ITRI Secures Runner-Up at 2025 World Robot Summit Harsh Environment Drone Challenge

November 21, 2025
The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) earned second place at the 2025 World Robot Summit's Harsh Environment Drone Challenge in Japan, setting two records for UAV endurance and precision in disaster rescue simulations.

The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) won second place at the 2025 World Robot Summit Harsh Environment Drone Challenge in Japan, announced in a press release. The event tested unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in post-disaster rescue scenarios, with ITRI setting two new records during its first participation.

ITRI's drones completed three missions within one hour, including a 13-kilometer offshore flight for surveying, locating victims and delivering supplies, and conducting indoor reconnaissance. The institute overcame Japan’s strict telecommunications and flight regulations through on-site adjustments and team coordination.

The team achieved two firsts in the challenge’s history: reaching the farthest rescue point ever by UAVs and deploying first-person view drones inside buildings for search missions. These drones, carried by larger aircraft, navigated narrow and debris-filled spaces to perform indoor reconnaissance under low-latency communication.

The challenge took place at Fukushima Robot Test Field, simulating disaster conditions with disrupted infrastructure. ITRI plans to enhance UAV resilience and responsiveness through future developments in relay communications, satellite connectivity, and lightweight AI modules.

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