Future Society with Robots and Drones

Transcription

1 Reporting on Today and Tomorrow s Energy, Environmental and Industrial Technologies [1 st ] Transforming Infrastructure Maintenance, Disaster Response, Manufacturing, and Services! Future Society with Robots and Drones [2 nd ] AI That Can Enrich Human Life Perspectives on Future Technologies Naoko Yamazaki, Astronaut

2 D irecting the Future Contents Perspectives on Future Technologies 02 Breakthrough Will Assuredly Happen Perspectives on Future Technologies Naoko Yamazaki, Astronaut 04 1st Transforming Infrastructure Maintenance, Disaster Response, Manufacturing, and Services! Naoko Yamazaki, Astronaut Future Society with Robots and Drones Although the development of outer space technologies in the real world hasn t always kept up with the pace of 2001: A Space Odyssey, some advances, such as communication speed and computer miniaturization, have far outpaced those of the film. Space technology draws on a wide variety of fields and includes many types of technology from different sectors. 06 In particular, robotic technology is essential. I had done research in robotics control as a student, and I have believed there is no future for space development that does not utilize robotics. For example, the International Space Station, a massive structure, was assembled using robot arms because it was impossible for 09 There s More! The Road to Social Implementation of Robots humans to do the necessary work alone. As I was involved in this kind of work in space, I strongly felt the importance of the cooperation of human beings and 10 Realizing a Society Where Human and Robots Coexist and Cooperate Hosting the World Robot Summit robots. This relates to reliability and safety. In the past, we have engaged in research in industrial robots for the purpose of these machines working independently or in deserted or uninhabitable places on earth, and in recent years, robotics research has also started focusing on 12 applications that can assist humans to improve their lives. In space, however, the cooperation between human begins and robots has a longer history has been emphasized since all work happens on the International Space Station, a different environment with astronauts and robots working together. Going forward, the trajectories of human-robot relations will align both in space and on earth. In 2020, Japan will host the World Robot Summit, where the people involved in robotics from all over the world will gather and compete in robot technology. Although the summit is nominally a competition among robots, I think the barriers between humans and robots will gradually decrease as the capabilities of both continue to expand. Technology can be improved incrementally when we see it as an extension of an existing technology. However, in order for innovations to happen, it is important to look ahead a generation or two. Breakthroughs will assuredly happen even for technologies currently considered outrageous and dreamlike. When that happens, how will not only the technology but also the legal, ethical, and social structures of our society be changed alongside them? As the technology advances in the fields of space technology and robotics, I would like to shift my focus on soft power and ideas for how to get more people to utilize these technologies. 02 Done through NEDO Projects Technology Development Societal Implementation Beyond Solutions for Social Issues Naoko Yamazaki After finishing a master s degree at the University of Tokyo s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Yamazaki began work for the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA, now the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency or JAXA). She was involved in the development of the Japanese Experiment Module, Kibo (Hope). Yamazaki was certified as an astronaut in September 2001, and participated in a 15-day mission on the space shuttle Discovery in April She was in charge of the operation of the robotic arms on the International Space Station and the space shuttle. After leaving JAXA in August 2011, she served as a member of the Cabinet Office s Committee on National Space Policy. Yamazaki is a member of the Advisory Board for the Executive Committee for the World Robot Summit, hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and NEDO. 2nd AI That Can Enrich Human Life 16 Easy to Understand! News Release Commentary NEDO Project Succeeds at World's First 3D Imaging of Living Tissue with a Rigid Endoscope No.65 Reporting on Today and Tomorrow s Energy, Environmental, and Industrial Technologies Focus NEDO is the public relations magazine of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), introducing the public to NEDO s various projects and technology development activities related to energy, environmental and industrial technologies. After Project Follow Up! NEDO Project Success Stories Playback History ol. 5: Strategic Development of Energy Conservation V Technology Project Focus NEDO 2017 No.65 03

3 1 st Transforming Infrastructure Maintenance, Disaster Response, Manufacturing, and Services! Future Society with Robots and Drones Society has high expectations for robots and drones to successfully solve the issues that will arise in our future society. NEDO has been working on projects to accelerate technology development in anticipation of someday translating these advanced technologies into applications for everyday life. In this article, a vision for a future society in which robots and drones are utilized for many tasks is highlighted, along with NEDO s current projects in various fields. Robots and drones helping to mitigate the effects of population decline Currently, the Japanese population is aging at the same time that the birthrate is declining. The population peaked in 2008, and has been steadily decreasing since then. In particular, the productiveage population, defined as being between 15 and 64 years old, is predicted to decrease significantly (Figure 1) in coming years. Maintaining productive capacity is a serious issue for the nation. Additionally, much of Japan s infrastructure, such as bridges, tunnels, and dams, was constructed more than fifty years ago, and it will soon become necessary to take measures to protect against deterioration. Moreover, natural disasters, such as earthquakes, occur frequently in Japan, so minimizing the human and economic damage from these events has been a longstanding challenge. information technology (IT). This trend presents a great opportunity and a critical role for Japan which has been known as a robotics superpower to lead the world. The Japanese government has been promoting the advancement of the robotics field through such policies as Japan s Robot Strategy. In the Future Investment Strategy 2017 approved at by the Cabinet in June 2017, promoting the utilization of next-generation robots is specifically listed as a measure. The strategy also sets quantitative targets including expanding the domestic robotic production market, in both manufacturing and non-manufacturing (such as services), to 1.2 trillion yen by Challenges for not just developing the technology, but socially implementing it evaluate robots performance, and contributing to an international standardization of drones, which has not been established yet. Following are highlights of NEDO s vision of a future society with robots and drones, including the specific efforts by NEDO to utilize robots and drones in the fields of infrastructure maintenance, disaster response, manufacturing, and services, and the challenges involved in advancing the societal implementation of this technology, such as human resource development and environmental optimization. Changes in Population in Japan (Figure 1) (Year) 14 and younger and older Population aging rate Source: National Census by Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (up to 2015, excluding the population of uncertain age), and Population Projections for Japan (January 2012) by National Institute of Population and Social Security Research (after 2020, projections of medium variant of births and deaths) Future Market Prediction in Robotics Industry through 2035 (Figure 2) The utilization of robots and drones has recently drawn attention In addition to the existing robotics technology development, 9.7 Trillion yen as a possible solution to these issues. They are expected to not only NEDO has started to work on a new effort that will go one step Trillion yen take a supplemental role in work, but also eliminate the need for further and ensure that the technology is successfully translated into human