NTT, Kubota, and Docomo Pilot Communication Technology Enabling Remote Operation of Robot Farm Machinery in Mountainous Areas

Key Announcements

To ensure stable communication for autonomous farm machinery, the companies achieved connectivity stability in mountainous fields by combining mobile and satellite communications.

They ensured continuity in video transmission during remote operation and monitoring by compressing video based on available bandwidth, while maintaining quality in critical areas required for navigation.

By leveraging these technologies, the companies aim to enhance the practicality of remote operation and monitoring for autonomous farm machinery, aiming for fully unmanned agricultural operations in the future. They also intend to work on the social implementation of data-driven agriculture both domestically and internationally to achieve sustainable farming.

NTT Corporation, Kubota Corporation, and NTT Docomo, Inc. conducted the joint pilot experiment to achieve stable communication and continuous video transmission. The pilot demonstrated that by optimizing video transmission via a combination of mobile and satellite networks and applying video control technology, they could maintain visibility even under varying signal quality conditions, proving the effectiveness of the communication infrastructure. The results of this demonstration will be exhibited by NTT at 'Tsukuba Forum 2026,' scheduled for May 27-28, 2026.

1. Background To achieve sustainable agriculture, automating farm work and promoting efficient management are essential. The Japanese government is also working on regulatory reforms regarding public road travel for autonomous farm machinery, premised on safety via remote monitoring. NTT and Kubota have previously collaborated on visualizing and automating agricultural management using ICT. However, in mountainous regions, which account for about 40% of Japan's arable land, mobile signals often fluctuate due to topography, causing latency. Since unstable communication directly impacts safety, securing stable data transmission is a critical challenge.

2. Initiatives The experiment used multi-path control over mobile and satellite lines. By using satellite lines in areas where mobile signals were weak, stability was secured. Additionally, by adjusting video compression based on communication status and prioritizing critical areas (like the machinery's path), the companies achieved both stability and visibility.

3. Technology Highlights (1) Hybrid usage of mobile and satellite lines: Mutual complementation between mobile and satellite networks enables stable communication in mountainous areas. (2) Video control technology: Prioritizes video quality for critical areas (like the machinery's path) based on forecasted bandwidth, ensuring stable transmission.

4. Roles (1) NTT: Provided 'Cradio' wireless quality forecasting and multi-line optimization technology. (2) Kubota: Provided autonomous farm machinery and the test field. (3) NTT Docomo: Provided video control technology that ensures quality for critical areas.

5. Future Development Leveraging these technologies, the companies will enhance the practicality of remote operation to achieve full automation. They will continue efforts toward domestic and international social implementation.