Between May 1 and 8, the Ritsumeikan Trust and Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. performed demonstration tests on Biwako-Kusatsu Campus of three robots including the Marble - an autonomous ground delivery robot touching ground for the first time in Japan. The tests were conducted in accordance with the Strategic Digital Transformation (DX) Partnership Agreement that Ritsumeikan recently concluded with Mitsubishi Estate in an effort to develop a robot-driven next-generation facilities management model.

The aim of the tests is to realize the streamlined management of facilities and create new value in the field of education management by utilizing cutting-edge technologies to create a society of the future - promoting education and research into, and the eventual realization of, human-robot co-working.

This time, three robots were put into operation on the campus: the Marble autonomous ground delivery robot, which made its Japan debut, the EffiBOT delivery robot, and the Whiz cleaning robot.

Japan's first ever Marble delivery robot at work

Cleaning robot Whiz

Marble is an autonomous ground delivery robot developed in the United States. The test marked the first ever use of this particular robot in Japan.

Once a map has been programmed into the robot, which is equipped with a package compartment, it can travel both indoors and outdoors to autonomously deliver packages. It is expected to play a role as an efficient package delivery mechanism for spacious areas like university campuses.

The EffiBOT is an automated follow-the-carrier delivery robot that can haul up to 300 kg. Because many heavy packages need to be delivered on university campuses, it is expected to streamline the delivery process by allowing anyone, regardless of their body size, to deliver heavy packages with no prior preparation required.

The Whiz is an automated floor-cleaning robot. After being manually guided once, it learns the route followed and uses it for subsequent automated cleaning runs. It can sense and avoid obstacles, and the touch panel provides a visual display of areas cleaned. On university campuses with extensive floor areas, it is anticipated it will clean floors, thus allowing janitorial staff to carry out other duties that can only be performed by hand, whilst reducing cleaning time and improving the overall quality of cleaning.

>>> Ritsumeikan concludes Strategic DX Partnership Agreement with Mitsubishi Estate