labor in dangerous and difficult tasks, solve the labor shortage society. Previously, NEDO has focused on technology development, 2.9 Trillion yen problem, and improve overall safety and efficiency. such as increasing the sophistication of performance and structure, Expectations for robots to contribute to economic growth are high and people have become familiar with robots, said Ryosuke Aya, 1.6 Trillion yen 2 as well, and this reflects predictions for market expansion in this field Ryosuke Aya Director of NEDO s Robot and Artificial Intelligence Technology Director (Figure 2). It is said that we are entering a Industrial Revolution 0 Department. Moving forward, in this new stage, NEDO will go one Robot and Artificial Intelligence (Year) Services Agriculture, forestry and fisheries Robot technology (RT) Manufacturing 4.0 created by the technology innovation of robots and artificial step further to engage in projects to aim for societal implementation, Technology Department intelligence (AI), following the mechanization of factories, massproduction so human and robots will one day coexist and work together to solve NEDO Source: NEDO News Release Release of the Future Market Prediction in Robotics (April 23, 2010) made possible by electric power, and automation using social issues. Some examples include establishing a mechanism to 04 Focus NEDO 2017 No (million) 150 (Trillion yen) (%)

4 1 st Transforming Infrastructure Maintenance, Disaster Response, Manufacturing, and Services! Future Society with Robots and Drones 06 Done through NEDO Projects Technology Development NEDO is accelerating not only the continuing development of technology to improve the performance of robots and drones, but also efforts for the societal implementation of this technology. NEDO projects reveal its vision for the future in which human and robots will coexist in the fields of infrastructure maintenance, disaster response, manufacturing, and services. Transforming! Infrastructure maintenance From the left Fuminori Yamasaki CEO ixs Research Corporation Hiroaki Kikuchi Imaging Technology Center, Research & Development Headquarters FUJIFILM Corporation Societal Implementation Promoting solutions for aging bridges and tunnels Streamlining the human work of visual inspection and drawing by hand Tomoyuki Yaguchi Kawasaki City Construction and Greenery Development Bureau Roads and Rivers Development Department Road Facility Section Manager Demonstration of a bridge inspection in Kawasaki City. Yoshichika Uchiyama Chief Officer, Robot and Artificial Intelligence Technology Department NEDO Streamlining data-collection and management by using robots Japan has an increasing number of bridges and roads built more than fifty years ago. To maintain this infrastructure, Japan needs funds and experts. Shortage of both finances and engineers is a serious issue, especially for local governments, which own approximately 70% of the more than 700,000 road bridges around the country. NEDO has partnered with businesses and local governments to promptly realize a future society in which robots and drones are utilized to support the efficient inspection of infrastructures such as bridges, tunnels and dams. One example of these efforts is a demonstration test conducted at a bridge in the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, as a part of NEDO s System Development Project to Address Social Issues Such as Infrastructure Maintenance, Management, and Renovation. The test used the ixs Research Corporation s Robot System that Can Perform Close Visual Inspection, which it jointly developed with FUJIFILM Corp. The robot is hung down from bridge girders and has a double-lens camera, so it can identify the degree of the damage, width of the cracks, and the location of the images on the bridge. Instead of having a worker do this inspection, the robot collects detailed images and stores them, along with location information, to the database. Bridges are built at a high altitude, so when they are inspected by human it takes significant amount of time and cost to set up and take down the scaffolds, and traffic needs to be blocked for an extended period of time, explained Fuminori Yamasaki, CEO of ixs Research. By having a robot assist with the inspection, although it takes time to collect the images thoroughly, the data can be sorted out just with one click of a button, so the total operation time can be reduced dramatically. Hiroaki Kikuchi of FUJIFILM explains the imaging function on the camera, which substitutes for human eyes. The robot has a high definition camera and bright light, so damage can be spotted even under dark conditions, such as behind the bridge, he said. The camera can detect cracks as narrow as 0.1mm, which is minimum requirement for inspections. By using a double-lens camera, the width of the cracks can be calculated as well. We used to use a special scale to measure cracks, and then we hand-drew a sketch for the report. By using a robot, we can save labor, which has been well-received so far. Additionally, by storing the data collected by the robot, we can gain better understanding of the progressive degradation, so we can utilize the robots for prerepair inspections as well, said Tomoyuki Yaguchi, Kawasaki City Construction and Greenery Development Bureau Roads and Rivers Development Department Road Facility Section Manager, who is optimistic about the technology s practical applications. Connecting businesses, local governments, and ministries and agencies to step forward The most important thing in infrastructure maintenance is to reliably collect inspection data. In designing these robots, we prioritized the needs and usability of the users on site, and ensured easy operation; this way, we ve created a product that s actually useful and isn t just self-congratulatory for the manufacturers, said Yamasaki of ixs Research. Currently, the robots are used to assist human instead of to substitute for them. However, NEDO believes that it is NEDO s role to show that robots can be useful at the inspection site, and facilitate regulatory actions by collaborating with the appropriate ministries Transforming! Disaster Response Conducting quicker and more accurate assessments of situations right after disaster strikes Sending information about inaccessible sites as quickly as possible Collecting information about disaster situations via drones Explosion-proof robots navigating inside tunnels When natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides occur, it is important to minimize the damage as much as possible. Especially at inaccessible sites, where people can t enter because of the danger of a possible secondary disaster, remote situation assessment provided by drones and robots can be very effective. In this case, the Landslide and Volcano Disaster Situation Assessment Robot, developed through a NEDO project, can create a 3D map instantaneously by using a drone (multi-copter) to take images from the air, as well as collect land samples by using a land sampling device. The collected information can be used to develop rescue strategies and determine alert levels. The demonstration test, conducted at Fugen-dake, Mount Unzen in Nagasaki Prefecture, was highly acclaimed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The rescue efforts for disasters caused by tunnel damage can be difficult because of the danger from inflammable gas. To assist with this, an exploration robot that can substitute for humans and perceive the state of the damage and the levels of gas has been developed. The robot has also received an explosion-proof certificate for the first time for a mobile robot. It can be radio-controlled, and in a closed space such as a tunnel, it can be remotely controlled using an optical cable from as far as 1,000 meters away. By using a robot to gain understanding of damage more quickly and accurately right after a disaster happens, NEDO aims to minimize the human and economic damage of these events. and agencies. This demonstration is a great example for us to use in showing that the robots can have practical applications, said Yoshichika Uchiyama, Chief Officer of NEDO s Robot and Artificial Intelligence Technology Department. Since types and conditions of the inspected bridges vary, there have been efforts to develop drones that can keep their altitude relatively stable in the air when inspecting different shapes and types. NEDO also has ongoing projects that will make possible safe maintenance of various infrastructures, including a robot that assists in dam degradation inspection by taking pictures of dam bodies using an underwater camera. The demonstration test in Kawasaki City was conducted in collaboration with the Kawasaki City government, ixs Research, FUJIFILM and NEDO. The robot is controlled on the ground by using a closed-circuit controller. The system is easy to set up and take down, and can be operated by three people. By flying the drone autonomously in the restricted areas, high-definition image data and 3D landscape information can be collected. The collected data is used to predict a potential disaster from a mudslide in a volcanic area. This robot explores in inflammable gas environments, and has received an explosionproof certificate from the explosion-proof electrical equipment certification authority for the first time for a mobile robot. Focus NEDO 2017 No.65 07

