NTT COMWARE is focusing on the IOWN-based robot x digital twin CPS model. CPS (Cyber-Physical System) is a system that fuses real space and cyber space and enables control of the real world from cyber space. Currently, they are working on automating data center operations using HBA’s automatic patrol inspection robot “HSR”.
Wataru Imazato, Executive Officer,  said, “First, we will verify it at our data center. After that, we would like to make proposals to other companies’ data centers while looking at the feasibility as a solution and market needs.” 
Specifically, the Shinagawa building and Gotanda building, where the company’s bases are located, are connected by IOWN’s APN, and commands are sent remotely from the Shinagawa building to the HSR in the Gotanda building, and the HSR inspects the machine room and other facilities. The Gotanda building’s machine room is reproduced in CG as a digital twin in cyberspace, and commands are issued to HSR via the digital twin. Sensor data and camera images are reflected on the digital twin.
Yoshinori Tsuzuki, Manager of the Technology Strategy Department, explains, “By taking advantage of APN’s ultra-high-speed, low-latency features, we can grasp the state of the robot in real time with a digital twin.”
　　
NTT COMWARE emphasizes the use of data collected from sensors and other devices. For example, it is assumed that temperature sensors will be used to measure the temperature in the machine room to understand the temperature distribution, and that the server situation in the machine room will be grasped from the image captured by the camera.
“We will analyze the data on the digital twin and feed it back to the real world. For example, when the temperature in the machine room rises, humans would turn on the air conditioner. We are thinking about having AI determine the current state and have the robot turn on the air conditioner. Cognitive foundation, which is a technology of orchestration, will be used for that,” (Mr. Tsuzuki).
　　
NTT COMWARE has also introduced the CPS model at the IOWN Global Forum and the TM Forum (TMF), a standards body for operations.
Mr. Imazato said, “At the IOWN Global Forum, use cases that can be solved by IOWN are being discussed, but the hot topic right now is smart factories. We are promoting its use in data centers, but we would like to see various uses such as smart factories without being too particular about it.”