition)
Avatar robots have become a way to remotely possess "another body," and are beginning to become widely adopted in Japan. As more and more companies and local governments consider introducing them, it will be important to understand what technologies exist and who is involved. This article summarizes the major domestic initiatives related to avatar robots, summarizing progress in research, administration, and commercialization. The aim is to provide useful information for future adoption decisions and planning.
*This information is based on iPresence's own research. Please check the details individually.
[Uses of avatar robots]
Avatar robots are "avatar"-type robots that reflect the intentions and actions of a remote operator in real space. Operators can access the robot over a network from home or another location and control its movement, interaction, and tasks. Their greatest feature is their ability to act as if they were actually present, even when not physically present. Their applications are diverse, including remote guides at tourist spots, remote customer service at stores and train stations, factory equipment inspections, building security, hospital monitoring, online school attendance, customer service with remote islands and overseas locations, and substitute work at disaster sites and in hazardous areas. They are particularly attracting attention as a solution to social issues such as labor shortages, replacement of dangerous tasks, and social participation for people with mobility issues. Local governments, railway companies, and large corporations in Japan have been conducting field trials of avatar robots. The value of avatar robots lies in their ability to spatially extend the capabilities of their operators, raising expectations for them to shape a new social infrastructure for remote work, participation, and support.
[Avatar robot technology configuration]
Avatar robots are comprised of multiple technological components for remote control. The robot itself is equipped with motors, wheels, and legs for autonomous movement and posture control, as well as sensing and communication devices such as LiDAR, cameras, microphones, and speakers for surrounding awareness. Communicating the operator's operations to the robot requires communication technology that sends and receives operational information in real time from PCs, smartphones, VR devices, and other devices. Cloud servers, WebRTC, and low-latency streaming are essential. Furthermore, control algorithms for tracking movements and safe stopping, a user interface/user experience (UI/UX) that allows users to smoothly operate the robot, and autonomous control technologies such as collision avoidance and automatic return are also required. More advanced avatar robots incorporate tactile sensations through force feedback, master-slave synchronization, and dexterous tasks using multi-fingered hands, evolving toward highly accurate reproduction of human physicality. By integrating these elements, the robot can experience the sensation of having another body in a remote location.
[National Strategy (Moonshot Plan)]
Japan's national avatar robot strategy is centered on the "Social Implementation of Cybernetic Avatars" initiative, outlined in the Cabinet Office's Moonshot Plan (Goal 1). This initiative positions avatar technology as a national infrastructure in response to labor shortages and increasing mobility constraints caused by a declining birthrate and aging population. The goal is to realize a society by 2050 in which "everyone can freely control multiple avatars and perform complex tasks in a variety of settings." The foundation of this initiative is to expand human capabilities and the scope of work by combining remote-controlled robots, AI assistance, brain-machine interfaces (BMI), skill transfer systems, and autonomous mobile robots. The project addresses "liberation of physical constraints" in many fields, including nursing care, medical care, disaster response, infrastructure maintenance, industrial work, and education, as a national challenge. It is conducting comprehensive research, including legal systems, ethics, and social acceptance. Ultimately, the goal is to maintain Japan's long-term sustainable production system and social participation environment by developing a new complementary resource—an "avatar labor force"—before demographic changes place pressure on the social system.
Cabinet Office Moonshot Goal 1:https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/moonshot/sub1.html
[newme/avatarin]
newme is a remote-mobile avatar robot developed by avatarin, a startup spun off from ANA Holdings. Equipped with a tablet-like "face" and self-propelled mechanism, operators can access the robot from their home or office via PC or smartphone, then send it to a location to navigate, interact, and guide visitors. Its greatest feature is its ability to "participate in society regardless of location," and its range of applications is rapidly expanding both domestically and internationally, including tourist guides, customer service in stores, corporate reception, stage appearances at events, and multilingual airport guidance. Its cloud-based communications system optimizes video and audio according to line quality, allowing users to interact with customers remotely while experiencing the "ambience of the location." It has also been adopted by local governments as part of their digital tourism initiatives, and numerous examples of its practical implementation are underway, including remote tourism in Beppu City (Oita Prefecture) and a joint station guidance demonstration project with JR East. As one of the most widely used avatar robots in Japan, newme's practical value lies in its scalability, from consumer use to government and corporate applications.
avatarin:https://about.avatarin.com/
[OriHime/Ori Laboratory]
OriHime is an avatar robot developed as a "doppelganger" for people with severe disabilities or long-term medical treatment who find it difficult to leave their homes, allowing them to participate in society. Its most notable feature is its lightweight, palm-sized design and diverse control methods, including gaze, switches, and voice, tailored to the individual's available physical abilities. Rather than simply a remote control device, OriHime is based on the concept of "delivering presence." It has been used in educational settings to support students who are absent from school by enabling remote attendance, and in medical settings to keep hospitalized patients connected to their homes and schools. Furthermore, a demonstration at the "Avatar Robot Cafe DAWN" attracted significant public attention. This initiative allowed people with limited mobility to control OriHime and gain work experience through customer service and communication. This initiative raised questions about the meaning of work and visualized the value of remote work. OriHime's unique design is made possible by its simple appearance, high reliability, and philosophy of supporting human dignity and participation.
