Ideal State of Equipment Maintenance: Technology That Realizes Predictive Maintenance

Predictive maintenance is considered the ideal form of equipment maintenance, which has evolved from breakdown maintenance to preventive maintenance. However, it is also true that there is currently no established method that realizes predictive maintenance. Accordingly, we will now explain how to utilize sensor fusion, AI, and edge AI to provide hints to realizing predictive maintenance based on basic knowledge of equipment maintenance.

  • Maintenance
  • IIoT
  • IoT
  • DX
  • m-FLIP
  • Wireless Sensing Solution
  • Solution

Supporting the Transition away from Fossil Fuels with the Power of Electronic Components

Battery Management Systems (BMSs) Monitor the Charging/Discharging and Thermal Management Status to Improve Safety and Efficiency and to Support Battery Utilization

Batteries are becoming increasingly important toward achieving carbon neutrality. We explain here about Battery Management Systems, which are essential to using batteries safely while maintaining them in good condition over a long time. We also look at the electronic components used in them.

  • Battery
  • BMS
  • Renewable energy
  • Electric Vehicle (EV)
  • Carbon neutrality
  • ESS
  • Sensors

Supporting the Transition away from Fossil Fuels with the Power of Electronic Components

What Are the Conditions for Increasing the Efficiency of Power Conversion and Motor Drives and for Expanding the Use of SiC and GaN Power Semiconductors?

There is a move to update the base material of devices from Si to SiC or GaN in the power semiconductor field to accelerate the pace of efforts to achieve carbon neutrality. We explain here what technological advances are needed in peripheral components such as capacitors and inductors to maximize the effect of that update.

  • Power semiconductors
  • Electric Vehicle (EV)
  • Renewable energy
  • Carbon neutrality
  • Capacitor
  • Inductors

Report on Murata's Participation in the Automotive Engineering Exposition 2023

Murata Manufacturing participated in the Automotive Engineering Exposition. This is an automobile technology exhibition that was held in Yokohama from May 24 to 26, 2023 and in Nagoya from July 5 to 7, 2023. We now introduce here the solutions we have proposed for the electrification, automation, connectivity, and otherwise of automobiles with a focus on the exhibition at the Nagoya venue.

  • Electric Vehicle (EV)
  • Battery
  • ADAS
  • Automated Driving
  • CASE
  • Sensors
  • Communication Module
  • RFID products
  • Thermistors
  • Capacitor
  • MF100 Fatigue Stress Meter

What Is Low-Power Wide-Area (LPWA) Wireless Communication? - Utilization

Low-Power Wide-Area (LPWA) is wireless communication technology that features low power consumption and wide-area and long-distance communication. Although the amount of communication data is small, communication over 10 km is possible. LPWA is attracting attention as the fundamental technology behind the Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) technologies in the smartification of factories, logistics, agriculture, housing, life infrastructure, and other facilities. We explain in this article LPWA utilization examples and Murata Manufacturing’s LPWA modules.

  • LPWA
  • Module
  • Wireless communication
  • IoT
  • M2M

What Is Low-Power Wide-Area (LPWA) Wireless Communication? - Basics

Low-Power Wide-Area (LPWA) is wireless communication technology that features low power consumption and wide-area and long-distance communication. Although the amount of communication data is small, communication over 10 km is possible. LPWA is attracting attention as the fundamental technology behind the Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) technologies in the smartification of factories, logistics, agriculture, housing, life infrastructure, and other facilities. We explain in this article LPWA basic knowledge.

  • LPWA
  • Module
  • Wireless communication
  • IoT
  • M2M

What Is Ultra-wideband (UWB) Wireless Communication?

UWB is the abbreviation for Ultra-wideband. UWB wireless communication is wireless communication that uses the ultra-wideband frequency bandwidth. Its main feature is that it enables high-precision positioning. UWB wireless communication has spread to consumer equipment in recent years. For example, UWB wireless communication is being equipped to smartphones to prevent loss and for other purposes and is being equipped to smart keys of luxury cars. It is expected that UWB wireless communication will spread to many fields in the future. We explain here about the features, history, uses, and other elements of this UWB wireless communication.

  • UWB
  • Position Measurement
  • Distance Measurement
  • Wireless communication
  • High frequency

Digital Transformation (DX) and Murata: How to Face and Deepen Thinking about DX?

Digital Transformation Viewed From the Challenge of Business Model Reform

Mr. Horibe, who is involved in solution development, and Mr. Higuchi, who supports problem-solving from a data science perspective, introduce the topic of business model reform through digital transformation (DX) based on an example of cooperation in wireless sensing solutions using wireless sensor networks (WSN).

