MUZA Kawasaki Central Tower, 1310 Omiya-cho, Saiwai-ku Kawasaki City, Kanagawa 212-8554 Japan Tel: +81-44-520-5100 Fax: +81-44-520-5103 URL: https://www.nedo.go.jp/english/index.html February 2020（1st Edition） ● Head Office MUZA Kawasaki Central Tower, 16F-20F 1310 Omiya-cho, Saiwai-ku Kawasaki City, Kanagawa 212-8554 Japan Tel: +81-44-520-5100 Fax: +81-44-520-5103 ● Kansai Branch Office 9th Floor, Knowledge Capital Tower C Grand Front Osaka, 3-1 Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0011 Japan Tel: +81-6-4965-2130 Fax: +81-6-4965-2131 ● Washington, D.C 1717 H Street, NW, Suite 815 Washington, D.C. 20006, U.S.A. Tel: +1-202-822-9298 Fax: +1-202-733-3533 ● Silicon Valley 3945 Freedom Circle, Suite 790 Santa Clara, CA 95054 U.S.A. Tel: +1-408-567-8033 Fax: +1-408-567-9831 Domestic Offices Overseas Offices ● Europe 10, rue de la Paix 75002 Paris, France Tel: +33-1-4450-1828 Fax: +33-1-4450-1829 ● New Delhi 15th Floor, Hindustan Times House, 18-20 Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110 001, India Tel: +91-11-4351-0101 Fax: +91-11-4351-0102 ● Beijing 2001 Chang Fu Gong Office Building Jia-26, Jian Guo Men Wai Street Beijing 100022, P.R. China Tel: +86-10-6526-3510 Fax: +86-10-6526-3513 ● Bangkok 8th Floor, Sindhorn Building Tower 2 130-132 Wittayu Road, Lumphini Pathumwan Bangkok 10330, Thailand Tel: +66-2-256-6725 Fax: +66-2-256-6727 74 2019 Reporting on Today and Tomorrow's Energy, Environmental and Industrial Technologies [1 st Featured Article] [2 nd Featured Article] For More Sophisticated Management NEDO Project Evaluations Data Society Creating the Possibilities of New Industries
Transcript
MUZA Kawasaki Central Tower, 1310 Omiya-cho, Saiwai-kuKawasaki City, Kanagawa 212-8554 JapanTel: +81-44-520-5100 Fax: +81-44-520-5103URL: https://www.nedo.go.jp/english/index.html February 2020（1st Edition）
● Head OfficeMUZA Kawasaki Central Tower, 16F-20F1310 Omiya-cho, Saiwai-kuKawasaki City, Kanagawa 212-8554 JapanTel: +81-44-520-5100Fax: +81-44-520-5103
● Kansai Branch Office9th Floor, Knowledge Capital Tower C Grand Front Osaka, 3-1 Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0011 JapanTel: +81-6-4965-2130Fax: +81-6-4965-2131
● Washington, D.C1717 H Street, NW, Suite 815Washington, D.C. 20006, U.S.A.Tel: +1-202-822-9298Fax: +1-202-733-3533
● Silicon Valley3945 Freedom Circle, Suite 790 Santa Clara, CA 95054 U.S.A.Tel: +1-408-567-8033Fax: +1-408-567-9831
Domestic Offices
Overseas Offices
● Europe10, rue de la Paix 75002Paris, FranceTel: +33-1-4450-1828Fax: +33-1-4450-1829
● New Delhi15th Floor, Hindustan Times House,18-20 Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110 001, IndiaTel: +91-11-4351-0101Fax: +91-11-4351-0102
● Beijing2001 Chang Fu Gong Office Building Jia-26, Jian Guo Men Wai Street Beijing 100022, P.R. ChinaTel: +86-10-6526-3510Fax: +86-10-6526-3513
Reporting on Today and Tomorrow's Energy, Environmental and Industrial Technologies
[1st Featured Article]
[2nd Featured Article]For More Sophisticated Management
NEDO Project Evaluations
Data SocietyCreating the Possibilities of New Industries
In the competition at the World Robot Summit (WRS) (World Robot Challenge (WRC)), partici-pants compete in four categories: manufac-turing, service, infra-structure and disaster control, and junior. The slogan of the manufac-turing category for which I will chair the competition committee is Toward fast one-off manufacturing.
