Aeronext to Accelerate Social Implementation of “Flying Robots” Establish R&D Lab in Shenzhen, China, jointly with Southern University of Science and Technology

–SUSTECH(SIR)-AERONEXT Flying Robots Technology Shenzhen Lab–

Next-generation drone company Aeronext, Inc. (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Keisuke Toji, hereinafter referred to as Aeronext) is announcing SUSTECH(SIR)-AERONEXT Flying Robots Technology Shenzhen Lab, a research and development partnership with Southern University of Science and Technology (hereinafter referred to as SUSTECH), to facilitate an industrial drone next-generation concept “Flying Robots” in Shenzhen, China, though partnering industry and academia to accelerate realization of the concept.

Aeronext’s partnership SUSTECH Institute of Robotics (SIR), will conduct the latest robotics research at SUSTECH, together with its excellent professors and students, enjoying the resources of its vast campus and related facilities, relationships with other universities, discovering potential use cases, leading Chinese drone industry, conducting numerous demonstration experiments, research and development of elemental technologies that will become the foundation of next-generation drones, and producing data regarding demonstration experiments to meet safety standards. The partnership will promote joint research and development for five years to acquire, develop specific applications of “Flying Robots”, and acquire and train excellent engineers who will be central to the future of the drone industry. Aeronext is the first Japanese company to establish a joint laboratory with the university.

Aeronext’s unique center-of-gravity control technology “4D GRAVITY®” technology was developed by fundamentally reviewing the structure of the fuselage in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). This fundamental change increased thee range of applications for industrial drones. Aeronext has already announced several prototypes of the “Next” series of industrial drones equipped with 4D GRAVITY®, spanning a variety of applications, and we are looking to begin mass production system within the year. Aeronext first international’s step was in the Chinese market in May, 2019 establishing a local subsidiary, “Aeronext Shenzhen Ltd.” in Shenzhen, China, then in June, Aeronext announced strategic alliances with leading Chinese industrial drone manufacturers MMC and SMD, all steps to launching the center-of-gravity control technology “4D GRAVITY®”.

Problems such as labor shortages and labor costs in the declining population and aging society, as well as operations risky for people in areas such as logistics, agriculture, security, equipment inspection are where industrial drones will be used. Up to now, in fields such as “disaster countermeasures”, drones haven’t exceeded attempted replacement of “human eyes” for taking pictures and videos and while under limited conditions, and only during certain climatic conditions. Under such circumstances, if an industrial drone is equipped with the center of gravity control technology “4D GRAVITY®”, due to its overwhelming stability, the use cases increase. Multiple payloads can be mounted on the side and top so where previously only a photo or video payload was possible. multiple payloads enamel more functions. On top off that, it is possible to fly those payloads stably and improve the energy efficiency, enabling long-distance flight over a long period of time. In other words, where the current industrial drone has the capability to be a “Flying Camera” area, the next-generation industrial drone will be a “Flying Robot”, equipped with the center of gravity control technology “4D GRAVITY®”

In September 2019, Aeronext announced strategic business partnership with SENSYN ROBOTICS, Inc., a company which provides industrial drones solutions to customers focused on the drone automatic navigation platform, for customer/application development to turn industrial drones into the next-generation concept of “Flying Robots” and accelerate the development of new use cases of “Flying Robots” in Japan together. Aeronext and SENSYN ROBOTICS, Inc. will collaborate further on planning and operations for this joint laboratory.

Thorough research and development is indispensable to make this next-generation concept “Flying Robots” a reality. In Japan, it is generally time-consuming to establish a societal foundation. On the other hand, there are hundreds of drone companies in Shenzhen, with a wealth of experience and track record in UAV research and development, as well as excellent and abundant research and development, engineers, and a flight environment enabling experiments. That is why Aeronext has set up a base for next-generation drone research and development in Shenzhen.

SUSTECH was established in Shenzhen City as the National Higher Education Comprehensive Reform Examination High School, aiming to become the world’s top research university and strengthening the development of innovative human resources. It has 17 academies including science and aerospace, and 26 research centers including robotics, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and large-scale computing. Among them, the Robotics Institute has four laboratories for industrial robot technology, biomechanical robots, medical rehabilitation robots, control and unmanned systems, and robot education laboratories. A wide range of research is underway, such as autonomous control of robots and development of various sensors that can be installed in drones.

Aeronext’s establishment of a joint laboratory with SUSTECH Institute of Robotics (SIR), can accelerate the social implementation of the next-generation drone “Flying Robots” at a speed and level that is not possible in Japan.
In establishing this joint laboratory, Chen Si Qi, SUSTECH Secretary General, who made a speech at the ceremony says “Because of our industry-academia collaboration and its synergy from our strength, we research and develop the next generation of drones and flight control as well as a new technology. We expect this will enhance the entire industry growth of drones.” Liu Shi Ming, Director of Nanshan District Science and Technology Innovation Bureau, who also gave a speech says “We believe that SUSTECH(SIR)-AERONEXT Flying Robots Technology Shenzhen Lab will be a successful case study of industry-academia collaboration between China and Japan and it will bring more collaborations for technology industries and human resources exchange.” Keisuke Toji, Aeronext’s CEO, says “I strongly believe that the establishment of this joint laboratory will accelerate realization of the next-generation drone “Flying Robots” and advance the automation as well as labor saving in the various industrial sectors at a large level”.

Aeronext will continue to make progress toward our vision of the realization of a drone-based society and the economization of a new airspace.

【Press Contact】
Aeronext Inc.　Contact: Ito
Tel：03-6455-0626
Email: contact@aeronext.com

【About Aeronext Inc.】
In order to develop the optimal design for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and multicopter airframes, Aeronext researches Drone Architecture. Aeronext promotes drone development through 4D GRAVITY® Technology licensing business globally by building a strong patent portfolio for 4D GRAVITY®, a unique center-of-gravity control technology that improves stability, reliability, and thus efficiency and productivity.
*Aeronext Inc. Info: https://aeronext.com/company/

【About Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTECH)】https://www.sustech.edu.cn/en/
Established in 2011 in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, as a national higher education comprehensive reform exam. Aiming to become the world’s leading research university, we are strengthening the development of innovative human resources. The university has 17 research institutes such as machinery, computers, materials science, mechanics and aerospace, and 26 research centers including robots and artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, future cities, big data, and large-scale computing. There are about 1000 professors, 14 instructors from the highest academic authorities in the country, about 5300 students, and about 1300 research students. The professors employ many overseas study groups and the ratio of classes in English is high. In addition, Stanford University is used ad role model for university institutions, in an innovative ecosystem, and proactively promotes human resource development and industry-academia collaboration in the Greater Bay Area economic zone connecting Guangdong Province, including Shenzhen City, Hong Kong, and Macau. ing. The campus area is 19.43 million square meters.

【About Southern University of Science and Technology Institute of Robotics（SIR）】
Established by Mr. Chen, professor at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. It has four laboratories for industrial robot technology, bio-mechanical robots, medical rehabilitation robots, control and unmanned systems, and a robot education laboratory. Drones research includes flight controller development, autonomous control in non-GPS environments, and development of various sensors that can be installed in drones.

*Aeronext, the Aeronext Logo, 4D GRAVITY®︎, NextVR ™, Next DELIVERY®︎, Next IUNDUSTRY®︎ are all trademarks of Aeronext Inc. Other trademarks and logos herein are properties of their respective rights owners