5 1 st Transforming Infrastructure Maintenance, Disaster Response, Manufacturing, and Services! Future Society with Robots and Drones Transforming! Manufacturing Making further improvements to manufacturing by small and medium-sized businesses Realizing a Platform Robot There s More! The Road to Social Implementation of Robots Aiming for an easy to use technology for both niche and general purpose applications Japan is the world-leader in both the number of shipments and units in operation for industrial robots. However, the implementation cost for these specialized robots is high, making it difficult for small and medium-sized businesses to fully utilize them. To meet the specific needs of small and medium-sized businesses, NEDO has focused on developing unique robots specialized for niche manufacturing purposes. Another approach is to develop general purpose robot systems. By introducing new standardizing technology that will increase versatility of the platform robot for example, having a single common arm part, and customizing the picking part according to the intended purpose more companies will be able to purchase robots at a lower cost. With the key words easy to use in mind, these robots could become valuable contributors to the manufacturing sector. A robot recognizes the deformation state of a soft object and works accordingly. It is expected to expand the utilization of robots in areas where automation is currently difficult, such as assembly of cables. As new technology penetrates our society and becomes useful, a wide variety of issues other than just technology development need to be solved. Here are some efforts conducted by NEDO that fall under four key words. Human resource development To make use of robotic technology in society, we need people who can create innovations in robotic technology. To cultivate leaders who can create robotic businesses in the service industry, NEDO started the Robot Service Business Cultivating leaders to create robotic businesses School in In the first year, NEDO provided e-learning courses. Starting in April 2017, NEDO has provided lectures and small group workshops for problem-solving on design thinking, technology, and management of technology Robot Service Business School schedule Yuri Fukuda Robot and Artificial Intelligence Technology Department NEDO (MOT) at six sites in Japan (see table). A wide variety of participants, from the business persons in charge of robot businesses in their companies to the workers involved in innovation education, are taking these courses. Theme Location Date Regional revitalization with robots Tokushima/Tokushima University April Drones Fukushima/Big Palette Fukushima May Medical and welfare robots Osaka/Osaka Institute of Technology Umeda Campus June RT middleware utilization Tsukuba/AIST Tsukuba Central July 31 Transforming! Services Robots take background roles in the service industry Making it possible for workers be more effective and activities to be more productive Recognizing clothes with image recognition technology and folding them with robot arms In service fields (non-manufacturing fields), human workers can reserve their labor to the work and activities of a higher value, by utilizing robots for the simpler work that robots can handle effectively. NEDO has awarded grants to develop a fully automated clothes folding machine as a part of Promotion of Market Implementation by Applying Robotics The Laundroid was developed by seven dreamers laboratories, inc. in collaboration with Panasonic Corporation and Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd., with a projected launch by the end of FY2017. Clothes are inserted in the box at the bottom of Laundroid, and the image processing technology and robot arms work together to fold the clothes, sort them by clothing type or owner, and store them accordingly. This development project has improved the technologies used to assess and control the movement and status of clothes with the image processing technology, as well as the technologies used to handle soft Clothing is randomly tossed in the box, where it will be folded and sorted. It takes 5 to 12 minutes per item for folding and sorting, but it can be done while the owner is sleeping or out of the house. objects that can easily lose shape. We started development in 2005, and now finally we can see possibilities for this to be used in everyday life, said Hiroshi Kitagawa, a member of the robotics of seven dreamers laboratories. This robot has three key technologies; image analysis, which works as eyes; AI, which determines which individual the clothes belong to; and robotics, which works as hands to fold them. In the future, we would like to realize an online closet, a system that simultaneously operates a dryer, creates data of all clothes stored in the closet, and suggests new outfits in addition to folding the laundry. The robot makers have already worked with home appliance manufacturers and home builders, said Noriko Kimura, Chief Officer of NEDO s Robot and Artificial Intelligence Technology Department, expressing her high expectations. I believe the market for utilizing this development is large, not only in individual households, but also in hotels and the apparel industry. From left Hiroshi Kitagawa robotics seven dreamers laboratories, inc. Noriko Kimura Chief Officer, Robot and Artificial Intelligence Technology Department NEDO Performance evaluation In order for robots and drones to be widely utilized, users must be able to recognize and understand the performance of the product. To this end, NEDO has been working on an effort to establish standards for evaluating robot performance. Specifically, NEDO has set an ultimate goal of establishing an evaluation axis for performance and safety needed to operate drones, land-based robots and underwater robots; identifying performance Public awareness In the process of new technology s dissemination through society, it needs to earn understanding of local communities and citizens before being accepted by them. NEDO held a mock trial entitled Can we judge the negligence by robots under the law? at the International Robot Exhibition 2015 Environmental improvement Just as many aircrafts safely operate under the global air traffic control system, in a future society in which many drones fly in aerospace around the world, it will be essential to have a system to manage the drone operations. Additionally, collision avoidance technology will be absolutely necessary, Service robots Tokyo/Akihabara UDX October Personal mobility Nagoya/Wink Aichi December 8-9 Establishing standards to evaluate the performance of robots and drones levels according to the evaluation axis; assessing testing methods; and exploring standardization strategies. At the Fukushima Robot Test Field, which is being developed by Fukushima Prefecture, NEDO demonstrated a long-distance package delivery by an automatically controlled drone for the first time in the world, in order to evaluate the performance of the drone. Thinking about the life with robots from legal and insurance perspectives (irex 2015), as part of NEDO s effort to have these local stakeholders recognize how the dissemination of robots and drones is related to their lives. It is also necessary to develop and structure an insurance plan to deal with the risk of accidents involving robots. At the NEDO Robot-AI Forum and NEDO focuses on improving the environment for that purpose as well. As for operation management, NEDO has developed a system consisting of operation management and integration function, operation management function, and information service in 2016, an expert from an insurance company gave a lecture highlighting the current situation and issues, by presenting several specific cases to show what kind of liabilities might occur if accidents were to happen with nursing-care robots. Planning the flight environment with multiple flying drones function, which it has begun using to support the safe operation of drones. With regard to collision avoidance technology, NEDO will develop technology to detect steel towers on the ground and other drones flying in the air, in order to instantly avoid collisions and continue flying. 08 Focus NEDO 2017 No.65 09

