Tokyo, Japan | June 2026
hibot corp. is pleased to announce that two of its projects have been selected under the ‘FY2026 The Nippon Foundation – DeepStar Joint Research and Development Program for Promoting Decarbonization in the Offshore Oil and Gas Sector (Phase 1)’ implemented by the Nippon Foundation. Both projects focus on equipping Float Arm, hibot’s flagship product, with new tool capabilities.
Selected Project 1
Large Area Corrosion Mapping off Robotic Arm
Project Support Champion Companies -DeepStar Members-
Chevron, Equinor, Woodside, Oxy, INPEX, Petrobras, BP
Selected Project 2
Integration of an X-ray Scattered Technology
Project Support Champion Companies -DeepStar Members-
Chevron, Equinor, Woodside, Oxy, INPEX, Petrobras, Shell, BP
Project Background
The Nippon Foundation and DeepStar have been jointly operating a technology development program since 2018 to promote innovative technologies for offshore development. In September 2025, the two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding for Phase 3 of the program, further strengthening their commitment to advancing decarbonization and improving safety in the offshore oil and gas sector. Phase 3 officially commenced in 2026. Total grant funding provided through the program has reached approximately JPY 2 billion to date.
Both projects selected to hibot are centered on the company’s proprietary articulated robotic arm technology, Float Arm. Equipment inspection at offshore oil and gas production facilities often must be conducted in environments that are difficult or hazardous for personnel to access, making improvements in safety, efficiency, and automation a critical challenge across the industry.
Project 1 aims to develop a technology that autonomously scans the external surfaces of equipment using an integrated AUT (Automated Ultrasonic Testing) scanner mounted on a robotic arm, while visualizing and mapping corrosion distribution in real time across large areas.
Project 2 aims to establish a non-destructive inspection method that combines X-ray backscatter technology with a robotic arm to assess the internal integrity of industrial equipment. The practical deployment of these technologies will contribute to reducing inspection workloads, enhancing inspection quality, advancing automation, and improving worker safety during routine maintenance activities.
Building on the results of Phase 1, hibot plans to pursue continuation into Phase 2 while working with global energy companies to demonstrate and disseminate the technologies.
CEO comment：
“ We are thrilled by this recognition. Over the past three years, our collaboration with the Nippon Foundation and DeepStar has allowed us to demonstrate the real potential of Float Arm in the field, and this double selected is a direct reflection of that journey and the results we have achieved together. What makes me particularly proud and honored is seeing so many major oil and gas players championing this project, it is the strongest confirmation that the work we are doing matters, and that the opportunity ahead of us is truly significant.”
About The Nippon Foundation – DeepStar Joint R&D Program
The Nippon Foundation – DeepStar Joint Research and Development Program is implemented in collaboration with DeepStar, a global offshore technology development consortium whose members include leading energy companies such as Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, Equinor, bp, TotalEnergies, Petrobras, Oxy, INPEX, and Woodside, together with suppliers, universities, and research institutions. The program supports research and development by Japanese companies in areas including renewable energy, greenhouse gas reduction, marine environmental protection, and occupational safety.
Nippon Foundation: https://www.nippon-foundation.or.jp/en/
DeepStar: https://www.thedeepstar.org/
hibot corp., PR Team