Drone Command Center Opens at Drone Field KAWACHI

i-Robotics Inc. has opened the "Drone Command Center KAWACHI" (abbreviated: DCCK) within "Drone Field KAWACHI" (abbreviated: DFK), a drone research and development and demonstration base operated in Kawachi Town, Ibaraki Prefecture.

*This is an image of DCCK utilization. The actual layout may vary depending on operational content, etc.

Drone Field KAWACHI has been primarily used as a site for drone flight testing, aircraft evaluation, pilot training, and demonstration experiments. The newly opened Drone Command Center further develops these functions, not just as a "place to fly," but as a "place to operate" where drones can be monitored and controlled remotely, and where multiple stakeholders can design operations while reviewing field data.

The facility is located on the second floor of the Drone Field KAWACHI building and is equipped with multiple large monitors, indoor and outdoor flight environments, communication systems, a GNSS base station, conference space, and direct access to drone dock and work areas. It can accommodate conferences for over 20 people, allowing for integrated flight tests, operational reviews, customer demonstrations, and technical discussions with partner companies.

Furthermore, Drone Field KAWACHI is located approximately 20 minutes from Narita Airport, making it easily accessible from the city center. This provides a favorable environment for overseas manufacturers and foreign-affiliated companies to use as a localization base when deploying drone-related products and services in the Japanese market. It can also be used as a place to verify and adjust overseas aircraft, communication equipment, drone ports, and operation management systems to align with Japan's operational environment, customer needs, legal systems, and field conditions. It is also convenient to utilize in combination with business travel facilities concentrated near Narita Airport.

Drone Field KAWACHI has accumulated considerable knowledge in remote operations, including past achievements in remote drone control from over 7,000 km away. With the opening of the Drone Command Center, it will be possible to conduct remote control connecting domestic and international bases, drone port operations, multi-drone operations, video/data monitoring, and field operation verification in a manner closer to actual implementation.

In developing and operating this facility, i-Robotics Inc. is collaborating with partner companies such as operation system development companies, technology trading firms, space development-related companies, telecommunications companies, engineering firms, drone manufacturers, and drone operation companies. By combining the expertise in aircraft, communication, operation, maintenance, and field implementation held by each company, we aim to build a comprehensive verification environment necessary for the social implementation of drones.

In recent years, drone utilization has been shifting from single flight demonstrations to remote monitoring, infrastructure inspection, disaster prevention, security, facility maintenance, logistics, and continuous operations combined with drone ports. In this context, not only the performance of the aircraft itself, but also the operational design of where, by whom, and how to monitor, judge, and operate is becoming increasingly important.

Drone Command Center KAWACHI is planned to be opened to partner companies, local governments, infrastructure operators, and overseas manufacturers as a base for verifying these next-generation drone operations. It is also suitable for customer demonstrations, allowing for a concrete understanding of post-implementation operational scenarios by combining the actual flight environment with command center functions.

i-Robotics Inc. is evolving Drone Field KAWACHI from a "flight testing ground" into an "operational implementation base" and will accelerate the social implementation of drones together with domestic and international partners.

Skydio X10 taking off from the drone dock on the roof of Drone Field KAWACHI (from past PR)

Key Features of DCCK

- A space established on the second floor of the Drone Field KAWACHI building. An implementation-oriented drone command base combined with riverbeds, building rooftops, and indoor flight facilities. - Enables integrated flight testing, operational monitoring, data review, and demonstrations within the same facility. - Leverages its location approximately 20 minutes from Narita Airport, making it usable as a localization base for overseas and foreign-affiliated companies targeting the Japanese market. - Equipped with multiple conference spaces for over 20 participants, supporting technical briefings, customer demos, and joint demonstrations. - Utilizes achievements in remote control from over 7,000 km away to support verification of cross-border remote operations and monitoring. - Promotes implementation-oriented projects in collaboration with a group of partner companies, supporting comprehensive verification of drone port permanent testing, multi-drone operations, video monitoring, operation management, and remote control. - Equipped with power, air conditioning, high-speed Wi-Fi, GNSS base station, etc., and utilizes nearby accommodation and town facilities to support long-term durability testing, operational evaluation, and continuous demonstration. - Ideal for pre-implementation demonstrations, allowing customers to simultaneously view the actual flight environment and operation screens. - A core facility that expands the functions of Drone Field KAWACHI from a "flight testing ground" to an "operational implementation base."

About Drone Field KAWACHI

Drone Field KAWACHI is a base operated by i-Robotics Inc. in Kawachi Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, for the research and development, demonstration experiments, and human resource development of drones and robots. It supports various demonstrations focused on field implementation, including outdoor and indoor flights, drone port operations, remote control, and flight verification in non-GPS environments. https://irobotics.jp/kawachi/

Inquiries regarding this matter

i-Robotics Inc. Contact: Saito (070-1254-8999) Inquiry contact: [email protected]