# Highlanders Inc: robotics company

Canonical ID: `9efbc968-eb3d-4e2b-9d4c-41c353938fc6`

## Key facts

- **Partnership:** Mitsubishi + Highlanders — [humanoid robot](/humanoids) development for automotive (July 9, 2026)
- **Segment:** Automotive manufacturing [humanoid robots](/humanoids)
- **CEO:** [Hiroya Masuoka](/people/hiroya-masuoka.md) (増岡宏哉)
- **Founded:** May 2023
- **Origin:** University of Tokyo-linked robotics startup
- **Products:** [HL Human (prototype N)](/models/highlanders-hl-human.md) [humanoid robot](/humanoids), [HLQ Pro](/models/highlanders-hlq-pro.md) [quadruped](/quadrupeds), Kepler v1.0 AI foundation model
- **Kepler v1.0:** 10-billion-parameter multimodal AI foundation model for physical intelligence — 'Two Systems, One Brain' architecture
- **HL Human specs:** 1.4m tall, 19 DOF, 3kg payload, 3km/h walking speed, 3D stereo cameras + LiDAR, VLA capability
- **Manufacturing target:** 1,000 [humanoid](/humanoids) units/month by 2H 2027 at Mitsubishi Motors' Kyoto Plant
- **Pre-orders:** 5,000+ contacts & pre-orders across automotive, logistics, and manufacturing
- **Infrastructure:** HISUI supercomputing cluster for training; Artery data pipeline for over-the-air updates
- **Website:** [www.highlanders.ai](https://www.highlanders.ai/)
- **Financial stage:** early

- **Slug:** highlanders
- **Founded:** 2023
- **HQ:** Tokyo, Japan
- **Category:** [Quadrupeds](/quadrupeds)

## Models

- [HLQ Pro](/models/highlanders-hlq-pro.md) (quadruped) (id: `4ecfe746-3692-4733-a64d-b9150f528a05`)
- [HL Human (Prototype N)](/models/highlanders-hl-human.md) (humanoid) (id: `7f5bf118-231e-402b-8ae0-db63cd646fb1`)

## Current leadership (2)

- [Hiroya Masuoka](/people/hiroya-masuoka.md) CEO (SEC-verified)
- [Hiroya Masuoka](/people/hiroya-masuoka.md) Founder (SEC-verified)

## Founders (1)

- [Hiroya Masuoka](/people/hiroya-masuoka.md) (cofounder)

## Partnerships (1)

- [Highlanders x Mitsubishi Motors](/partnerships/highlanders-x-mitsubishi-motors.md) with Mitsubishi Motors _development_ (announced) (_reported, not operationally verified_)

## Supplies to

_No verified supply relationships on file. Supply-chain coverage is being added across the registry; check back as the seed populates this company's outbound edges._

_Outbound supply edges. Each appears when verified with at least two strong sources. Sources are append-only; corrections add new sources rather than rewrite history._

## Common questions

### What is Highlanders Inc?

[Highlanders](https://www.highlanders.ai/) is a Tokyo-based robotics startup developing general-purpose humanoid robots and the Kepler AI foundation model for physical intelligence. Founded in May 2023, the company builds the [HL Human](/models/highlanders-hl-human) (prototype N) — a 1.4m-tall humanoid with 19 degrees of freedom designed for factory tasks — and the HLQ Pro quadruped for heavier transport. In July 2026, Highlanders signed an MOU with [Mitsubishi Motors](https://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/) to jointly develop humanoid robots and mass-produce them at Mitsubishi's Kyoto Plant starting as early as 2027, targeting 1,000 units per month.

### What does Highlanders Inc make?

Highlanders Inc has 2 robot models on the DEPLOY registry: HLQ Pro, HL Human (Prototype N) (Highlanders Inc builds physical robots).

### Where is Highlanders Inc headquartered?

Highlanders Inc is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

### Where does Highlanders Inc operate robots?

Highlanders Inc is a robot manufacturer and does not directly operate deployments on the DEPLOY registry. Its products are deployed by customer operators; see the company page for the verified deployment record.


## Sources (1)

1. https://www.facebook.com/AutoNews/posts/mitsubishi-is-partnering-with-japanese-robotics-startup-highlanders-inc-to-devel/1639440564708337/

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