#Japan #Tokyo #Logistics Automation #University of Tokyo #Konoike Transportation

Introduction

KONOIKE Transportation Co., Ltd., headquartered in Chūō-ku, Osaka, has announced a new collaboration with the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Engineering. Starting in April, they will introduce a new social lecture series aimed at fostering cooperation between human expertise and technology in logistics automation. This initiative seeks to establish a strong foundation for automated logistics warehouses and nurture the next generation of IT talent through industry-academia collaboration.

Background of the Initiative

In light of Japan's decreasing labor force, securing talent within the logistics sector has become a pressing challenge. More specifically, the B2B logistics industry needs to enhance its supply chain and respond flexibly to clients' demands. However, logistics warehouses are facing numerous challenges, including enhancing safety and productivity through the use of cutting-edge IT and robotics, optimizing warehouse management through data collection and utilization, and automating work processes. The technical aspects required to address these issues are complex and interconnected. Thus, establishing a foundational technology that integrates and manages these diverse technical components is crucial.

Objectives of the Lecture Series

The lecture series is a collaborative effort between KONOIKE Group’s Open Innovation-type Research and Development base, the KONOIKE Technology Research Institute Innovation Center, and the University of Tokyo. The Innovation Center has long been committed to merging field expertise with advanced technologies in robotics and digital transformation (DX), aiming to create sustainable operational models based on a “hybrid of humans and technology.” Meanwhile, the University of Tokyo is conducting engineering-based research on applicable themes, such as constructing digital twins using 3D scans and camera image processing, and optimizing human-machine work distribution strategies.

Through this lecture series, the practical data and expertise from KONOIKE's logistics operations will be combined with research insights from four laboratories at the University of Tokyo, leading to experimental validations utilizing the assets of the Innovation Center. The ultimate aim is to develop foundational technologies for automated logistics warehouses that can operate reliably by harmonizing human and technical resources.

Future Prospects

This initiative aims to establish a model case for a more stable and flexible operation of logistics warehouses through the synergy of humans and technology. It also seeks to address the industry's pressing challenges, such as labor shortages and supply chain strengthening while contributing to the development of the next generation of IT talent through interactions with young researchers and students. Research findings will be presented progressively at academic conferences and open forums.

KONOIKE Group's vision for 2030 emphasizes “aiming for greater heights with technology and people.” By integrating leading technologies with time-honored artisan skills developed on-site, they aspire to evolve the nature of logistics operations and create new value in service offerings.

Commentary

Shigenori Noritake, Executive Officer and Head of Technology Innovation Department at KONOIKE:
"KONOIKE Group places humans at the center of its operations, striving for a high standard of quality, safety, and productivity. In this lecture series, we will blend our extensive practical know-how with the advanced technologies and insights from the University of Tokyo, aiming to build the foundation for next-generation logistics warehouses that operate harmoniously with human skills and technology. The expertise in areas like 3D data analysis, spatial measurement, optimization, robotic control, and mechanism design held by the university will play a vital role in realizing the future of logistics warehouses. We hope to establish foundational technologies to support transformative changes in logistics operations and create high-value logistics services based on the results of this research."

Professor Yutaka Ohtake, University of Tokyo:
"Our collaboration will focus on ensuring safety and security for those working in logistics warehouses, maximizing productivity through research and development from four laboratories at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Engineering. We are committed to constructing a logistics warehouse system that dynamically integrates with real environments, working toward reducing worker burdens, ensuring safe robotic operations, and optimizing human-robot work distributions. It is our goal to cultivate IT researchers who focus on humans and sites while effectively solving problems through this research and development initiative."

Overview of the Social Lecture Series

• - Research Theme: Establishing a Cooperative Semi-Automatic Logistics Support Foundation
• - Research Content:

- Developing techniques to measure operator movements and workload, identifying high-burden tasks.
- Creating a system that automatically updates item locations by synchronizing the real environment with digital space.
- Controlling and designing transport robot movements to avoid congestion in warehouses.
- Optimizing task distributions between humans and machines using mechanism design theory.

• - Research Bases:

- University of Tokyo Graduate School of Engineering, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.
- KONOIKE Technology Research Institute Innovation Center, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo.

• - Program Duration: April 1, 2026 - March 31, 2029.
• - Research Team:

- University of Tokyo: Professors Yutaka Ohtake, Jun Ota, Naruaki Nishino, and Lecturer Maku Zhao.
- KONOIKE Transportation: Executive Officer Shigenori Noritake, Director Kenji Shimomura, and Manager Kazuo Torikai.