“Creating a satellite that can be used at an altitude of zero meters”. Ryosuke Itai, the CEO of UMIAILE Co., Ltd., shares his grand vision for challenging marine observation. Why did an engineer who once developed autonomous mobile robots at Honda decide to pursue “visualizing the ocean”? He had an unquenchable passion for manufacturing and deep trust in his colleagues.
My interest in manufacturing originated from the thrill of "flying by human power."
S：You have continued to pursue the passion you had as a student, even after graduating!
I：Yes. Human power may be limited, but with that power, we can lift our own body into the sky. That sense of wonder and thrill was the very essence of what made manufacturing so fascinating to me. Eventually, the thought of what if we applied this aircraft technology to ships began to take shape. It was the first spark that led to UMIAILE.
What began as an extension of my hobby gradually evolved into the basis of the business.
S：How did that lead to UMIAILE?
I：Initially, it began more out of technical interest than a desire to solve social issues. No one asked me to do this. I just wanted to build this, so I worked on it night after night. After work, I conducted experiments and tested them in the river the following morning before going to work. I kept that up for about two years.
S：Two years!? What drove you to go that far?
I：Well, I was simply happy to be able to make things move with my own hands. It started as an extension of my hobby, but as I kept at it, I started thinking about how I could make this my profession.
S：You do not just stop wanting to do what you love. You take action. I respect your ability to make things happen.
I：Thank you, I am flattered. So, I took the plunge and submitted my research proposal within the company. Then I applied to Honda’s new business creation program IGNITION and passed all the screening stages. In my mind, that was the moment when my hobby became my vision.
S：Within a large organization like Honda, I imagine it was not easy to take on new challenges.
I：Certainly, there were various constraints. But at the same time, I had people who supported my challenges and a boss who warmly watched over me. I am grateful for the opportunity to give shape to my ideas.
From technological seeds to societal needs—reasons why we are challenging ourselves to observe seafloor crustal movements
S：UMIAILE’s theme of “visualizing the ocean” is now gaining significant social attention, but I understand that marine observation was not part of the original plan.
I：That is right. Initially, I wanted to solve problems in the fishing industry. I wondered if we could detect schools of fish and reduce the number of times fishers came up empty-handed. However, as we continued that path, it became clear that achieving profitability was difficult, and we had to change course.
S：It is quite a bold change of direction, from fishing to observing crustal movements. What insights led to that?
I：When we revisited the broad theme of “visualizing the ocean”, we realized we first needed to change the very way we observe the ocean itself. Our focus now is on observing seafloor crustal movements. The objective is to capture the movement of tectonic plates, such as the Nankai Trough, to understand the mechanisms of earthquakes.
S：It is surprising to see you venture into fields like that with a manufacturing perspective. Why did you choose that subject?
I：The researchers told me that if we miss collecting data during the next earthquake, we might not get another opportunity for 100 years. Those words stuck me to the core. Increasing the frequency of observations contributes not only to earthquake research but also to disaster preparedness and saving lives. “I have to do it now!” I thought, and my mind was made up.
S：I feel the passion of those researchers resonating with the technology of your team!
I：That is exactly right. The small autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) we are developing is a boat that automatically navigates the ocean while conducting observations. It will collect data continuously over extended periods without human presence, allowing for observations at frequencies previously unreachable by observation vessels. If that becomes a reality, I believe marine research will enter an entirely new stage.
S：It is truly an evolution from technological seeds to societal needs. The joy of manufacturing becomes the power to change society. It is truly amazing!
I：Making the switch from fishing to observing crustal movements was a very difficult decision for me. But our technology will lead to someone else’s research and the next challenge. Thinking about it now, I am glad I made that decision back then.
🚢From fishing to observing crustal movements
His challenge to shift from technological seeds to societal needs ultimately led him to meet reliable colleagues. Next time, we will take you behind the scenes of the team bond that supported UMIAILE’s creation and the collaborative efforts with Starlite. (👉To be continued to Part 2)
🔗Related Links
・UMIAILE Co., Ltd. (Available only in Japanese)
・Honda Corporate Website | UMIAILE Co., Ltd. is a startup company established through IGNITION, Honda’s new business creation program. (Available only in Japanese)