6 1 st Transforming Infrastructure Maintenance, Disaster Response, Manufacturing, and Services! Future Society with Robots and Drones Realizing a Society Where Human and Robots Coexist and Cooperate Hosting the World Robot Summit In 2020, the same year as the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, the World Robot Summit (WRS), a competition and exhibition of excellence in robotics from around the world, will be hosted in Japan. (There will be a presummit in 2018.) As one of the efforts for the robots social implementation, NEDO and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) have been working on the preparation. Convening robotics experts from around the world The World Robot Summit (WRS) is a competition and exhibition for excellence in robotics for attendees from around the world. NEDO aims to realize a world in which human and robots co-exist and cooperate, and to achieve this by accelerating the research and development in robotics as well as encouraging the social implementation of robots in everyday life, society and industry through the competitions and exhibitions. The robot competition will be called the World Robot Challenge (WRC), which asks competitors to design solutions for real world situations that robots can play active roles in, including a competition set in the stores for the first time in the world, and an emergency response scenario for activities taking place in tunnels after disasters (see p.11 for the competition categories). The robot exhibitions will be called the World Robot Expo (WRE), which has exhibitions of advanced robots and robotics technologies implemented inside the competition venue, along with regional exhibitions that offer examples of advanced robotics being implemented in the society. Providing opportunities to discuss and suggest future visions for humans and robots NEDO aims to provide opportunities to recognize how daily life, industry, and society can be changed by robots by bringing awareness, interest, and understanding of robots to people, as well as by promoting research and development among scientists and engineers via close coordination with these competitions and exhibitions. NEDO, co-hosting the WRS with METI, has assumed the role of secretariat. As one of the biggest events hosted by Japan, NEDO would like to have many people involved in addition to robotics experts from around the world, so we can provide the opportunity to discuss the future visions of how humans and robots could coexist and give suggestions on the direction of developments to the world, said one of the secretariat members, Daishu Hara, Director of NEDO s Robot and Artificial Intelligence Technology Department. Added Mari Inoue, Chief Officer of NEDO s Robot and Artificial Intelligence Technology Department, WRS has a Junior Category as well. For successful social implementation of robotics, it is essential to have innovative ideas from the younger generation and creative technology advancement. I m already excited about seeing new kinds of robots I ve never seen before. The first step for the successful WRS is to have a lot of competitors and participants get together. The WRS logo is designed with a motif of robots, and it has been received well, as it gives an approachable feeling, said Kosuke Kotsusa, Chief Officer of NEDO s Public Relations Department. We present a wide variety of information and videos to introduce WRS on our special website. I hope many people will be interested in this summit, both domestically and internationally. The message of the WRS is Robotics for Happiness. The overarching goal is humans co-existing with robots and experiencing unprecedented prosperity. At NEDO, we look forward to the new technologies that we can hang our dreams upon, and the amazing innovations that create a positive future for everyone. Schedule Name: World Robot Summit 2018 (pre-event) Venue: Tokyo Big Sight East Halls 7 & 8 Held alongside: Japan Robot Week 2018 Planned competitions include an Assembly Challenge in which entrants compete to quickly establish a robotics system for assembling models, including the technical factors necessary for industrial product assembly. They then try to assemble the model product quickly and precisely. It is expected to contribute to creating a production system capable of quickly and flexibly handling multiproduct variable quantity production World Robot Summit 2018 Tokyo October Industrial Robotics Category WRC Competitions: Competition Categories Service Robotics Category Planned competitions include a Partner Robot Challenge (a competition testing robots capabilities for supporting household tasks), in which entrants compete in clean-up (organizing and storage) and house-sitting capability categories, as well as a Future Convenience Store Challenge (a competition for the automation of various tasks at the store), in which entrants compete to show their robots capabilities of displaying and replacing multiple kinds of products, interacting with customers and coworkers, and cleaning up restrooms. The Future Convenience Store Challenge will be the first challenge in the world to be set in a storefront. World Robot Summit 2020 Aichi & Fukushima August & October (scheduled) Name: World Robot Summit 2020 (main event) Venues: Aichi International Exhibition Center Fukushima Robot Testing Field* Planned competitions include a Plant Disaster Prevention Challenge to test competitors capabilities for inspection and maintenance, including opening and closing valves; a Tunnel Disaster Response and Recovery Challenge to test abilities to collect information and respond to emergencies in tunnel disaster scenarios; and a Standard Disaster Robotics Challenge to test the standard performance necessary for disaster prevention and response, including mobility and sensing capabilities. The Tunnel Disaster Response and Recovery Challenge will be the first in the world to take place in a tunnel setting. * Some of the competitions under the Disaster Robotics Category will be held here (about 3 days in Mid-August 2020) Held alongside: RoboCup Asia-Pacific 2020 Japan Robot Week 2020 Disaster Robotics Category Junior Category The main goal is human resource development, as this category is for teams with members who are nineteen years old or under. Planned competitions include a School Robot Challenge to develop skills needed to program the platform robot ( Pepper ) to perform the tasks needed in a school environment, as well as a Home Robot Challenge to test entrants abilities to build a robot with the capabilities to handle tasks similar to those of the Partner Robot Challenge under the Service Robotics Category. Daishu Hara Director, Robot and Artificial Intelligence Technology Department NEDO We ll provide the opportunities for people to suggest future visions of how humans and robots can coexist to the world! Mari Inoue Chief Officer, Robot and Artificial Intelligence Technology Department NEDO I look forward to seeing the completely new robots created by the younger generation that is in charge of the future. I would like people to access the WRS special website and pay close attention to the wide variety of information and videos available there. Kosuke Kotsusa Chief Officer, Public Relations Department NEDO WRE Exhibition A wonderful opportunity to inform the world of the examples of utilizing robots Special Website Message: Robotics for Happiness This special website is filled with information about the WRS, including an overview of the summit, a competition rulebook, a message of the summit, and images and videos. It will be periodically updated until the pre-event in 2018 and main event in Through this website, you can learn about NEDO s expectations for a future in which humans and robots cooperate, as well as development trends for the latest robot technology in each category. 10 Focus NEDO 2017 No.65 11