Robots that produce the same product in large quantity already play active roles in many differ-ent industries. This competition aims to create as many of a variety of products as needed even if the quantity is small (commonly known as high-mix low-volume production) using robots. Participants are expected to change the configu-ration of the robot system on a case-by-case basis according to the target product. The ultimate goal is a robot that can create a one-off product.
Teams from around the world compete with the aim of creating a society with next-generation robot systems that anyone can
build easily, quickly, and efficiently. Please come to the competition venue to see the future of man-ufacturing.
You are familiar with both Japan and the United States. What do you think is important to making innovations?
A large difference in environment between American entrepreneurs and Japanese businesspersons is whether failure is tolerated. You can only find success through repeated failures. I think Japan would change dramatically if those who provide funds would begin to praise people for trying rather than attacking them for failing.
Needless to say, basic science and kaizen, which Japan takes pride in, are also important. But, people need to welcome brainstorming on how they should be applied. It is critical to think about what kinds of things would make your life happier and things you want. The possibilities are limitless. You should also keep an eye on where people are making progress around the world, quickly join them, and release information on what you accom-plished. I hope that this cycle picks up speed.
What is the trick to becoming free of stereotypes and biases? What mindset do you need to further evolve robots and AI?
The key is to live your life asking questions. Always think that you are at a crossroads. You can change your course at any time. Because Japanese are too patient, nobody comes up with a solution to overcrowded trains. If you feel inconvenienced or that something is cumbersome, think of it as an opportunity. Those are needs. You are free of bias when you realize that you do not have to remain the same. Currently imaginable robots and AI are just tools used by human beings. I think a major turning point will be when robots and AI start voluntarily moving without human instructions or do something other than the goals set by humans. It might also be a good idea to intention-ally ignore benefits for users on the frontlines of development as these could be binding.
Please send a message to those who will attempt to develop a robot at the WRS competition.
I am sure that everyone has something that made you get into robots like a favorite anime or the memory of the first precision instrument you disassembled. Even if you hit a wall, keep going back to square one. It is OK to fail. Keep believing that you can do something great someday. Robots that now move slowly at the competition will eventually be able to work as much as or more than human beings in the future. I hope that participants do their best while holding on to the belief that our living and future depend on their efforts.
Q
Q
Q
WRS Message
742019
Road to
Taking on the WorldAsking a person who has made their own way without fearing failure what it means to create a new future and the meaning of stepping up to a challenge.
The world is not on rails. You can go wherever you want.The possibilities are limitless.
Comedian
Mr. Patrick Harlan
Interview
Also known as Pakkun. Born in 1970 in Colorado, United States. After graduating from Harvard University with a degree in the Comparative Study of Religion in 1993, Harlan came to Japan. In 1997, he formed the comic duo Pakkun Makkun with Makoto Yoshida. After becoming famous on TV shows such as Eigo de Shabera Night and Bakusho Onair Battle, he had great success in media not only as a comedian but also as an anchor and panelist. In 2012, he was recommended by Akira Ikegami as a part-time assistant professor at the Center for Liberal Arts at the Tokyo Institute of Technology and has lectured about communication and international relations. He is also an author of many books including Remove Japanese Bias!, 15 Urgent Proposals to Become the Happiest Country in the World (Shogakukan), and Speak to Achieve (Kadokawa). He has also appeared on many TV programs such as NHK Doki Doki! World TV and NHK BS Sports Innovation.
02 Road to WRS2020Taking on the WorldComedianMr. Patrick Harlan
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1st Featured Article 12For More Sophisticated ManagementNEDO Project Evaluations
Reports from the Field16
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Creating the Possibilities of New IndustriesData Society
2nd Featured Article
The Importance of Project Evaluation
Startup Support and Beyond The Future for NEDO StartupsAutonomous Control Systems Laboratory Ltd.Ascent Robotics Inc.
NEDO InformationUseful Information from NEDO
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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.
Putting Project Evaluation to UseC o n t e n t s
Case Examples in the Project for Establishing the Infrastructure for Creating New Industry Models Using the IoT• Supply Chain (International Trade)• Smart Life• Industrial Security• Infrastructure (Water Utilities)• Supply Chain (Consumption and Distribution)• Aviation
Demonstration Drive of EV Equipped with the World’s Most Efficient Solar Batteries on Public Streets Started
Reader Questionnaire
We welcome your feedback and opinions on the content and tech-nologies introduced in this magazine. Your feedback will be used for reference purposes in our future public relations activities and magazine publications. We look forward to hearing from you!
