Hyper Digital Twins Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "HDT") has participated in a demonstration experiment (hereinafter "this demonstration") of the "Umidoko Robot"—an autonomous urban watercraft being developed to promote effective utilization of urban waterfront spaces and provide novel modes of transportation. The initiative is led by the "Umidoko Robot Consortium," represented by Takenaka Corporation.This demonstration was conducted from Wednesday, June 18 to Friday, June 20, 2025, in the East Outer Moat of Osaka Castle Park, marking the fourth phase of ongoing trials initiated in FY2021. In this phase, HDT contributed to verifying, supplementing, and enhancing the precision of the Umidoko Robot's location data using land-side LiDAR sensors, successfully supporting the visualization and integration of robot positioning data essential for autonomous navigation.Background of the Demonstration ExperimentWater-bound autonomous robots typically determine their location using GPS and other onboard positioning systems. However, GPS-based location data lacks the centimeter-level accuracy required for precision autonomous docking at port facilities.To address this challenge, HDT applied its proprietary infrastructure-side positioning technology to achieve high-precision, centimeter-level self-location identification for the Umidoko Robot, evaluating its integration into autonomous navigation control.Future InitiativesThrough this demonstration, HDT successfully verified that its infrastructure-side system can achieve high-precision location tracking for the Umidoko Robot. Looking ahead, by implementing HDT’s system at ports and stopover stations along waterfronts and canals, HDT will continue development to contribute to the autonomous navigation control of waterborne transport robots carrying people and goods across river and urban water networks.About the Umidoko Robot ConsortiumJapan’s major cities—including metropolitan areas like Tokyo and Osaka—have historically developed around waterfronts (riversides and coastal areas). In recent years, urban waterfront regions have faced increasingly complex challenges driven by urban overcrowding, impacting transportation, logistics, environmental sustainability, and disaster prevention. Activating underutilized urban waterways serves as a critical key to addressing these issues and supporting the movement of people and cargo.Through this project, the Umidoko Robot Consortium aims to solve these societal challenges by utilizing the autonomous urban watercraft "Umidoko Robot" across inner-city waterways, transforming waterfronts and shaping a smarter urban future.Takenaka Corporation News Release:https://www.takenaka.co.jp/news/2025/06/06/