7 2nd Beyond Solutions for Social Issues AI That Can Enrich Human Life DATA Productivity In recent times, the research and development of artificial i ntel l igence (A I ) has advanced rapid ly. I n Japan, A I research and development is a national effort; to this end, the government has established the Artificial Intelligence Technology Strategy Council. Along with NEDO s projects, this article will highlight how life and society will be enriched by AI technology as it continues to evolve. AI-assisted health management Driving assistance with obstacle recognition and other Technological Progress features Phase 1 AI utilized in all medical examinations and surgical procedures, and widespread home healthcare and medical care Utilizing travel time and space for work or hobbies with fully autonomous cars An Image of Industrialization Projected by the Fusion of AI and Other Related Technologies Organizing the development stages of AI by phase The Research and Development Goals and Industrialization Roadmap for AI sets the research and development goals for three fields: Productivity, Health, Medical Care, and Welfare, and Mobility. It also divides development stages into three phases. This shows that we are currently in Phase 1 and will make a transition to Phase 2 around 2020, then move to the Phase 3 sometime between 2025 and Advancing the peripheral industries, including automatic update services for mobile equipment, as utilization of cyber and physical spaces expands and travel itself becomes a high value-added commodity Phase 2 As personalized medical care advances, elderly people can enjoy a healthy life with equipment that substitutes for decreased biological functions. Health management will be realized for pre-symptomatic diseases, by recording biological information during daily life. Public use of AI and data across various domains will advance Phase 3 An ecosystem will be built by connecting multiple domains *Data-driven: A massive quantity of data, which is collected, organized, and shared, is used for problem-solving through data analysis and visualization. AI has recently gained more attention in mainstream society after beating top professionals in matches of chess, shogi and go. In 2016, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC); the Ministry Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT); and the Ministry of Economy, and Trade and Industry (METI) cooperatively established the Artificial Intelligence Technology Strategy Council so industry, academia, and government organizations can work together for the purposes of not only improving the capabilities of AI, but also discussing how to utilize AI in society. In this council, NEDO is serving as a secretariat for various task force teams at the Industrial Cooperation Meeting which in charge of AI research and development as well as industry collaboration. Based on the experiences during the development of the Vision for Prospective Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technologies and Applications the exit strategy for industrial AI formulated by METI and NEDO in April 2016 the Industrial Cooperation Meeting has been assisting with the development of the Research and Development Goals and Industrialization Roadmap for AI. To catch up with Europe and the US, which have more prominent position in AI research, Japan s strategy is to position AI as a key technology that can solve issues faced by society and enrich people s lives, and to promote the research and development necessary to fully utilize this technology. Promoting AI research and development that take advantage of Japan s strengths Mobility Utilization and application of datadriven* AI within each of various domains will accelerate Performing daily preventive healthcare using wearable sensors which all citizens wear, and becoming an industrialized nation with the world s top level of health and longevity through advanced regenerative medicine DATA Health, Medical Care and Welfare Social Challenge IoT and AI-assisted smart factories Increasing integration and efficiency of manufacturing, distribution, and services through IoT and AI At production sites, automated multi-functional robots do work to create value-added production. This will allow manufacturers to realize hyper-customization, which allows customers to request what they want, when they want, and have it produced right away. Establishing the ultimate ecosystem (a zero-waste society) by connecting various resources and services to IoT/AI Sharing a vision for the research, development, industrialization of AI NEDO s basic principle is to research and develop AI that will be necessary for the future society we have as a goal not based on existing particular technologies, explained Koji Kanayama, Director of NEDO s Robot and Artificial Intelligence Technology Department. In addition, we need to take advantage of Japan s strengths to lead the world in the field of AI. AI has a statistical aspect, and the technology needs data in order to complete the learning. Japan, a world leader in industrial robotics, has a significant amount of accumulated data in this domain and is expected to utilize AI in manufacturing before any other applications. However, just possessing data does not necessarily guarantee success. For example, if we wish to use AI for communication, multiple sources of data, such as facial expressions, movements, and human voice recognition, will be necessary to achieve success. Technological progress with AI is progressing exceptionally fast, so the roadmap will need to be periodically reviewed. Through its projects, NEDO plans to illustrate a future in which our working style will be changed and our lives and societies will be transformed through the use of AI, just as horse-drawn carriages have changed into cars. Urban and local transportation will be optimized by analyzing realtime sensing data installed in mobile devices and facilities. The dissemination of the automated driving will allow people to utilize traveling time for whatever purpose they choose. AI Portal NEDO has established an AI Portal where it has gathered and highlighted various information, including the research and development efforts for the next-generation AI collaboratively promoted by relevant agencies and organizations, as well as other related information. Koji Kanayama, Chief Researcher of NEDO s Robot and Artificial Intelligence Technology Department (far left on the picture, Deputy Director General of AI Social Implementation Promotion Division), and other division team members discussing the AI Roadmap. Focus NEDO 2017 No.65 13

8 2nd AI That Can Enrich Human Life DATA It Can Happen! AI for Realizing small-scale production of multiple items and accident prevention at production sites using AI AI for Manufacturing something Thanks to past basic research and advanced technology research and development, sophisticated AI technologies have been developed in rapid succession. While accelerating the rate of social implementation of this technology as the next step, NEDO has been promoting even more advanced technology innovations. NEDO aims to help realize a more prosperous society from advances in mobility, manufacturing, services, and health and medical care, the domains further subdivided from the Industrialization Roadmap for AI. Folding soft objects with stable and repetitive movements Robots that can mimic human movement through machine learning In the manufacturing industry, it is expected that small-scale production of multiple items will soon become more important than traditional mass production methods. To realize this shift, industrial robots will need to be able to deal with situations autonomously and flexibly, instead of performing a single movement repeatedly as in the previous method. NEDO has been working on AI research and development to realize a robot that can learn the relationship between visual information received from the on-board camera and the movement of humans, and mimic it so it can autonomously make its own movements. Through this technology, robots have been able to fold soft objects and pick up as-yet unlearned objects, which was difficult to teach them in the past. Now, we are approaching the level where we will be able to realize no teaching needed robots in the near future. Hisashi Sekine Director General, Robot and Artificial Intelligence Technology Department Project Manager, Development of Core Technology for Next-Generation AI and Robots NEDO A robot looks at how a person moves the box up and down, and mimics the movement. DATA NEDO has been working on its Development of Core Technology for Next-Generation AI and Robots project since FY2015. This project has two pillars: a next-generation artificial intelligence technology area, and an innovative robotics element technology area. By promoting the technology development of both AI technology, which is comparable to a human brain, and robotics technology, which can assist in moving objects, NEDO aims to create demand for