NTT Corporation and Hokkaido University will showcase a live demonstration of remote farming at Expo 2025 in Osaka, highlighting how ultra-low latency networks can transform agriculture. Using NTT’s next-generation IOWN All-Photonics Network (APN), the exhibit will allow operators at the Expo venue to control a robotic tractor located 1,200 kilometers away on the university’s experimental farm in Hokkaido. The demonstration, part of the “Smart Agriculture” showcase during the “Necessities of Life: Food, Clothing and Shelter” week, runs from June 8 to 15.
The system overcomes traditional limitations in remote agricultural operations by combining high-bandwidth, low-power, and ultra-low latency communication with intuitive user interfaces. Hokkaido University developed a visual support overlay that displays distance gauges and guidance lines, helping even novice users—including children—to operate the tractor using a standard game controller. To eliminate latency-related challenges, real-time video feeds from the tractor’s camera are transmitted over the IOWN APN network, enabling seamless control even across long distances. A digital twin of the farm supports simulation and safety validation, while a mixed-reality interface blends virtual and physical environments for Expo visitors.
The demonstration reflects Japan’s strategic efforts to advance automation in agriculture, especially as rural labor shortages persist. Although robotic farm machinery has been in commercial use since 2018, most systems still require one-to-one monitoring. The goal of this project is to evolve toward multi-tractor oversight by a single operator, enhancing productivity and enabling sustainable, high-tech agriculture at national scale.
- Real-time remote tractor operation enabled over 1,200 km using IOWN All-Photonics Network
- Visual support system and game controller make operation accessible to non-experts
- Digital twin-based virtual farm ensures safe pre-verification of operations
- Demonstration aims to reduce agricultural labor requirements through multi-robot oversight
- Expo 2025 exhibit part of Japan’s broader “Designing Future Society” initiative
“By connecting urban audiences with the tools of next-generation agriculture, this demonstration allows everyone to imagine a future where advanced connectivity helps feed the world,” said Hokkaido University and NTT in a joint statement.
