About 600 Tokyo Fire Department personnel conducted a large-scale flood simulation at the Arakawa Riverbed in Itabashi Ward on Sunday [1].
The exercise serves as a critical readiness check before the start of the typhoon season. By simulating a breach of the Arakawa River, officials said they aim to verify the city's disaster response capabilities and the efficiency of search-and-rescue operations in high-risk environments.
A primary focus of the drill was the integration of quadruped robots, which were introduced in 2026 [2]. These four-legged machines were deployed to conduct search activities in areas that may be too dangerous or inaccessible for human responders. The robots are designed to navigate unstable terrain, a common challenge during riverine flooding, to locate survivors more quickly.
The scale of the operation involved roughly 600 staff members [1] coordinating their efforts across the riverbed. This coordination is intended to streamline the communication chain between ground crews and command centers during a real-world emergency.
Officials said they organized the event specifically to address the vulnerabilities of the Itabashi Ward area. The Arakawa River is a major waterway in Tokyo, and a significant overflow could impact thousands of residents and critical infrastructure.
By testing the 2026 robot technology [2] in a live-action setting, the department can identify technical gaps before the peak of the storm season. This approach allows the Tokyo Fire Department to refine its operational protocols for robotic deployment in urban flood zones.
“About 600 Tokyo Fire Department personnel conducted a large-scale flood simulation”
The deployment of quadruped robots marks a shift toward integrating autonomous technology into first-response frameworks in Japan. By utilizing robots for initial reconnaissance in flood-prone areas, the Tokyo Fire Department reduces the risk to human personnel while potentially increasing the speed of victim discovery during the critical early hours of a disaster.