A Few Words from the Editor
As the digitization of society gains speed, there is a move to find the possibilities of new industries by safely and effectively using all kinds of data. In this context, Featured Article 1 presents new examples of good uses of data found in NEDO data use demonstration projects. Featured Article 2 explains the NEDO project assessment system used in many different stages from project startup through practical application. This volume begins with an interview we conducted with Mr. Patrick Harlan, a.k.a. Pakkun, who gave us his valuable opinion about the possibilities of innovation and human beings and other topics from a global point of view. I hope that you also enjoy reading about the introduction of electric vehicles equipped with a photovoltaic system, articles about hot start-ups, and other content.
Please let ushear your views!
Professor YOKOKOHJI Yasuyoshi Chairperson, Manufacturing Competition CommitteeDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University
https://worldrobotsummit.org/en/
An international robotics event hosted by METI and NEDO where robotics spe-cialists from all over the world come together to accelerate the research and development and social implementation of robots.
Fukushima Robot Test Field(WRC: Infrastructure maintenance and disaster response competition)August 19 - 21, 2020 (Wed. - Fri.)
To take the data society to the next step in its evolution, NEDO started the Project for encouraging data sharing in the collaborative area and development of AI system to promote connected industries in FY2019, which also brought a global rollout into view. Although NEDO has focused on data linkage, it also attempts to create value generated from a virtuous cycle of data sharing and use by enhancing good use of data in addition to the linkage in this project.
The movement to generate new businesses and services through good use of data is gaining speed. For example, the necessity of working on Data Free Flow with Trust (free data distribution based on trust) and other topics were discussed at the Tsukuba Ibaraki G20 Ministerial Meeting on Trade and Digital Economy held at the same time as the G20 Osaka summit in June 2019. Given this background, the following pages present major achievements of the Project for establish-ing the infrastructure for creating new industry models using the IoT.
Innovations that generate new businesses and services are gaining speed all over the world as advanced sensor technolo-gy, robot technology, and analysis technology for big data evolve.
KUDO Yoshihiro, Chief Officer at NEDO's IoT Promotion Department, who managed the Project for establishing the infrastructure for creating new industry models using the IoT says: "This change is called the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Although Japan has a strong manufacturing industry including automobiles and machine tools, I was afraid that the interna-tional competitiveness of the Japanese manufacturing industry would lose value in the future as technologies such as AI, IoT, big data, and robotics dramatically change the structure of society and industry."
It is critical to establish an environment to share and use real data accumulated in each domain.
Cross-sectional data linkage across the borders of companies and domains
The Japan Revitalization Strategy 2016 approved by the cabinet in June 2016 also suggests that rapidly advancing technology innovation with the IoT, big data, and other technol-ogies is a chance to shift the existing paradigm and generate businesses to solve social challenges ahead of the world.
Kudo explains: "Japan has an enormous amount of real data accumulated in the field but has not actively used it. Because the distinction between the competitive secret area and the collaborative area was unclear in each company, companies were reluctant to share data, consequently slowing down collaboration among them. However, the key to enhance international competitiveness is to combine real data and virtual data, share them among companies and industries, and apply them to new businesses."
For this reason, NEDO conducted the Project for establish-ing the infrastructure for creating new industry models using the IoT from FY2017 to FY2018 to clarify the competitive area and the collaborative area and build a data sharing platform
across company borders. The project team selected six focus domains such as domains essential to solving social challenges in Japan and domains with the potential for data linkage in the future, verified specific effects of good use of data, and conducted a demonstration experiment to establish the environment to promote good use of data including regulatory reform and new rules.
For example, data can be used to enhance safety and flexibly perform maintenance and operation at the same time in the industrial security domain, which suffers from aged equipment and a decrease in skilled craftworkers. Or, if you can change the consumption and distribution domain, where information is dispersed across each company in the supply chain and is not centrally shared and visualized, not only you can solve challenges such as returned goods and food loss, but you can also expect to provide a new purchase experience or product use experience to consumers.
Mr. Kudo looks back on the achievements of this project: "It was not easy to connect companies that had not been connect-ed. We tried a lot of things such as the brute force approach of holding discussions until the parties began to understand and trust each other, introducing best practices in other domains, and rolling out rules established in advance. We worked with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to discuss regulations and systems and communicate with industries and other ministries. When the project started, concerns were raised about use of data in some domains. However, partici-pants eventually understood the advantages of implementation of the IoT in the whole industry. This resulted in progress in the discussions and a change in attitude toward the use of data in all the domains. This is a great achievement. I feel that the NEDO project served as a platform that connected companies that had not been connected."
