Bandai Namco Research Inc.

Bandai Namco Research Inc. deployed the AI Gamer Q56 (nicknamed Q-Goro), a physical robot that uses reinforcement learning to autonomously play video games and visibly improve through repeated trial and error, designed to make AI concepts approachable and tangible for general audiences.

Q-Goro is a robot developed by a multidisciplinary team at Bandai Namco Research Inc., including AI engineers, sound creators, mechanical designers, and electrical designers. The robot uses reinforcement learning—where the AI receives feedback from its successes and failures—to continuously improve its game-playing ability. The robot's visible trial-and-error learning process is the central design intent: making the AI's learning tangible and emotionally engaging rather than invisible. The design was overseen by Shigeki Toyama, a creator known for his work on the arcade game XEVIOUS and Namco's robot business in the 1980s. No deployment scale or event context is confirmed beyond its listing as an active project on the company's official website.

Bandai Namco Research Inc. collaborated with Japan's National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) to develop an AI system that analyzes drone-captured aerial images of grassland to automatically evaluate grass characteristics for breeding selection—a task that previously required breeders to spend over two hours manually inspecting fields on foot.

NARO and Bandai Namco Research developed a deep learning AI model that processes aerial images captured by drones to classify and evaluate grass strains' characteristics for breeding purposes. The AI was trained by studying the evaluation techniques of skilled human breeders. According to NARO's official press release, the manual field evaluation process previously took over two hours per session; the AI-based method completes the same evaluation in approximately five minutes. A second related collaboration estimated legume coverage in mixed pastures using drone imagery, reducing a task that took more than three hours manually to approximately 2.5 seconds at equivalent accuracy.

Bandai Namco Research Inc. tested BanaDIVE AX, an interactive virtual character performance system, at the ASOBINOTES ONLINE FES on June 28, 2020, and has since used it for Bandai Namco Group live events. The system uses game AI to perform DJ functions, including joining tracks and controlling tempo, while 3D characters perform on screen and audiences vote in real time on song selection.

ELMIRAIVE AX (formerly BanaDIVE AX) integrates game AI with extended reality (xR) technology to create interactive virtual live performances. The AI analyzes pre-loaded music and performs DJ functions—seamlessly joining tracks and controlling tempo—linked to the movements of 3D animated characters displayed in the live venue. Audience members can vote in real time to influence song selection, and augmented reality (AR) audio-visual effects are also incorporated. The system was first publicly demonstrated as an experimental performance at the ASOBINOTES ONLINE FES on June 28, 2020. The company's official project page notes ongoing research and development, including collaboration with deep learning-based AI, for future entertainment. It has since been used for Bandai Namco Group live events including the Denonbu music IP.