Japanese firms pilot AI cleaning robots and smart city technologies

Japanese companies are advancing technological demonstrations to automate and optimize building management.

Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate and JDSC have launched a domestic pilot program in Japan for ‘Loki’, a physical AI cleaning robot designed for wet areas like restrooms. The initiative aims to address labor shortages in building maintenance by testing the robot’s compatibility with Japanese building specifications, operational workflows, and remote management systems. The goal is to establish a practical model for integrating physical AI with AI agents for advanced building maintenance.

In Germany, Mitsubishi Electric has begun a demonstration at the Berlin TXL smart city project, located on the site of the former Tegel Airport. Using digital twin technology, the company will simulate building environments to optimize HVAC systems, balancing energy savings with thermal comfort. The project also focuses on sharing CO2 emission data between individual buildings and the city-wide smart city platform via the FIWARE framework to facilitate urban-level energy optimization.