the introduction of AI and robotics into new and unexplored fields that were never previously considered. Ja p a n i s a fol lowe r i n t he A I domai n, said H isa sh i Sek i ne of N E D O s Rob ot a nd A r t i f ic i a l Intelligence Technology Department, who is a P roject Ma nager of t h is project. If we rely only on traditional and conservative ways of thinking, we won t w i n a g a i n s t t he world. T he refore, it s ve r y i mpor t a nt to promote innovative, out-of-the-box ele me nt t e ch nolog y developme nt Shun Ishikura when integrating AI and robotics into Chief Officer, Robot and society. Artificial Intelligence As the first step towards realizing this goal, NEDO has worked to establish hubs where universities and businesses can synergistically utilize their knowledge and expertise in AI research. The importance of AI has been dramatically increased as the key technology to realize the robotics in the areas such as image recognition and natural language understanding, said Shun Ishikura, Chief Officer of NEDO s Robot and Artificial Intelligence Technology Department. Therefore, NEDO has established research and development hubs where we can combine the fragmented knowledge of different AI researchers, who have conducted research individually, and started to develop element technology to create innovative AI, instead of just relying on traditional and conservative ways of thinking. NEDO also modularizes these technologies to be suitable for each area. In other words, NEDO s philosophy is not technology first, but rather to use technology as an advanced and powerful tool to solve issues in society. AI utilization is meaningful when it realizes a society that enriches people s lives, not just to strengthen industrial technology, Mr. Sekine said as he reaffirmed the goals of the project. Under this project structure, NEDO aims to establish a platform to create a virtuous cycle of basic research and commercialization in AI, aiming to make real a future society that improves people s lives. Technology Department NEDO Aiming to improve quality in the service industry and create new services AI for Services AI for Services Us i ng A I t o a na l y z e ex p er ienc e s, k nowle d ge a nd information Unlike the product-oriented manufacturing industry, the service industry is a situation-oriented field. Therefore, in order to create higher quality services, it is necessary to collect and analyze situations, such as experiences, knowledge, and awareness of people in the service industry, and improve and restructure the operation based on this analysis. NEDO has been collecting data of people s experiences, knowledge, and awareness in the course of operations. By using the Life Phenomena Modeling AI analysis system, NEDO aims to streamline operations, improve the quality of services, and create new opportunities for the service industry. Even in the highly situation-dependent elder care industry, NEDO has been supporting the structuring of operation knowledge by improved compatibility with AI through standardized terms and actions on site. Body movement quality measurement Quality improvement Subjective view Awareness Feeling Streamline Risk reduction Emotion Action Body movement quality measurement Activity Quality improvement Site-driven knowledge expression Subjective view Subjective view Site-driven knowledge expression Improvement Life phenomena model Subjective view Awareness Feeling Streamline Risk reduction Emotion Action Probability model / Procedure knowledge Activity Sensor Improvement Situation data Life phenomena model Recognition results Action log Site action measurement Life phenomena ontology Probability model / Procedure knowledge Situation data Sensor Recognition results Site action measurement Action log Life phenomena ontology In addition to physical data, knowledge and awareness from work sites will be collected and analyzed to be used as a life phenomena model in order to improve services. DATA Contributing to extend healthy life expectancies for a super-aged society with AI Effective use of travel time by AI AI for Mobility Real-time analysis of surrounding conditions by AI Due to the dissemination of satellites, satellite images are available at low cost, which has added significant value to the data they provide and has led to the development of businesses that can provide this data. In a recent NEDO project, technology was developed to detect buildings in surrounding areas based on the large amount of image data sent via satellite. By using machine learning and deep learning technologies, this technology can be used to analyze and visualize this image data to detect facilities on the ground. By doing so, it is possible to not only identify certain facilities such as mega-solar plants but also detect changes happening on the ground. This technology could help to provide smooth travel to destinations. Detecting facilities on the ground by analyzing a large quantity of image data sent from satellites. AI for Health and Medical Care Curating life science papers with AI Basic research in the medical field places importance on gaining knowledge from previously published academic literature, including scientific papers. However, it is difficult to find the necessary knowledge within the huge amount of the science and technology literature provided from researchers around the world, and current database building and maintenance capacity are not sufficient to this task. To solve these problems, NEDO has been working on the research and development of a system to extract information about life system event, such as enzyme reactions and protein interactions, from the enormous literature base by using a superior text-mining system. This system, which enables the rapid construction of high-quality databases for enzyme reactions and signaling pathways in the cells, serves as a literature curator. Outline of research and development Text-mining system Event extraction Literature information: text data Text data annotation Enzyme reaction (life system event) Text-mining system Outline of research and development Development of the general-purpose event extraction system through deep learning Development of the event extraction system by using external knowledge as well as documents and information found between the lines Event extraction Text mining system for life system science literature curation support Literature information: text data Text data annotation Enzyme reaction (life system event) of the general-purpose event extraction system through deep learning Development Image of an expected exit Development of the event extraction system by using external knowledge as well as documents and information found between the lines Enormous enzyme-related English literature base Other DB including KEGG, PubChem, and UniProtKB KW information related to enzyme reactions: literature for learning literature curation support Text mining system for life system science Information Learning Text-mining system extraction Registration to the EzCatDB Hierarchical enzyme reaction classification Image of an expected exit KW information related to Other DB including Detailed literature through Enormousanalysis enzyme-related enzyme reactions: literature KEGG, PubChem, event extractions English literature base for learning Information Reaction classification Active site,and UniProtKB Classification categories for enzyme reactions extraction reaction intermediate, etc.learning Registration to the EzCatDB Text-mining system Hierarchical enzyme reaction classification Life system database expansion through event extractions from enormous literature base Detailed literature analysis through event extractions Active site, Classification categories for enzyme reactions reaction intermediate, etc. Reaction classification Extracting an event from the enormous body of literature information (text data), conducting literature analysis in detail, and then expanding the useful life system database. Life system database expansion through event extractions from enormous literature base 14 Focus NEDO 2017 No.65 15

