en.Wedoany.com Reported - Japan's ugo company recently showcased a small inspection robot named ugo mini at the "Interop Tokyo 2026" internet technology comprehensive exhibition held at Makuhari Messe. Weighing approximately 16 kg, the robot has a cylindrical body that can be carried, and is equipped with a retractable pole that extends up to a maximum of 186 cm. The camera at the top of the pole can adjust its angle up and down. Extending from its initial position of 68 cm, a single device can inspect everything from floor-level pipes to meters near the ceiling. The vehicle is equipped with 3D LiDAR (a sensor that measures surrounding distances using lasers) to avoid obstacles while moving. When necessary, a thermal camera or environmental sensor can be attached via the USB port at the top of the pole to measure temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide.
Inspection sites, particularly data centers, are facing severe labor shortages. According to ugo, the number of technicians responsible for equipment maintenance is expected to decrease by 260,000 by 2030 compared to 2000, and by 400,000 by 2045—a reduction rate 1.5 times faster than the decline in the working-age population. With the abolition of mandatory visual inspections and on-site supervision, the trend toward inspection automation is strengthening. The ugo mini robot is designed for this purpose: it memorizes site maps for autonomous patrols and uses a 4K camera at the top of the pole to capture equipment images. Meter readings are linked with other companies' AI for data conversion, and inspection result reports are automatically generated. The robot features low-noise and low-dust design, allowing it to enter clean data centers.
According to ugo, in the electrical machinery room of a certain data center, the ugo series handled 75% of all inspection items, cutting inspection time in half. NTT Data has also introduced the ugo series in its data center power equipment rooms, achieving automated and remote inspections, reducing daily inspection time by approximately 50%, and enabling remote responses to anomalies even during low-staff periods such as nighttime. The joint initiative between the two companies won the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Award at the "Infrastructure Maintenance Grand Prize" in 2025, which honors outstanding efforts in infrastructure maintenance.
For large factories and office buildings spanning multiple floors, ugo has also prepared a high-end model, ugo Pro. This multifunctional robot, with a height of 180 cm and a weight of approximately 54 kg, uses two arms for card authentication and elevator button operations, enabling cross-floor patrols and handling tasks such as inspection, security, guidance, and transportation.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
