NTT Group and five partners successfully demonstrate remote equipment inspection of industrial plants using IOWN APN and physical AI

On June 1, 2026, NTT East Japan, NTT Docomo Business, NTT Docomo Solutions, NTT Data Group, 1FINITY, and Mitsubishi Chemical announced Japan's first successful proof-of-concept for remotely inspecting combinat facilities using next-generation communication infrastructure IOWN APN and physical AI (AI that analyzes visual and sensor data to detect anomalies).

A Mitsubishi Chemical facility in Okayama and an NTT Group site in Tokyo were connected via optical IOWN APN across approximately 700 kilometers. Four-legged robots equipped with cameras and sensors transmitted high-definition footage and data; physical AI at the Tokyo location automatically detected cracks, corrosion, and instrument faults. Communication latency was kept below 500 milliseconds, enabling real-time video sharing and responsive robot remote control.

The companies plan to build an operational platform integrating on-site operational data with physical AI to enable centralized monitoring of multiple facilities from safe remote locations and reduce worker exposure to hazardous environments.