Preferred Robotics

About Preferred Robotics

Preferred Robotics, Inc. is a Japanese robotics company that spun off from its parent, Preferred Networks, Inc. (PFN), on November 1, 2021. The firm was established to accelerate the commercialization of PFN's vision, "Robots for Everyone," by focusing on the research, development, production, and sales of autonomous mobile robots. The CEO, Toru Isobe, brings a wealth of experience to the role, having graduated from Kyoto University's Graduate School of Engineering and previously developed robots at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Toyota Motor before joining PFN in 2019. Upon its establishment, Preferred Robotics secured 2 billion yen in funding from Amano Corporation. This was followed by a March 2022 funding round where it raised approximately 300 million yen each from Asahi Kasei Homes Corporation and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, further strengthening its financial base for development and production.

The company's business model encompasses both direct sales of its proprietary robots and contract development services. It targets a wide range of clients across industrial and consumer markets, including factories, healthcare facilities, restaurants, and offices. Its revenue is generated from the sale of robot units and, in some cases, a recurring monthly subscription fee for associated applications. By leveraging PFN's expertise in deep learning and combining it with its own proprietary SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) technology, Preferred Robotics develops robots capable of navigating complex and dynamic environments.

A key product for the consumer market is "Kachaka," an autonomous mobile robot designed to function as a smart furniture platform. Sized like a robotic vacuum, Kachaka can dock with specially designed wheeled shelves and transport them to user-designated locations via voice or app commands. It navigates by using AI to analyze images from its camera, allowing it to avoid obstacles. The robot weighs 10 kg and can carry up to 20 kg, including the shelf. For the business-to-business sector, the company offers the "Kachaka Pro," a low-cost autonomous mobile robot (AMR) for various commercial settings. It has also co-developed the "HAPiiBOT," a compact floor-washing robot, with Amano Corporation, addressing labor shortages in the cleaning industry.