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About CAIV Article Members R&D Collaboration Contact us YouTube

Message from the Director
Assoc. Prof. Satoshi Suzuki
More than five years have passed since the establishment of CAIV (October 1, 2019). In the meantime, society has undergone rapid changes driven by the pandemic, geopolitical risks, and climate change. The drone domain is no exception; it is at a turning point in terms of technological advancement, operational frameworks, and social implementation. Although Japan’s domestic drone industry still faces many challenges, it is precisely in such headwinds that the creation of a new industrial structure through disruptive technological innovation is called for.
On the other hand, drone technologies play a crucial role in enhancing safety, efficiency, and sustainability in society. In recent years, their roles have expanded dramatically in environments where human access is difficult—such as disaster response, infrastructure inspection, and environmental monitoring. Accelerated innovation and social implementation in these domains will directly contribute to Japan’s industrial competitiveness and to building a more resilient society.
At CAIV, our work is grounded in three core principles:
  • Biomimetics — Learning from the flight strategies and structures of living organisms to pursue flight principles in harmony with nature.
  • Artificial Intelligence — Building novel intelligent architectures that combine autonomy with flexibility.
  • Human Resource Development — Nurturing creative and interdisciplinary talent who will lead the next mobility era.
Based on these principles, we will promote research & development and education through strong collaboration among academia, industry, and government, establishing CAIV as a core hub that supports Japan’s aerial industry foundation. Going forward, we aim to: (i) create bio‑mimetic intelligent drone technologies through national programs, (ii) strengthen our capability for social implementation via industry–academia collaboration, and (iii) develop a sustainable talent pipeline centered on endowed courses.
Center for Aerial Intelligent Vehicles
Director Satoshi Suzuki


Prof. Hao Liu
Small unmanned aerial vehicles, including drones, are greatly affected by turbulent flows generated by natural environments and man‑made structures. As a result, they are prone to unstable flight and crashes. Enhancing robustness (resistance to loss of control) and intelligence (ability to reason and adapt) is therefore a major challenge. Foundational theories for these capabilities are still under development and present significant opportunities and difficulties. Some of the drones developed at CAIV are bio‑inspired. Organisms in nature have evolved with unique morphologies and motions while continuously interacting with their surroundings using their intrinsic intelligence. At CAIV, we analyze their compliant structures, wing motions, and sensing strategies to elucidate fundamental design principles for stable flight. Through research and development of next‑generation drones, we contribute to the creation of new industries.
In addition, CAIV operates endowed courses to promote research and education. Among them, our “Intelligent Flight Program” targets graduate students at the doctoral level to develop talent in the drone field. To help students grow into global leaders with academic rigor, broad perspective, communication skills, and practical development abilities, we provide a wide range of educational curricula, including project‑based learning, research secondments at overseas institutions, and research‑strategy mentoring aligned with career paths.

In establishing the endowed courses, we received a strong proposal from Chiba University’s Distinguished Professor and ARF (Advanced Robotics Foundation) Chairman, Prof. Kenzo Nonami: “To keep Japan at the top level of the world in the increasingly competitive drone industry, nurturing talent is indispensable—can we build an advanced drone research center at Chiba University as Japan’s hub?” With generous support from ARF and the University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners (UTEC), we have been able to pursue our shared goals of innovation and talent development. We would like to express our sincere gratitude once again, and we hope to welcome many partners to join us in pioneering the next era of aerial mobility.

Center for Aerial Intelligent Vehicles
Former Director Hao Liu


[Guest Article] The Path to Founding the Center for Aerial Intelligent Vehicles and Hopes for the Future
Kenzo Nonami, Chairman, Advanced Robotics Foundation (ARF)
Prof. Kenzo Nonami
I have conducted drone research at Chiba University for nearly 20 years, supervising 13 Ph.D. and 30 Master’s graduates in drone‑related fields. In 2001, we succeeded in Japan’s first fully autonomous flight of a micro unmanned helicopter. Building on these achievements, I founded the university‑origin startup Autonomous Control Systems Laboratory Ltd. in November 2013. Five years later, in December 2018, it became the first company in Japan’s drone industry to be listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers market. As a founder, I wanted to give back to Chiba University—both tangibly and intangibly—for the intellectual property and incubation support we had received.
Today, the drone industry is in the midst of intense global competition. To keep Japan at the world’s top level, talent development is essential, and I envisioned establishing an advanced drone research center at Chiba University as a national anchor.

Through company management, I have come to realize that “monozukuri (manufacturing) is hitozukuri (people development).” Only when outstanding people gather can we compete globally. I also hope to nurture young entrepreneurs who will start companies from Chiba University. As a comprehensive engineering field, drone research spans core technologies such as autonomous flight control, sensing, actuation, and batteries (hardware), as well as computer software, image processing, AI, big data, IoT, cloud, and high‑speed communications.

At present, most drones are “small‑brain” systems excelling in balance sensing and motor control. In the near future, however, “large‑brain” drones capable of learning, cognition, and judgment will be required. I discussed this vision with Professor Hao Liu—co‑chair with me of the Flight Robotics sub‑panel in the Cabinet Office’s ImPACT Tough Robotics Challenge, which concluded in March 2019—and later, in December 2018, with Executive Director Seki in charge of research. After thorough preparation on the university side, the Center for Aerial Intelligent Vehicles opened in October 2019.

Looking toward the industrial and mobility revolutions of around 2030, our expectations for CAIV are to generate innovations through cutting‑edge research—from intelligent bird‑like drones and quiet, eco‑friendly aircraft to piloted VTOL passenger drones and massive swarms of hundreds of coordinated UAVs—making science fiction realities.

Through our interdisciplinary educational programs, we also aim to cultivate world‑class human resources. To this end, ARF will continue to do its utmost. Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Executive Director Seki, Dean Sato of the Graduate School of Engineering, and Professor Liu for their tireless efforts toward the establishment of CAIV. I am also grateful to Mr. Gojo, CEO of UTEC, for his generous support as a donor.