Yanmar, Sony Form Joint Venture for Underwater Sensing Technology

First project: Developing hull-cleaning ROVs to help preserve marine ecosystems

Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd. and Sony Group Corporation have established a joint venture, YANMAR BLUE TECH Co., Ltd., to advance the development and real-world implementation of underwater sensing technology. The new company, 90% owned by Yanmar Holdings, was established September 8 and has commenced operations from October 1, 2025.

Yanmar has promoted the brand statement “A Sustainable Future – New Value Through Technology –,” with initiatives including aquaculture research and the development of marine equipment to support ocean conservation. Sony, based on its Purpose to “fill the world with emotion, through the power of creativity and technology,” operates a diverse range of businesses, from which its state-of-the-art sensing technology has been applied to a wide range of fields, from entertainment to mobility, also being used to help address environmental and societal issues.

The joint venture combines the two companies’ expertise to create new technologies and solutions that address marine sustainability issues such as ecosystem conservation and workforce shortages in underwater infrastructure inspections. Its first initiative is a research project to enhance and commercialize remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) used for underwater surveys and hull-cleaning operations.

Comment from Eiji Michigami, CTO, Yanmar Holdings

“We are pleased to have established this joint venture under the vision of using technology to enrich, protect, and nurture the oceans. Our customers have expressed strong interest in advanced ROV technologies, and we believe this collaboration will play an important role in addressing marine challenges. Together, we will contribute to marine environmental conservation and the growth of sustainable industries.”

Comment from Toshimoto Mitomo, Chief Strategy Officer, Representative Corporate Executive Officer, Sony Group Corporation

“Through this collaboration in developing cutting-edge ROVs for marine ecosystem conservation, we hope to advance the implementation of Sony's image sensors and other technologies, such as 3D spatial sensing, throughout society. We aim to broaden the possibilities of technology and contribute to solving global and social issues through co-creation with our partners.”

First Project: Hull-Cleaning ROV Development

Growing concern over greenhouse gas emissions from shipping and the spread of invasive organisms attached to hulls has prompted a stricter regulatory response from the International Maritime Organization. Meeting these requirements typically relies on divers to clean hulls, a method that raises safety and labor shortage concerns.
In response, Yanmar is developing a high-pressure water jet ROV that offers industry-leading cleaning speed*, along with a debris collection system capable of filtering and retrieving organic material at the micrometer level. Sony brings advanced technologies to the project, including global-shutter image sensors that enable distortionless high-sensitivity image capture of moving objects, image processing technology adapted for turbidity, particulate matter, and other undersea conditions, and real-time self-position estimation systems.
By integrating Sony’s core technologies into Yanmar’s ROV, the project aims to enable underwater image clarity, 3D data generation, and precise self-positioning in underwater operations. This project hopes to develop a new solution to support safe, stable, and labor-free hull-cleaning operations.

*Based on May 2024 verification tests by the Japan Ship Machinery & Equipment Association. As of October 2025, according to Yanmar.

Company Overview

• Name: YANMAR BLUE TECH Co., Ltd.
• CEO: Ichiro Fuwa (Seconded from Yanmar Holdings)
• Established: September 8, 2025
• Operations started: October 1, 2025
• Headquarters: 1-32, Chayamachi, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan
• Capital: 388.3 million yen
• Ownership: Yanmar Holdings 90%, Sony Group Corporation 10%
• Business: Development and real-world implementation of underwater sensing and robotics technologies

About Yanmar

With beginnings in Osaka, Japan, in 1912, Yanmar was the first ever to succeed in making a compact diesel engine of a practical size in 1933. A pioneer in diesel engine technology, Yanmar is a global innovator in a wide range of industrial equipment, from small and large engines, agricultural machinery and facilities, construction equipment, energy systems, marine, to machine tools, and components — Yanmar’s global business operations span seven domains. On land, at sea, and in the city, Yanmar provides advanced solutions to the challenges customers face, towards realizing A Sustainable Future. For more details, please visit the official website of Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd.

• https://www.yanmar.com/global/about/

About Sony Group Corporation

Sony Group Corporation is a creative entertainment company with a solid foundation of technology. Across its business segments - Game & Network Services; Music; Pictures; Entertainment, Technology & Services; and Imaging & Sensing Solutions - Sony's purpose is to fill the world with emotion through the power of creativity and technology. For more information, visit:

• https://www.sony.com/en/