9 Easy to understand! News Release C ommentary A special feature that aims to make news releases full of jargon, technical terms and difficult technologies easier to understand by focusing in on the important points. This conveys NEDO s state-of-the-art technological achievements and activities with an easy-tounderstand explanation. Glossary KTN (potassium tantalate niobate) Electro-optic crystal with the chemical formula of KTa1-xNbxO3. It characteristically shows transparency and large electro-optic effect in a wide range of wavelengths. Electro-optic effect The phenomenon in which the refractive index is changed with depending the applied voltage. There are two major electro-optic effects: the Pockels effect, in which the refractive index is proportional to the voltage, and the Kerr effect, in which the refractive index is proportional to the square of the voltage. KTN shows the Kerr effect. Rigid endoscope One of the devices used for endoscopic surgeries and diagnoses, called a videoscope. A CCD camera and light guide are incorporated at the tip of a metal tube that measures 10 mm in diameter, and the physician studies the affected area with CCD, using the light guide to illuminate the area. During surgery, this metal tube is inserted into the affected area through a tiny hole in the body, and the surgeon does the operation while studying the image of the area. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Technology which visualizes structures along to the depth direction with a high-resolution and a high-speed by exploiting the optical coherence. This non-invasive tomographic technology has no risk of radiation exposure because it uses a laser beam to capture images. Recently, it has been widely adopted for use in clinical practice, especially in ophthalmology and cardiovascular internal medicine. News Release News Release 14th of April 2017 NEDO Project Succeeds at World's First 3D Imaging of Living Tissue with a Rigid Endoscope Achievement realized with an optical scanner using a KTN crystal We have picked up a news release dated the April 14, 2017, about the Clean Device Social Implementation Promotion Project from NEDO s Internet of Things Promotion Department. NEDO Project Succeeds at World's First 3D Imaging of Living Tissue with a Rigid Endoscope Achievement realized with an optical scanner using a KTN crystal A potassium tantalate niobate (KTN) crystal is a material that possesses a special electrooptic effect, in which the refractive index changes according to voltage levels. KTN has shown the maximum capability of this effect among existing materials. Because of this effect, optical deflection (scanning) can be realized with just one-hundredth of the voltage required by conventional material. By using this material in an optical scanner (a device that deflects laser beams), this device can operate with at significantly higher speed, smaller size, and lower power consumption level compared to conventional scanners. NEDO, in cooperation with NTT Advanced Technology Corporation and Osaka University, under the Clean Device Social Implementation Promotion Project, incorporated an optical scanner using a KTN crystal (KTN optical scanner) inside a rigid endoscope. To achieve the size required for the rigid endoscope, which is palm-sized, it was essential to have superior electro-optic characteristics such as those in the KTN crystal. Therefore, this application was made possible only by using KTN crystals. By using this rigid endoscope in combination with the Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), NEDO has succeeded in achieving the world's first 3D imaging of living tissue. By using this method, it has enabled doctors to give real-time and minimally invasive diagnoses and treatments, just by making a tiny hole on the surface of the body to observe images of living tissues. The number of endoscopic surgeries operated in Japan has already surpassed 170,000 cases. The 3D imaging rigid endoscope developed in this project can be deployed for both conventional endoscopic surgeries and robotic surgeries, and it is expected to be used in a wide range of applications in the medical field. NTT Advanced Technology Corporation is aiming to deploy the endoscopes broadly across medical fields that utilize endoscopic surgery techniques, including orthopedics, and to start providing them to medical device makers as diagnosis and treatment devices. April 14, 2017 News Release Featured Technology Low power consumption and high efficiency clean device KTN Optical Scanner Clean device contributes to an energy-conserving society by lowering the power consumption of electronic devices, at a time when power consumption is expected to increase significantly as the dissemination of IT devices grows. Here are the key points! Succeeded in achieving the world's first 3D imaging of living tissue with a rigid endoscope! Realized a rigid endoscope that can deliver high quality imaging in a small size, at a high speed, and with low power consumption, by incorporating a scanner that uses a KTN crystal. Commentary A transmission-type scanner rather than a reflection-type scanner can realize the operation at a small size and with low power consumption The rigid endoscope developed by NEDO consists of two KTN optical scanners. While conventional optical scanners are reflection-type, which reflect laser beams onto a mirror, the KTN optical scanner is transmission-type, and doesn t need a complex structure to reflex laser beams. This has enabled the scanner to decrease the amount of light lost by linearly arranging a small number of optical parts along the optical axis of the laser beam. This simple optical system has allowed for a small and lightweight Rigid endoscope incorporating a KTN optical scanner Outlook for the Future rigid endoscope, which is 16mm square, 183mm long, and 60g in weight. It is also able to be used for extended periods of time. In addition, by using the KTN scanner in combination with Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) a tomographic technology enabling in-depth, high-definition observation of the body tissues in the affected area it has enabled the detection of very faint reflections from the affected area without losing any light, to provide high quality imaging. Promoting further energy conservation through innovative technology development NTT Advanced Technology Corporation succeeded in developing this technology through NEDO s project, and it is planning to verify the practicality of the technology as a medical device through the animal tests and clinical trials. Additionally, to further deploy the scanner throughout the medical field, they will Successfully obtained 3D image of tissue from the surface of human finger Enables real-time observations of in vivo images and minimally invasive diagnoses and treatments by making a tiny hole on the surface of the body. Enables the stable and precise operation for an extended period of time with no vibration, because the structure has no mechanically movable parts. KTN light deflection element Signal voltage changes the direction of light KTN crystal Image of the movement of a KTN optical scanner Structure of the rigid endoscope Controlled voltage OCT probe (φ 18mm x 120mL) Needle-shaped lens KTN scanner promote its deployment as treatment equipment that effectively utilizes a laser beam, in addition to its use as a diagnostic device. NEDO aims to further advance energy conservation society through the development of clean devices such as this. 16 Focus NEDO 2017 No.65 17

10 NEDO PROJECT SUCCESS STORIES Vol 5. What is the Strategic Development of Energy Conservation Technology Project? Japan has been making national efforts toward energy conservation since the oil crisis. In addition, since the early 1990s, global warming has been discussed as a global issue. To achieve the goal stated in its New National Energy Strategy (released in May 2006), NEDO openly solicited ideas for energy conservation technology research and development, and strategically conducted research and development projects including basic research, development of practical applications, and demonstration studies. CFC Fluorocarbon refrigerant HCFC Total abolition Prohibited new usage in 1996 in 2010 R-11 R-12 Total abolition in 2020 R-22 R-123 Montreal Protocol (Ozone depletion + Global warming issue) (Alternative refrigerant) HFC R-134e R-404A R-407C R-410A Kyoto Protocol (Global warming issue) Project Follow Up! Playback History Strategic Development of Energy Conservation Technology Project Air cycle refrigeration system: using air as the refrigerant for minus 60 C ultralow temperature storage International framework for fluorocarbon refrigerants Industrial refrigeration equipment producer Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd. took on the challenge of developing an innovative system that uses air as a refrigerant instead of conventional fluorocarbons, This air-cycle system is for use in ultralow temperature storage systems for tuna and other fish. Through this project, in collaboration with the cold storage industry as users, Mayekawa established a new technology that uses