ReBlueTech Inc., a robotics startup based in Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture, has announced its establishment on October 15, 2026 to advance inspection technologies for hard-to-access pipelines. The company was founded by CEO Yoshiteru Nagai and CTO Atsushi Kakogawa, and it builds on pipe inspection robot research from Ritsumeikan University's Actuation Lab. Its initial focus is sewer pressure mains, where limited access and complex bends create significant inspection challenges.
Addressing a Critical Infrastructure Gap
Many social infrastructure sites rely heavily on experienced workers for inspection, maintenance, and repair. However, pipes with small diameters and multiple bends are often inaccessible to people, while existing equipment cannot always capture enough internal detail. ReBlueTech was created to address this gap by combining field knowledge with robotics technology in practical inspection solutions.
Technology and Inspection Services
The company is developing an electric, tethered, self-propelled robot that runs entirely on electrical power. Because no compressor or water supply vehicle is required, the system can operate in small entry points and complex curved pipelines. It is designed for pipe inner diameters from 75 to 300 millimeters and can be adapted to individual field conditions.
Data Integration and AI Roadmap
ReBlueTech records in-pipe video as inspection documentation and is working to connect this imagery with positional information. Current development and verification include 100 meter level real pipe traversals, distance measurement on production units, and a digital twin that integrates video with location data. The company aims to use these capabilities for AI-assisted deterioration diagnosis and structural health assessment support.
Future Expansion and Commercialization
After accumulating inspection technology and verification experience in sewer pressure pipes, ReBlueTech plans to enter underground communication and power conduits, along with facility drainage pipes. The company is also evaluating waterproofing and other technical requirements for potential expansion into water supply pipelines. It is targeting productization in fiscal 2027 and is accepting inquiries for inspection services and joint development, with specific scope to be discussed individually.
Leadership and Company Background
ReBlueTech is led by CEO Yoshiteru Nagai and CTO Atsushi Kakogawa, who serves as an associate professor in the Department of Robotics at Ritsumeikan University. Kakogawa has conducted more than 15 years of research on in-pipe mobile robots and has expanded his work into underwater, space, and industrial applications. The company is located at the Grassroots Innovation Center in Kusatsu and focuses on robot manufacturing, inspection services, data analysis, and collaborative research.
Founding Vision
The name ReBlueTech reflects an ambition to reconsider blue collar work through technology rather than simply replace it. The founders emphasize that infrastructure maintenance relies on human experience, intuition, and skill, which remain essential. Their approach combines the knowledge of field workers with robotic sensing and artificial intelligence to create safer, more sustainable working methods.
By rethinking blue collar work through robotics, ReBlueTech aims to preserve field expertise while making infrastructure inspection safer, more efficient, and more sustainable. Its initial focus on sewer systems addresses an urgent maintenance challenge in a concrete and targeted way. With a productization target in 2027 and plans for broader pipeline applications, the company is positioning itself to support essential infrastructure management across multiple sectors.