hibot Launches Large-Scale Deployment for the Live-Line Maintenance Robot for Ultra-High-Voltage Transmission Lines in Brazil
Tokyo, Japan | September 2026
hibot corporation. (“hibot”) has been selected for the “Global South Future-Oriented Co-Creation Project Under the FY2025 Supplementary Budget (Large-Scale Demonstration: Non-ASEAN Member Countries)” administered by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). With support from the program, hibot will launch a large-scale demonstration project in the Federative Republic of Brazil for its remote maintenance robot for ultra-high-voltage transmission lines.
Project Overview
Brazil, which has the largest power transmission network in South America, spanning approximately 184,000–190,000 km, continues to face challenges in maintaining transmission lines in high-altitude and live-line environments. These operations remain highly cost demanding as power lines need to be stopped and dependent on skilled workers and involve significant safety risks, while the industry is also facing an aging workforce and labor shortages. With serious injuries and fatal falls among transmission line workers reported around the world, establishing a safer and more sustainable maintenance system is an urgent priority.
Through this project, hibot will conduct large-scale demonstrations and deployment of its Live Power Line Maintenance Robot that combines robotics and AI, with the following objectives:
Location: Federative Republic of Brazil
Demonstration targets:
Reduction of workers’ exposure to hazardous environments by approximately 80%, reduction of maintenance costs by up to 45%, and contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions by up to 16,000 tons annually.
Key activities:
1. Conduct parallel field deployments of the robotic platform at three locations in Italy, Brazil, and Japan.
2. Enhance weather resistance to withstand Brazil’s specific climatic conditions and adapt the system to the conductor diameters and configurations used in Brazil’s transmission network.
3. Develop a design compliant with Brazilian safety regulations and obtain the necessary certifications.
4. Manufacture a mass-production verification model and establish a maintenance and inspection system for ultra-high-voltage transmission lines that complies with local regulations.
Unique Strengths
The robotic system is the world’s only commercially viable robotic system capable of performing multiple types of maintenance operations on energized transmission lines without interrupting power transmission, using a single platform.
Building on first-generation technology that received the METI Robot Award in 2010, hibot has further increased its know-how and pushed to the actual system creation through joint development with Terna, one of Europe’s largest transmission system operators in Italy. The system has successfully completed six field trials on actual transmission lines.
The solution incorporates several world-first robotic technologies, including tools for installing and removing aircraft warning spheres, a tool for installing helical armor rods, and a self-gripping clamp that autonomously grips transmission lines. Currently there are 10 patent applications confirmed and pending.
In addition to reducing workers’ exposure to hazardous environments by approximately 80% and maintenance costs by up to 45%, the robot can be integrated with hibot’s AI platform, HiBox, enabling centralized management of inspection data and predictive maintenance. Through this business model, hibot aims to simultaneously drive digital transformation (DX) and green transformation (GX) across the power transmission infrastructure maintenance industry.
Why Government Support Is Essential
The project requires an estimated initial investment of approximately JPY 950 million, all of which is included as eligible project expenditure, with JPY 630 million in government subsidy support approved under the program.
The availability of this subsidy has a significant impact on the project’s scale, implementation schedule, financing, profitability, and business model, and is a critical factor in determining the feasibility of establishing a de facto global standard for live-line maintenance.
As a small and medium-sized enterprise, it would be difficult for hibot to secure the required funding independently. The government subsidy makes it possible to establish, in an integrated manner over the three-year project period, technological adaptation, certification, mass-production capabilities, and autonomous local operations. Government support is therefore essential to achieving these objectives and enabling sustainable scale-up.
With this subsidy support, hibot can, for the first time, conduct a demonstration and acceleration toward commercialization at a realistic scale and within a feasible implementation schedule.
Significance and Social Impact
By implementing this large-scale demonstration, hibot aims to promote the establishment of a global standard for live-line maintenance based on Japanese robotics technology, while contributing to Japan’s international economic competitiveness through annual exports of approximately JPY 2 billion and technology exports exceeding USD 50 million.
Furthermore, the technological adaptations, operational data, and business model insights gained through the demonstration will be applicable to the maintenance of aging transmission infrastructure in Japan and world wide. This is expected to generate reverse innovation and broader benefits for Japan’s power, infrastructure, and robotics industries. The project will also contribute to addressing the aging workforce and labor shortages among skilled workers by enabling technology transfer and enhancing maintenance operations through robotics.
Partnership Opportunities
Following the selection of this project, hibot has already received support and cooperation from multiple companies in Japan and overseas.
Companies interested in partnering in or supporting the project are welcome to contact hibot through the contact information below.
Company Overview
Company: hibot corporation
Representative: Michele Guarnieri, Representative Director CEO
Business: Development and provision of inspection and maintenance robots and AI platforms for industrial infrastructure, including power plants, chemical plants, power transmission networks, aviation, and heavy industry.
Head Office – Tokyo:
Watanabe Corporation Building 4F
5-9-15 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0001, Japan
hibot Americas:
4200 San Jacinto St, Houston, TX 77004, USA
hibot europe GmbH:
Karl-Friedrich-Straße 60, 52072 Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Contact: Miki Chiba / miki-chiba@hibot.co.jp
hibot corporation, PR team.