air as a safe and innovative refrigerant, and which has high energy conservation capabilities that could reduce annual electricity consumption by up to 50%. This new air-cycle refrigeration system is called Pascal Air. An air refrigeration system friendly to both tuna and the environment, providing a solution to the fluorocarbon refrigerant issue Ultralow temperature refrigeration technology, reaching temperatures as low as minus 60 C, is essential for the safe storage of fish, including tuna and bonito. However, the majority of large ultralow temperature storage solutions were built in the 1960s. At that time, chlorofluorocarbons (HCFC22: hydrochlorofluorocarbon 22) were commonly used as the refrigerant, but they are now designated a controlled substance under the Montreal Protocol because they deplete the ozone layer. HCFC22 has been prohibited for use in new facilities since Although manufacturers are still allowed to produce HCFC22 to replenish existing refrigeration units, the Montreal Protocol requires total abolishment of production of HCFC22 by Mayekawa was searching for a solution to this problem. They came up with the idea of using air as a refrigerant. The results of NEDO projects are utilized in manufacturing processes used by companies and final products available for consumers. In this series, we look at untold stories of how technology development projects scaled the high, difficult wall to successful commercialization and what came after, summarizing past articles in NEDO Project Success Stories. From FY2003 to FY2005, they conducted practical application development through a NEDO project, Development of Dehumidification-type High Performance Air-based Refrigeration System that Uses Polymer Adsorbent. They took on the challenge of developing an innovative system using air as the refrigerant instead of conventional chlorofluorocarbons. An all-in-one compressor/expander: the heart of Pascal Air The Pascal Air refrigeration system utilizes a simple phenomenon: gas produces heat when it is compressed and releases heat when it is expanded. In the Pascal Air system, air from the storage room is sent to the compressor. Compressed air from the compressor goes to the primary heat exchanger where it is cooled. Air is further cooled through the heat exchanger with cold air from the storage room before it goes to the expander where it is expanded to low temperatures. By repeating these steps, the temperature inside the system can be lowered. In the conventional systems, air coolers cool air use refrigerants (such as HCFC22). The Pascal Air refrigeration system has no air coolers because the air in the storage room circulates inside Pascal Air as the refrigerant, cooling the room. This enables efficient refrigeration because it significantly reduces the energy required to cool the room, in addition to eliminating energy loss during heat exchange. Development of the all-in-one turbo compressor and expander, which integrated the compressor and expander into one unit, is what has enabled this simple and highly energyefficient freezing cycle. As air is expanded in the turbine, the Pascal Air introduced by Fukazawa Cold Storage Inc. Figure 1 The all-in-one turbo compressor and expander: the heart of Pascal Air Figure 2 Three technologies essential to the practical application of Pascal Air rotating torque of the impellers assist rotation of the motor of the compressor, thus reducing the required power. The most distinguishing feature is that the compressor and expander are connected via a shaft, which includes the motor. Due to this innovative mechanism, it is possible to reduce the power needed for the motor to just 60 kw, about two-thirds of the amount needed for the motor on its own (90 kw). The effects of temperature difference in all-in-one compressor and turbo expander were one of the major points considered in the structural design and material fabrication of the Pascal Air. While the temperature of the compressor and motor can get as high as 90 C or above, the temperature of the expander side is as low as minus 80 C, and the difference could therefore be more than 200 C between the two sides. What s more, by adopting a magnetic bearing, which keeps the rotating shaft floating, the system avoids wearing out any parts, resulting in a maintenance-free system. To remove moisture that develops during storage, Mayekawa developed a system in collaboration with Okayama University to dehumidify the storage room using polymer materials to absorb moisture in the circulating air. However, they recognized costs would be too high if polymers were used, so in the second half of the project, they looked at the system from a different angle. They came up with the frost trap, a mechanism which freezes moisture and traps it before it reaches a point where ice can cause problems in the system. Reaffirming the system s various merits in addition to its environmental performance Cold storage companies, the users of the system, also supported practical application development. Field tests were conducted at an old warehouse belonging to Fukazawa Cold Storage, Inc., in Yaizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, an area well-known as the main landing site for tuna. Improving efficiency by using power created in the expander as the power source for the compressor Coolant Primary heat exchanger Compressor Turbo compressor/expander Motor Expander Frost trap that removes frost from the inside of the storage room Cold heat recovery heat exchanger Air Cycle Refrigeration System Pascal Air Capability to automatically and periodically defrost and dehumidify in order to remove moisture and frost in low-temperature areas in the system (patented) -80 Storage room temperature -60 Ultralow temperature storage room As Fukazawa used the system in practice, they found out that it exceeded their expectations. They found a large number of benefits in using it to operate the warehouse: in addition to maintaining the quality of tuna stored there, the system eliminated the need to purchase the chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant, refrigerant oil, and antifreeze necessary to replenish in the conventional system. The system also reduced electricity bills by 45%, because the new system can efficiently cool the storage space with a small amount of air flow while maintaining an even temperature. With the conventional system, it was necessary to spend time and money to remove the thick frost that covered the air cooler, but with this system, almost no cost is expended on defrosting. In addition, it is not necessary to install an air cooler, which increases the amount of space available in the storage room, which in turn enables the storage of a greater amount of tuna. Operational benefits and energy conservation Expanding applications Using air to cool cold storage rooms alone has a significant impact and improves performance from an environmental perspective.however, this system provides solutions for many other issues caused by conventional ultralow temperature refrigeration. The cooling load is reduced to two-thirds of the conventional system because of elimination of air coolers and defrosting, and the energy consumption of the whole system is reduced by up to 50%. CO 2 emissions are reduced by 40%. The High Pressure Gas Safety Act is not applicable to this system because the system is operated at pressures near atmospheric pressure (under 0.2 MPa), which removes major burdens on facility operators, including submitting various papers at the time of the facility s construction and placing a security supervisor on duty at all times. In December 2008, about five and a half years after research and development began, Pascal Air (refrigeration capacity of 30 kw) went on the market for the first time. As of 2017, eighty-one systems have been delivered to the ultralow temperature storage facilities around the country, supporting the steady supply of tuna to consumers through the tuna cold storage market. Even though the Pascal Air system was initially used in the tuna cold storage market, twelve of the Pascal Air system have been delivered to facilities serving the frozen food, pharmaceutical, and chemical fields. This significantly broadens the system s applications, and new markets are expected to further develop, including hightemperature superconductor cooling, semiconductor cooling, medical material storage (serums, specimens, DNA, etc.), and freeze-fracturing. In NEDO Project Success Stories,we interview the developers including corporations involved in the project and post success stories on the website Focus NEDO 2017 No.65 19