  • DX
  • Solution
  • Wireless Sensing Solution

“PIECLEX”, the Electricity-Generating Fibers: Untold Development Story (Applications and Outlook)

In the last issue “Technology and Challenges,” we introduced the advantages of PIECLEX, the inspiration behind its development, and the technical challenges on the road to productization. In this issue titled “Applications and Outlook,” we asked the developers about the potentials and future prospect of PIECLEX as well its social impact concerning the environmental issues.

  • Developer Interview
  • Antimicrobial
  • Carbon neutrality
  • Recycling
  • Piezoelectricity
  • Fibers

“PIECLEX”, the Electricity-Generating Fibers: Untold Development Story (Technology and Challenges)

“PIECLEX” is a type of fabric based on the completely new concept of “Stretch-driven Antimicrobial” that was developed by PIECLEX Co., Ltd., a company that was jointly launched by Murata Manufacturing and Teijin Frontier. We spoke with Mr. Shiomi and Mr. Takumi, two developers at PIECLEX, about the behind-the-scenes development of this new fabric. In this “Technology Explainer Section,” we introduce the advantages of PIECLEX, the inspiration behind its development, and the technical challenges on the road to productization.

  • Developer Interview
  • Antimicrobial
  • Carbon neutrality
  • Recycling
  • Piezoelectricity
  • Fibers

Bringing humans and machines even closer with sensors and AI

Super-Five Senses Created by Combining and Utilizing Sensors and AI

Information that could not be captured by the five senses of humans has become detectable with the evolution of sensors and the increase in sophistication of artificial intelligence (AI). We are now in the process of acquiring perception called the super-five senses with the assistance of machines. We explain here the development of technologies that will realize the super-five senses and the utilization of them.

  • Sensors
  • AI

Static Electricity Troubles, Measures Against ESD and Unexpected Ways of Utilizing Static Electricity: Power Generation Utilizing Static Electricity

Winter is a time when there are concerns about troubles due to static electricity in industrial products such as electronic equipment. We explain here the adhesion of dust and dirt caused by electrification and failures and malfunctions due to electrostatic discharge (ESD). We also introduce research on energy harvesting utilizing static electricity generated during snowfall. In addition, we explain measures against static electricity at manufacturing sites and methods to protect electronic equipment from ESD damage.

  • Static Electricity
  • ESD Protection Devices
  • Energy Harvesting

Electronic Technology Supporting the Evolution of “Next Tech”

“Retailtech” That Discerns Needs and Creates Moving Customer Experiences

Explains retailtech, which utilizes leading-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), IoT, augmented reality (AR), RFID, etc. to achieve an increase in retail industry sales. Retailtech is an information technology movement that realizes high-quality customer experiences without missing a customer.

  • RFID products
  • Solution
  • AI
  • IoT
  • VR/AR

Smart Factories: Giving Form to Digital Transformation in the Manufacturing Industry

The Inseparable Relationship Between Digital Transformation and Decarbonization and Technologies Essential for a Sustainable Manufacturing Industry

We explain here trends in the use of the latest technologies for decarbonization, which is one of the mega-trends surrounding the manufacturing industry. Digital transformation in the manufacturing industry, which is being tackled in smart factories, and decarbonization efforts are two sides of the same coin. It will be important to introduce and utilize advanced information processing technologies such as IoT, AI, and digital twins as a means of realizing RE100-compliant factories.

  • Smart Factory
  • Decarbonization
  • Carbon neutrality
  • DX
  • IoT
  • AI

Choosing Solutions You Can Use Now for Making a Small Start and Scaling Up the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)

It has been a while since the expression Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) started spreading and eventually became established, and more and more sophisticated and diverse solutions and use cases have emerged. Nevertheless, for a variety of reasons, there are still factories that have not yet begun to implement IIoT or have deployed it only partially for certain processes. In this article, we discuss some of the problems or bottlenecks commonly encountered when deploying IIoT, explain how to choose solutions you can use now for making a small start or scaling up operations, and provide some related hints.

  • IIoT
  • Small Start
  • Smart Factory
  • Solution

Open Innovation × PKSHA

Accelerating the Evolution of AI Technologies and the Social Implementation of Applications With Open Innovation Based on Collaboration Between Different Fields

For this project, we spoke with Katsuya Uenoyama, the Representative Director of PKSHA Technology, a company with a proven track record in blazing a trail of AI application. In Part 2, we spoke with Uenoyama about the aims of the open innovation that PKSHA is pursuing and the AI evolution that can be expected as a result.