Ory Laboratory:https://orylab.com/
[ugo]
ugo is a "practical avatar robot" that combines two arms, a movable arm, a lifting unit, and a self-propelled base. Its greatest feature is its ability to be deployed in real-world industrial fields such as building management, security, and equipment inspection. Its hybrid configuration combines remote control and autonomous functions, allowing it to patrol autonomously, with a remote operator handling only necessary tasks or tasks requiring advanced judgment. This simultaneously automates repetitive labor and streamlines tasks requiring human judgment. Several projects in the social implementation phase are underway, including a building security demonstration project in partnership with Taisei Corporation, patrolling and inspections in complex facilities, and staff support within office buildings. Its height-adjustable arm structure allows it to replace "reachable tasks" previously performed by humans, such as operating switches, changing notices, and simple cleaning, making it a popular choice in workplaces where remote control and labor reduction are required. Among Japan's avatar robots specialized for industrial applications, it is one of the most valuable models in the field.
[Toyota Motor Corporation (T-HR3)]
Toyota Motor Corporation continues to research advanced telepresence technology in the avatar robot field, focusing on the "T-HR3." This third-generation humanoid robot, unveiled in 2017, features 54 axes of movement and employs a "master-slave" control system that faithfully replicates human movements remotely. Its most notable feature is its control technology, which combines Toyota's proprietary torque servo technology with force feedback. This not only transmits the operator's movements to the robot in real time, but also conveys the force and resistance the robot experiences back to the operator. This mechanism expands the possibilities for remotely performing "precise tasks" that closely resemble human physicality. At the Tokyo 2020 Games, a demonstration of the T-HR3 working in conjunction with the official mascot robot, remotely waving to spectators and striking poses, attracted attention both domestically and internationally. Research into remote collaboration and human-robot interfaces is currently underway, with an eye toward applications in specialized fields such as medicine, nursing care, and space work. As a mobility company, Toyota is strengthening its research to expand the concept of mobility and is promoting the long-term future of avatar technology, which allows humans to "take physical possession in places where humans cannot go."
TOYOTA T-HR3 December 13, 2019 article:https://global.toyota/jp/newsroom/corporate/30609610.html
[Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Avatar Robot)]
Honda is conducting research and development of the "Honda Avatar Robot" concept, centered on remote-controlled robotics. This is not simply robot development; it is part of a future mobility strategy that aims to "expand human capabilities without being bound by distance or space." The project was announced in 2021, with a clear long-term technology roadmap, including a goal of practical application in the 2030s. The Honda Avatar Robot's unique feature is its ability to faithfully replicate human manual tasks by combining a high-precision multi-fingered hand with AI support. Focusing on replicating dexterity, such as grasping a canned drink or handling delicate tools, the company is leveraging the robotics technology developed with ASIMO to develop a more practical remote-controlled robot. Furthermore, the company is aiming to create an experience where the operator feels as if they are actually there, through an operation system combined with a VR device and a haptic interface. Honda envisions implementing this technology in a variety of ways in society, such as disaster relief, space work, alternate work in dangerous areas, and supporting distant family members, and positions the "Honda Avatar Robot" as part of future social infrastructure. Honda is one of the companies that offers the clearest vision in response to search users' questions about "What is the goal of Honda's avatar robot?"
Honda Avatar Robot:https://global.honda/jp/tech/Avatar_robot/
[Oita Prefecture]
Oita Prefecture is one of the earliest local governments in Japan to implement avatar robots in society. While boasting strengths as a tourist and hot spring destination, the prefecture also faces national challenges such as population decline and mobility restrictions. The prefecture has promoted the use of avatar robots to both address these challenges and create new regional value. The "HELLO FUTURE! in Beppu" project, based in Beppu City, is at the center of this initiative. It is a prefectural-commissioned project that unifies the introduction, demonstration, and creation of experience opportunities for avatar robots. In tourism settings, remote users can use newme and temi robots to guide Beppu city tours, serving as a new model for barrier-free tourism. Furthermore, by providing remote participation opportunities using OriHime in public sector settings such as hospitals and schools, the prefecture has incorporated support for social participation for those who find it difficult to go out into the community into its regional policies. Furthermore, the prefecture continues to hold avatar robot utilization seminars and hands-on experience sessions for businesses within the prefecture, fostering an environment in which local companies, tourism operators, and educational institutions can proactively consider the use of robots. What's unique about Oita Prefecture is that it didn't end as a simple experiment, but instead gradually fostered "region-wide acceptance of the avatar society" involving government, businesses, and residents. It is one of the few local governments in Japan that has incorporated avatar robots into its "regional future strategy," and continues to attract attention as a model region for new tourism, education, and labor utilizing avatar technology.
