ＡＣＳＬ（6232） – Notice Concerning the Joint Development of a Training Trainer for the Japanese Industrial Drone “SOTEN” Training Trainer

May 10, 2022 ACSL Ltd. Notice Concerning the Joint Development of a Training Trainer for the Japanese Industrial Drone “SOTEN” Training Trainer ACSL Ltd. (ACSL) hereby announces that ACSL, VFR Inc. (VFR), and Rikei Corporation. (Rikei) will develop “SOTEN Virtual Trainer”, a dedicated virtual training trainer for ACSL’s domestic drone “SOTEN”. 1. Overview of this Project ACSL will develop SOTEN Virtual Trainer, which will reproduce SOTEN virtually and enable pilot training in collaboration with VFR and Rikei. The virtual trainer to be developed is a simulator specialized for SOTEN, and by reproducing the same drone performance and user interface as SOTEN, it will also enable training, including camera shooting in the virtual trainer. The simulator also allows users to experience various practical situations such as inspections, searches, and disaster monitoring, enabling training to respond to near misses1 and problems that are unique to practical operations. This virtual trainer is characterized by the fact that training is conducted using only a PC, monitor, and Propo-controller2, eliminating the need to prepare actual drone equipment. (Note) 1: A near-miss incident that does not lead to a serious disaster or accident, but is one step short of a serious disaster or accident. 2: A transmitter commonly used in drone operations 2. Background and Objectives of this Project The year 2022 marks a turning point in the environment surrounding drones, with the implementation of an aircraft certification system and drone pilot license system in accordance with the revision of the Civil Aeronautics Law. Against this backdrop, in December 2021, we announced SOTEN, a domestically produced small aerial photography drone, and have been accelerating the implementation of drones in society. On the other hand, in terms of opportunities to operate drones, there have been some issues raised, such as “demand to train more easily” and “If training can be conducted in an environment that simulates practical operations which are difficult to reproduce, the time required for on-the-job training can be reduced. The SOTEN Virtual Trainer, which Rikei is developing by building a VR environment, will reproduce a user interface similar to that of SOTEN to solve these issues and enable flight 3. Outlook same space. Attention training in a virtual environment. In addition, Rikei is developing content that will help users develop the judgment needed to operate a drone, such as emergency landings, and other training that is possible only with virtual training. The impact has already been incorporated in the full-year forecast for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022, which was announced on February 14, 2022. Regarding future development, we will begin offering a beta version of the system, aiming for an official release in January 2023. In addition, we will develop a drone training space within the metaverse space and verify a system that allows multiple people to train within the This document is an unofficial translation of the timely disclosure on May 10, 2022 by ACSL and this is for reference purpose only. In case of a discrepancy between the English and Japanese versions, the Japanese original shall prevail.