November 27, 2024

The Soft Robotics Ventures, an in-house venture of Bridgestone Corporation unsponsored adr, will enter the health care market for the full-scale commercialization of soft robotics utilizing rubber artificial muscles. As the first step into the health care market entry, from November 28, 2024 (Thursday) to December 20 (Friday), a limited-time operation of the "Purpose-Free Room" Morph inn Shimokitazawa using the soft robot "Morph" will commence in the complex facility "Mikan Shimokitazawa" under the elevated station of Shimokitazawa, in collaboration with various partner companies.

Bridgestone aims to achieve a future where humans and robots can collaborate by utilizing its expertise in the development and production of tires and hoses with the rubber artificial muscle (rubber actuator). Furthermore, based on collaboration with a wide range of partners, the exploration of the business model for the soft robotics business is progressing. So far, the soft robotic hand "TETOTE" was developed by applying rubber artificial muscles to fingers, and testing was introduced in logistics warehouses and auto parts factories to promote business in the BtoB field such as factory automation. This time, starting with "Morph," entry into the BtoC sector of the health care market is being initiated.

Industrial robots are required to operate quickly, accurately, continuously, and powerfully in pursuit of productivity and efficiency. Similarly, people living in modern society have become conscious of living and working in pursuit of efficiency. Bridgestone Soft Robotics Ventures proposes a soft robot that accepts humans as they are, instead of requiring people to work like robots, aiming for the realization of a soft future where humans and robots can collaborate. It aims to provide experiences that "restore humanity" amidst busy lives, contributing to the realization of each individual's well-being.

In the future, Bridgestone Soft Robotics Ventures plans to expand "Morph inn" domestically and globally, starting with the "Purpose-Free Room" Morph inn Shimokitazawa. Similarly, the soft robot "umaru" will also begin verification experiments and service offerings. Moreover, leveraging the experience and expertise gained from developing multiple robots since its founding in January 2023 and validating their practicality for commercialization, consulting services aimed at launching new businesses for large corporations have also commenced. Bridgestone Soft Robotics Ventures will actively promote service offerings in the future, accelerating the soft robotics business from the current small-scale commercialization phase to the full-scale commercialization phase with the three pillars of BtoB business utilizing "TETOTE," BtoC business expanding "Morph inn" and "umaru," and consulting services.

Through the soft robotics business utilizing the power of rubber and evolving "to fit your shape," Bridgestone will commit to the corporate commitment "Bridgestone E8 Commitment," which includes "Empowerment to create a society where everyone can live their daily lives as themselves."

The soft robot "Morph" equipped with Bridgestone's rubber artificial muscle.

Bridgestone corporation unsponsored adr Ventures and the creator group Konel jointly developed a soft robot "Morph" in April 2024. By combining Bridgestone's rubber artificial muscles with technology that captures and reproduces motions from the natural world, "Morph" provides participants with a "time of becoming one" by surrendering themselves to the robot. This allows individuals to confront emotions that are usually controlled unconsciously and experience a sense of liberation from their objectives.

"Purpose-less Room" Morph inn Shimokitazawa

In response to the feedback from the Omotesando store, which operated as an experimental store (May 2024), and the Toranomon Hills ARCH store (August of the same year), "Purpose-less Room" Morph inn Shimokitazawa will open from November 28 (Thursday) to December 20 (Friday) in 2024. Following the positive response to the previous "time of becoming one" needs, the concepts of "Before Becoming One“, “While Becoming One”, and “After Becoming One” have been developed. By co-creating with partner companies who resonate with the value of "becoming one", we aim to create a new culture following sauna, zazen, and meditation.

[Development of concepts 'Before Becoming One', 'While Becoming One', 'After Becoming One' and examples of co-creation partners]

• ■ Special Drink (A drink to deepen 'becoming one' & invite from 'nothingness' to brilliance): Daiichi Sankyo Health Care Company
• ■ Virtual Forest Bathing・ZZZN NATURE / Zuzuzun Nature: ZAKONE (NTT East Japan Group, Estée Corporation)
• ■ Working Space "SYCL by KEIO": Mikan Shimokitazawa (Keio Railway Company, Keio SC Creation, Hitokara Media)

【"Purpose-less Room" Morph inn Shimokitazawa Overview】

• ■Period: November 28, 2024 (Thursday) to December 20, 2024 (Friday)
• ■Location: 〒155-0031 Tokyo, Setagaya-ku, Kitazawa 2-6-4 Mikan Shimokitazawa E Block 2F E202 "Sandbox"
• ■Business Hours: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM (Last entry at 8:30 PM)
• ■Closed: Tuesday and Wednesday
• ■Basic Fee: 1,500 yen (tax included) for the first visit and up
• ■Co-creation Partners: VIE Inc., Daiichi Sankyo Healthcare Co., Ltd., ZAKONE (NTT East Group, Estée Corporation), FAIRGROUND Bar & Wine Shop, Mikan Shimokitazawa (Keio Railway Company, Keio SC Creation, Hitokara Media), Art Collective Ochill, Japan Herb Research Institute

Please apply for the experience here.

Some plans may have restricted usage periods.

1. *1 For more details about rubber artificial muscles (rubber actuators), please see here.
2. For details about the soft robot "umaru", please see here.
3. The "Bridgestone E8 Commitment" is a commitment made by Bridgestone Corporation unsponsored ADR.
   Bridgestone has established the corporate commitment "Bridgestone E8 Commitment" to realize its vision of becoming a sustainable solution company that provides social value and customer value in 2050. We will proceed with management while earning trust from the future, and commit to creating the eight values (Energy, Ecology, Efficiency, Extension, Economy, Emotion, Ease, Empowerment) that begin with "E" in a Bridgestone-like manner, and support a sustainable society together with employees, society, partners, and customers.
4. On April 23, 2024, bridgestone corporation unsponsored adr developed the soft robot "Morph" utilizing rubber artificial muscle, and the purposeless room "Morph inn" will appear in Omotesando starting May 17 (Friday).

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