Field Trials for PIMTO Mobile Robot Vending Service to be Conducted at Narita International Airport

March 17, 2025 – Panasonic Holdings Corporation (Panasonic HD), Mashup Inc. (Mashup), and Narita International Airport Corporation (NAA) today announced that they will conduct field trials using PIMTO, a mobile robot vending service, in the area after outbound passport control in Narita International Airport Terminal 1 for 10 days from March 21 to 30, 2025. The field trials will involve the sale of local specialty products, subculture items, and other products that highlight the charm of Japan to passengers departing from Narita Airport.

Narita Airport serves as a hub airport in Asia with an extensive network connecting 120 cities—102 overseas and 18 in Japan. The annual number of foreign passengers using international flights in 2024 was 21.79 million, the highest since the airport opened. To study a potential new service for foreign passengers, whose numbers are expected to continue growing, the companies will conduct field trials using Panasonic HD's PIMTO mobile robot vending service, which moves within the area near the boarding gates to sell products. The product lineup, developed in collaboration with Mashup, one of the companies operating the field trials, will feature local products and subculture items that provide a uniquely Japanese feel. The field trials aim to increase customer satisfaction by offering memorable purchasing experiences and appealing products to passengers, including foreign visitors to Japan, just before their departure from Narita Airport.

Field trial period: From Friday, March 21 to Sunday, March 30, 2025

* Field trials may be suspended due to unforeseen circumstances.

Location: Narita International Airport Terminal 1 (Area after outbound passport control)
Products: exclusive products available only at Narita Airport, local products, and subculture items that offer a uniquely Japanese feel

Panasonic HD will provide mobile unmanned vending robots that can increase the number of sales outlets without requiring store construction or additional equipment installation. A variety of items that fit within the designated boxes can be sold, with payments accepted via credit cards, QR codes, and transportation IC cards. Since there is no need to continuously move robots around the airport, it was concluded that autonomous travel or advanced preparation for that purpose would not be necessary. Therefore, the robots will be operated solely through manual control using a wired controller connected to the robot or remote control, considering its cost advantages in terms of the robot units and service operations.
In the field trials, the robots move to high-traffic areas depending on which boarding gates are in use, improving customer convenience and sales. The robots are basically operated by a wired controller, although remote control will also be tested.

Robots (vending spots) that best suit the customers, location, and other circumstances are proposed.
Based on marketing research, including identifying the needs of inbound visitors, the field trials use robots with creative features, such as control buttons and the robot's appearance, allowing foreign customers to select products as if they were playing a game, and enhance their purchasing experience, as well as messages displayed on the robot's body in 11 languages to attract passengers' interest in their native language.

Products that best suit the passengers, location, and other circumstances are proposed.
For the field trials, Panasonic HD, Mashup, NAA, and gray park, Inc. collaborated to design a purchasing experience themed Wings & Wonders, aiming to increase customer satisfaction with the services near the departure gates. Based on this, a product lineup has been developed featuring original products available only at Narita Airport, local specialty products, 3D molded chocolates, and a wide range of subculture items rich in Japanese charm, such as soft vinyl figures, and capsule toys. A range of uniquely Japanese products will provide passengers a last-minute surprise and excitement just before departure.

Panasonic HD can collaborate with welfare facilities to achieve universal design from a work perspective, helping create an environment where people with disabilities or mental health concerns can participate in the operations of unmanned sales and other services.
In the field trials, the remote operation of robots is outsourced to ASU-TRi, an employment transition support office in Kumamoto Prefecture, while product packaging is outsourced to Kujira Co., Ltd. a Type A employment continuation supporter in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo. The product lineup also includes the Okinawa souvenir set, produced at welfare support facilities in Okinawa Prefecture and supplied by the Okinawa SELP Center Foundation.

The PIMTO UI operational support application will be provided, enabling users to easily check sales status, receive sold-out notifications, play pre-recorded sounds from robots, and request remote operators to relocate the robot from any location.

(Inquiries regarding the PIMTO mobile robot vending service)
Panasonic Holdings Corporation
Mobility Business Strategy Office
mobility_info@ml.jp.panasonic.com