News Release
Successful Remote Visual Inspection Using IOWN APN and Image Recognition AI Over 300km
~ Achieving Inspection Speed and Quality Comparable to Local Environments ~
February 19, 2026
NTT West Corporation
NTT Docomo Business, Inc.
Nitto Kohki Co., Ltd.
NTT West Corporation, NTT Docomo Business, Inc., and Nitto Kohki Co., Ltd. have successfully conducted a joint experiment connecting a data center in Kanto to Nitto Kohki's factory in Kakegawa, Shizuoka, using IOWN APN technology. This connection enables image data analysis and robotic arm control at speeds and quality on par with local environments. The unique features of IOWN APN — high capacity, low latency, and zero fluctuation — allow centralized AI capabilities and data from multiple factories, enhancing the efficiency and standardization of visual inspection tasks.
The manufacturing industry faces challenges such as a diminishing workforce and increasing product variations, making advanced and efficient visual inspections essential. Traditionally, implementing high-precision AI inspections required substantial investment in infrastructure at each factory, often hindered by network delays when utilizing remote data centers.
In this initiative, product images on a conveyor belt were captured and transmitted to the data center for real-time analysis with the image recognition AI “Deeptector®.” Defective items were identified, and real-time data, including coordinates of defects, was sent back to the factory’s robotic system for immediate correction.
Results demonstrated that using IOWN APN facilitated seamless inspection processes without latency issues, allowing Nitto Kohki to reduce manual inspections and improve efficiency with data-driven insights. Moving forward, the companies aim to expand AI inspection applications to more products, further enhancing operational efficiency across multiple factories.