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

How does “soft robotics” make strengths of flexibility and ambiguity?

This article presents the methodology and technology behind “soft robotics” and also introduces some example applications. Soft robotics turns flexibility and ambiguity into strengths, in contrast to solid and powerful conventional robots that are designed to carry out tasks precisely, exactly as programmed. The article also describes “flexible electronics,” which has an affinity with soft robotics.

• Material
• Robot
• Flexible electronics

What is the “Fifth Industrial Revolution,” Which Will Deepen the Integration Between People and Technology?

The Fifth Industrial Revolution incorporates concepts such as “sustainability,” “human-centeredness,” and “concern for the environment” in addition to the transformation of the industrial structure that was debated in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Here, we introduce the issues of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the initiatives of each country as well as the latest trends in the Fifth Industrial Revolution centered on the key technologies, etc., that are required within the latter.

• Robot
• Gyro Sensors
• Accelerometers

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

From automation to autonomy and collaboration, manufacturing robots are advancing to become smarter

Robots used in plants are becoming smarter and more advanced. They are not simply automating routine tasks but independently performing situation-specific tasks, and moving in a coordinated manner with the movements of people. This article introduces scenarios in which cutting-edge robots are used and the roles that they play using automobile and semiconductor plants as examples.

• Smart Factory
• Robot
• DX
• IoT
• AI
• Sensors

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

Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) Have Evolved into Smart Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) and Are Improving the Efficiency of Operations in Factories

We give an explanation here about new transportation methods that have evolved with the progress of AI and IoT that are being utilized in smart factories. In addition to the work time of each process, the transportation of works in progress between processes and the replenishment of parts and materials have a major impact on improving productivity overall in lines that perform variable-mix variable-lot production. The use of smart AMRs has expanded in place of AGVs and other conventional transportation means.

• Smart Factory
• DX
• Robot
• AI
• IoT
• Automated Driving

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

What Is the Ideal Cell Production System Line that Responds Flexibly and Promptly to Variable-mix Variable-lot Production?

We give an explanation here about the optimization of variable-mix variable-lot production – a production structure that responds in a timely manner to the consumer market where diversification is progressing and trends are changing drastically. The application of IoT and smart robots is spreading to enhance the productivity of cell production system lines. Furthermore, expectations are also building for the utilization of AI and other technologies that predict the market environment and factory operating conditions.

• Smart Factory
• DX
• IoT
• AI
• Robot

PetTech: IoT Will Change the Way We Live with Our Pets

This article introduces the latest technologies that will bring comfort and safety to life with pets by making full use of artificial intelligence (AI) and IoT.

• IoT
• AI
• Robot

Electronic Technology Supporting the Evolution of “Next Tech”

“Agri-Tech” Brings Out the Potential of Land and Crops

This article explains Agri-Tech, which enables the addressing of problems faced by agriculture and the creation of agricultural businesses with new value by utilizing IoT, AI, robotics, biotechnology, etc. This is a movement that will transform agriculture, where experience and skills influence results, into a rational data-driven industry.

• Agriculture
• AI
• IoT
• Robot

Bringing humans and machines even closer with sensors and AI

Haptics, and reaching a state of "unity of operator and machine"

Sensors and haptics carry great potential for creating new human-machine interfaces that bring humans and machines even closer together. We discuss why and present some possible scenarios below.

• Sensors
• AI
• Haptics
• Robot
• HMI

Why Do We Need Measures against Space Debris?

The development of space rockets by private companies and space travel by private citizens is attracting a great deal of attention. Measures against debris floating in space (space debris) have thus become a global issue before the coming age of discovery in space.

• Robot