Chitose Robotics Inc.
Category: Robotics / Embodied AI
Japanese industrial robot control software startup developing CREWBO, a visual-feedback-based robot control platform that eliminates the need for calibration and manual teaching Chitose Robotics Inc. was founded in 2018. The company is led by Ryosuke Nishida (西田亮介). Based in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Team size: 11-50. Latest round: Seed. Key investors include Undisclosed (private company, VC investors not publicly confirmed).
- Founded
- 2018
- Headquarters
- Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Team size
- 11-50
Value proposition
CREWBO enables high-precision (20μm) robot arm control using real-time visual feedback without calibration or teaching, reducing robot system integration costs from weeks to immediate deployment
Products and solutions
CREWBO (industrial robot control software), CREWBO Studio (programming software, ¥900K+), CREWBO System (full integration package), ALGoZa (proprietary control theory), ALGoZa SHELL (all-in-one control unit), Chitose Robot Services (robot-as-a-service subscription, ¥980/hour), CREWBO Academic Package (¥300K for research institutions)
Unique value
Calibration-free, real-time visual feedback control that works across multiple robot brands and camera types, enabling robots to adapt to changing environments without reprogramming
Target customer
Manufacturing (automotive, electrical, food processing), logistics/warehousing, food service kitchens, assembly lines — companies needing flexible robot automation without specialized programming expertise
Industries served
Automotive manufacturing, Food & beverage processing, Logistics & warehousing, Electrical/electronics assembly, Food service (kitchen automation)
Technology advantage
Proprietary ALGoZa control theory (patented) that mimics human neural motion control — integrates visual and internal sensor data for real-time adaptive robot control without calibration; supports multiple robot brands (ABB, KUKA, etc.) and cameras; 20μm precision; VLM-based natural language robot instruction system (research stage)
How they differentiate
Unlike traditional robot control requiring weeks of calibration and teaching per task, CREWBO's visual feedback control eliminates calibration entirely and works across robot brands. The ALGoZa algorithm treats robot control like human motion — adaptive, environment-aware, and requiring no pre-programmed trajectories. Recent VLM integration allows natural language task instruction.
Main competitors
Mujin (Japan, robot control software), FANUC (robot control systems), Yaskawa Electric (robot control)
Key partnerships
Ritsumeikan University (technology transfer, joint research), Japan Robot Association (member), Tokyo Chamber of Commerce (member), Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (award recipient)
Notable customers
Automotive, electrical, and food manufacturing sites in Japan, Europe, US, and Asia (specific customer names not publicly disclosed)
Major milestones
2018: Founded as Ritsumeikan University spinout, 2019: ALGoZa Library launched, 2020: IPAS program selection, Chitose Robot Services (¥980/hr robot labor subscription) launched, 2021: CREWBO Studio launched (2.5x target sales), 2022: Seed round funding, 2023: Tokyo Venture Technology Award (Governor's Special Prize), 2024: JSME Robotics and Mechatronics Division Award, Japan Robot Society Practical Technology Award, 2025: VLM-based natural language robot instruction research, 2026: NEDO GENIAC-PRIZE award, VLM research shows 74.3%→88.7% quality improvement
Growth metrics
32 employees (June 2026); ¥12M paid-in capital; revenue-generating with commercial deployments across Japan, Europe, US, and Asia
Market positioning
Niche leader in calibration-free visual feedback robot control for Japanese and global SMEs; competing against traditional robot integrators and SIers by offering software that dramatically reduces integration costs
Geographic focus
Japan (primary), expanding to Europe, US, and Asia
Patents and IP
Core ALGoZa control theory patents acquired from Ritsumeikan University; additional patents on control algorithms, robot hand mechanisms, and visual feedback systems; selected for JPO IP Acceleration Program (IPAS) 2020
About Ryosuke Nishida (西田亮介)
Ex-Recruit Holdings (new business development, app development to monetization); Ritsumeikan University MS in Mechanical Systems Engineering (Robotics); PhD candidate (Control Engineering) at Ritsumeikan University Kawamura Lab; Serial entrepreneur with 2 prior startups (founded and sold)
Official website: https://chitose-robotics.com/