Key Achievements

• Reliable communication networks for robotic farming equipment were established across mountainous agricultural zones by integrating mobile and satellite connectivity.
• Continuous, high-quality video streaming was maintained for remote control and monitoring by dynamically adjusting video compression based on bandwidth availability, focusing on critical visual areas.
• The demonstrated innovations enhance the feasibility of remote operation and monitoring of agricultural robots, paving the way toward fully autonomous farming systems and promoting sustainable agriculture domestically and globally.

Overview of the Collaborative Demonstration

On May 26, 2026, NTT, Kubota Corporation, and NTT DOCOMO successfully completed a joint field trial aimed at stabilizing communication and ensuring uninterrupted video feeds for remotely operated robotic agricultural machinery in mountainous regions. By leveraging a hybrid communication approach that combines mobile networks with satellite links alongside advanced video control technologies, the team achieved consistent video clarity despite fluctuating network conditions. This breakthrough confirms the potential of these technologies to serve as a robust communication backbone for remote agricultural operations.

Context and Challenges in Mountainous Agriculture

With Japan’s cultivated land comprising nearly 40% mountainous and hilly terrain, maintaining stable communication for robotic farming equipment is particularly challenging due to signal obstructions and variable network quality. Addressing labor shortages and enhancing farm management efficiency through automation and data utilization are critical for sustainable agriculture. The Japanese government is also progressing regulatory reforms to permit safe operation of robotic machinery on public roads under remote supervision.

Previous collaborations between NTT and Kubota have focused on ICT-driven agricultural innovations, including farm management visualization and automation. However, ensuring reliable connectivity in rugged landscapes remains a significant hurdle for the widespread adoption of remote-controlled agricultural robots.

Technical Approach and Innovations

The demonstration employed multi-link communication control, dynamically switching between mobile and satellite networks based on real-time signal quality to maintain stable connectivity across challenging terrain. This approach effectively mitigated communication dropouts common in mountainous farmland.

Additionally, the video control system intelligently compressed video streams by prioritizing image quality in essential zones such as the robot’s travel path and crop areas, while reducing data load in less critical regions. This ensured smooth, high-visibility video transmission necessary for safe and effective remote operation.

Core Technologies Explained

1. Hybrid Mobile-Satellite Communication Management: Utilizes multi-link control algorithms to optimize the use of mobile and satellite connections, ensuring seamless communication even in areas with poor mobile coverage.
2. Adaptive Video Compression: Employs bandwidth prediction to maintain high video quality in critical visual fields while compressing less important areas, balancing data efficiency with operational safety.

Contributions from Each Partner

• NTT: Provided “Cradio,” a wireless quality prediction tool, and the “Cooperative Infrastructure Platform” for multi-link communication control, overseeing the demonstration’s implementation.
• Kubota: Supplied the robotic agricultural machinery and the test fields for the demonstration.
• NTT DOCOMO: Developed the video control technology that maintains image clarity in critical areas while compressing data elsewhere, integrated with wireless quality prediction.

Looking Ahead: Towards Fully Autonomous and Data-Driven Agriculture

The success of this project marks a significant step toward practical remote operation and monitoring of agricultural robots, which is essential for the future realization of fully autonomous farming. These advancements will support the broader adoption of data-driven agricultural practices, contributing to sustainable food production both in Japan and internationally.

Furthermore, NTT plans to expand its use of satellite technologies under the NTT C89 initiative, aiming to address societal challenges through innovative space-related solutions.

About the Companies

NTT is a global leader in technology innovation, offering a wide array of services including AI solutions, cybersecurity, and network infrastructure. With operations in over 70 countries and a workforce of 340,000, NTT invests heavily in research and development to drive sustainable technological progress.

NTT DOCOMO is Japan’s premier mobile operator, serving over 93 million subscribers and pioneering advancements in 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies. Committed to bridging technology and society, DOCOMO collaborates globally to deliver innovative communication solutions that foster positive societal change.

Kubota Corporation is a leading manufacturer of agricultural machinery, dedicated to enhancing farming productivity and sustainability through cutting-edge equipment and technology integration.