“Like a one-tan-momen,” the buzzworthy ‘humanoid heavy machinery’ — a domestically made startup, Jinki Ittai, turns technology used by JR into commercial robots: SusHi Tech TOKYO 2026

Startup Jinki Ittai unveiled a dual-arm collaborative robot that applies core technology from its humanoid heavy machinery already used in railway maintenance.

The robot is designed to preserve the operator’s sense of touch and control for remote heavy-duty tasks, with plans to extend use beyond rail work into manufacturing.

By transferring control technology proven in real-world railway operations to off-the-shelf robots, the company aims to cut deployment costs and speed adoption in other industries.

The robot was presented at SusHi Tech TOKYO 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight, alongside partners including JR West and Nihon Signal.