HELLO FUTURE!:https://avataroita.jp/
[Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo]
Bunkyo Ward is a pioneering example of a local government that conducted a full-scale demonstration of the use of avatar robots in administrative operations. At its core is a clear goal: to realize a work style that maintains the on-site feel of a ward office, even when working remotely. With the spread of telecommuting becoming widespread, the ward recognized the need for a way to capture the atmosphere and flow of the office, which traditional phone, chat, and online meetings could not. Working with iPresence, the ward explored new forms of internal communication using avatar robots. The ward deployed 20 avatar robots within the office, allowing telecommuting managers and staff to patrol the office floor and communicate with staff and check on their status. This enabled remote tasks previously considered necessary, such as greeting staff, quickly identifying issues, and providing consultation on visitor reception. Furthermore, Bunkyo Ward's ongoing operational design and implementation evaluation demonstrated that the use of robots is a realistic and effective option for administrative digital transformation. Bunkyo Ward's demonstration is a good example of a local government defining its own issues and actively exploring new forms of public services, and is a project that has shown the nation the direction of avatar robots in the administrative field.
Interview article (TOMORUBA):https://tomoruba.eiicon.net/articles/4866
[FuAra/iPresence]
FuAra is a new type of avatar robot developed in-house by iPresence, a unique soft robotics model known as a "hugable robot." Featuring a soft exterior and safety mechanisms, it can switch between two modes: standalone operation by AI and telepresence control by a remote operator. Because it is designed to interact with people, it can achieve emotional communication, something that was difficult with previous avatar robots. Furthermore, its character-rich design, combining the appeal of animation with robotic technology, makes it appealing to a wide range of audiences, from children to the elderly. It garnered significant attention at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, where it attracted a large number of visitors, lining up to experience a hug. Combining iPresence's telepresence technology with robotics that delivers "physical warmth," FuAra is not simply a remote-controlled robot; it is positioned as a new category of avatar that can contribute to addressing isolation and providing emotional care.
Article (iPresence):https://ipresence.jp/magazine/fuara-expo2025-report/
[Telepii/iPresence]
Telepii, a lightweight, low-cost, and highly portable avatar robot developed by iPresence, is designed as a simple telepresence model that can be remotely controlled via a smartphone or tablet and communicates with users. Its greatest features are its ease of handling and deployment. The robot's compact, mobile stand allows for immediate deployment in a variety of locations, including educational settings, events, and corporate reception areas. Communication is cloud-based, allowing operators to connect to the robot simply by logging in to the app. This allows for a wide range of applications, including distance learning, online customer service, and internal communication between remote locations. iPresence offers individuals and businesses nationwide a remotely accessible environment through Telepii, positioning it as the first step in the adoption of telerobots. This entry-level robot embodies the expertise of iPresence, which has worked with a wide variety of avatar robots, and is acclaimed for dramatically lowering the barrier to robot adoption.
Telepii:https://telepii.com/
[Future avatar robots]
The future adoption of avatar robots will depend largely on the extent to which they are integrated with AI. While most current avatar robots are designed to be operated by humans, the addition of autonomous AI support can reduce the burden on operators while enabling advanced decision-making and safety control. By combining AI with features such as automatic avoidance, route optimization, automation of simple tasks, and initial conversation support, the quality and efficiency of remote work will be significantly improved. It is estimated that this technology integration will take approximately two to three years to mature to a practical level, at which point the market size will expand dramatically and more companies, including major corporations, are expected to enter the market. This is partly because avatar robots have emerged as a promising next wave following the widespread adoption of commercial food delivery robots and cleaning robots. Once the automation of repetitive tasks becomes widespread, it is only natural that interest will shift to technologies that remotely integrate humans. Meanwhile, the biggest technical challenge is real-time interactivity between operation and video and audio, which requires advanced engineering, including sensory synchronization of operation, communication stability, latency compensation, and bandwidth optimization. By breaking through this barrier, avatar robots will move on to the next industrial phase.