  • AI
  • Co-Creation
  • Researcher Interview
  • DX

Open Innovation × PKSHA

Expanding the Impact of AI Utilization to More Fields Through the "Co-evolution" of Research and Development and Social Implementation

With services utilizing AI steadily increasing, PKSHA Technology is a company with a proven track record in blazing a trail of AI application. In this article, we spoke with PKSHA Representative Director Katsuya Uenoyama about the key points of blazing a trail of AI application in various fields.

  • AI
  • Co-Creation
  • Researcher Interview
  • DX

Electronic Technology Supporting the Evolution of “Next Tech”

“Edu Tech” Encourages Individuality and Bridges the Unequal Opportunity Gap

Educating the next generation is essential to the task of making society and business more sustainable. This page explains Edu Tech, which aims to bring about innovation in the educational field. Edu Tech is a movement that makes use of technology such as ICT, sensing, and VR to expand educational opportunities and realize individualized education, expanding human individuality and possibilities through the development of technology.

  • Education
  • SDGs
  • AI
  • Robot

Potential for Sensing Technologies to Contribute to Smart Agriculture (Measures Against Salt Damage by Breeding a Rice Strain): Development of a Resistant Rice Strain to Salt Damage in Preparation for Climate Change

Tohoku University and the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization have developed a rice plant resistant to salt damage. Tohoku University and Murata Manufacturing are jointly conducting the Demonstration Experiment to Analyze the Factors Behind Salt Damage Resistance in the Surface Rooting Rice Plant Strain using soil sensors from June 2022 to March 2023. The aim of this experiment is to analyze the factors behind the salt damage resistance in that rice plant. How can sensing technologies contribute to the selective breeding of agricultural produce? We spoke with Eiko Hanzawa, a technical expert at Tohoku University involved in research, about an overview of rice plants with salt damage resistance and the utilization of sensing technologies.

  • Agriculture
  • Researcher Interview
  • DX
  • Sensors
  • Soil sensor

Electronic Technology Supporting the Evolution of “Next Tech”

“Home Tech” Creates Comfortable and Sustainable Living Spaces Based on Data

This page explains Home Tech, which involves the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and IoT to enable a sustainable and affluent lifestyle. This movement aims to leverage home management and control technology to enable more effective and waste-free utilization of household equipment and consumer electronics products.

  • Smart Home
  • AI
  • IoT

Electrification of Aircraft Engines and the Latest Autopilot System Technologies

Aircraft engines have strict safety standards. Therefore, electrifying them has been considered unfeasible on both a technical and commercial basis. However, it is becoming increasingly likely that it will be possible to electrify aircraft engines due to the development of lightweight materials and the progress of electronics technologies. How far have aircraft engine electrification and autopilot systems progressed now? We explain here the current state and future of electric aircraft engines and autopilot systems as well as the latest information on realizing them, with a focus on electronics technologies.

  • Carbon neutrality
  • Power electronics
  • Automated Driving
  • Logistics

How Will Murata’s Soil Sensors Change Agriculture? Smarter Watering Management for Greenhouse Horticulture, Fruit Growing, and Outdoor Cultivation

Isn’t one of the ideals of agriculture to maintain sustainability with a good balance between cultural development, the environment, the economy, living things, and communities? Murata Manufacturing has started the mass production of high-performance soil sensors that contribute to the realization of that ideal.

  • Agriculture
  • Researcher Interview
  • DX
  • Sensors
  • Soil sensor

A Brief Introduction to PMbus®

Power system developers increasingly deploy power management capability to optimize performance, uptime, and end-user experience for the complete range of any system powered by FEP PSU’s e.g.data, server, storage, industrial, and medical applications. Systems consist of a wide variety of devices, i.e., “targets”. Being able to control, configure, and monitor each device over a digital communication bus is required to achieve these objectives.

  • Data-driven
  • Edge computing
  • Local Networks
  • Connectivity
  • Solution

Achieving a Prosperous and Continuous Society Through a Fusion of the Real and the Virtual – How Murata is Supporting the Realization of the Vision of the Future

Digital transformation and the solving of social issues are the key to creating a prosperous and more sustainable future. We spoke to Murata's president, Norio Nakajima, and asked him about the shape of the future society that Murata envisions, the significance of Murata's business reform, and the direction of technological developments that the company is working on in order to realize this vision.

  • IoT
  • 5G
  • Digital twin
  • VR/AR
  • CASE