Creating the Possibilities of New Industries
Example of good uses of data (international trade)
Giant telephone game
From a world where systems individually store data to a world where they are linked for data to be shared and put to good use
Present situation Vision for good use of data
Establishment of cross-industrial standard specifications
Negotiating (advising)
bank
Issuing bank
Authority for export
and importExporter (seller)
Importer (buyer)
Authority for export
and import
Insurance company
CustomsDelivery
company and clearance
agent
Delivery company and
clearance agent
Customs
Exporter (seller)
Negotiating (advising)
bank
Insurance company
Issuing bank
Importer (buyer)
Authority for export
and importCustoms
Delivery company and
clearance agent
Delivery company and
clearance agent
CustomsAuthority for export
and import
Data SocietyIn an ultra-smart society, you can get the goods and services you want when you want them. Good use of data, the key to the realization of this society, is expected to generate new ser-vices and industries and solve various social challenges. This article presents NEDO's efforts to realize an ultra-smart society across many different domains.
KUDO YoshihiroProject Manager of the NEDO Project for establishing the infrastructure for creating new industry models using the IoTChief Officer IoT Promotion Department
1st Featured Article
Focus NEDO 2019 No.7404 Focus NEDO 2019 No.74 05
Cargo owner Overland carrier Forwarder Terminal
operatorClearance
agentMaritime company Bank Insurance
company
Data linkage
Document digitalization, status management, and access control
NACCS OverseasExport and import and seaport information processing systems
Data linkage system for international trade proceduresManage the view and update history and ensure authenticity by using blockchain.
Condition checks around the clockAnalyze life data from IoT home appliances, sensors,
and other devices from multiple manufacturers.
Local general care support services (including municipal and private care services)
Air conditioner
Door open/close
sensorRespiration
sensorPressure
measurement apparatus
Activity monitor
Electricity (HEMS)
Home appliances Healthcare Electricity
Japan is a super-aging society and it is said that one of three Japanese will be elderly in 2025. Because of this, NEDO conducted a demonstration experiment to collect information on life rhythm, security, and power consumption and other data of the elderly who live at home through IoT home appliances and wear-able devices to use it for life support ser-vices for healthy independent home life. Mr. YAMAOKA Masaru from Panason-ic Corporation, who led this project, explains: "Actually, 70% of those who require nursing care are the elderly who live at home. The elderly population will hit a peak and start decreasing in 2040. Therefore, it is risky to construct new large facilities for the elderly. Home assistance will also be increasingly indispensable due to the elderly's desire to stay home and the expense of a nurs-ing home."
The project team used real apartment rooms as demonstration sites and installed a radio-frequency sensor, human and door open/close sensor, med-ication support device, vitals sensor, IoT devices from multiple manufacturers, healthcare devices, and other equipment in the rooms. They built a platform to monitor the sleep rhythm, respiratory condition, wake-up time, the number and times the person used the restroom,
oped an API that facilitates linkage with each company's existing system and an inexpensive interface that even companies that do not have their own system can use. As a result, the team improved the efficiency of the proce-dures, reduced the required time by about 44%, and confirmed that the cutoff day at container yard can be set to a later day.
FUJITA Hiroshi, Chief Officer at NEDO's IoT Promotion Department, says: "Although you must ensure authenticity, preventing tampering such as fictitious entry or alteration by managing the view and update history
as a basic premise, it is important to lower the implementation and opera-tion costs and get related parties to see the advantages of using this data linkage system to get them to use it."
OMIYA Toshitaka, Chief Officer at NEDO's IoT Promotion Department, talks about his expectations for the future: "In this project, we set a course for standardization of the data linkage system for international trade proce-dures and the guidelines for data sharing rules. This is a big step forward." NEDO is aiming for a more efficient global supply chain through good use of data both inside and outside Japan.
whether the person is taking their medi-cine, and so on, and then they aggregated and analyzed the collected data.
The team then grasped the actual living conditions and analyzed informa-tion on medication and their effects and whether an emergency call service is required from the collected data. They examined the effectiveness of more enhanced life assistance services by working with a local general support center at Toyota in Aichi Prefecture and providing information to care managers, pharmacists, and other model operators. Mr. Yamaoka says: "You cannot accu-rately keep track of information on patients by eye only. You can create appropriate care plans and reduce work-
loads by objectively understanding data collected with devices.
YAMAMOTO Takefumi, Chief Offi-cer at NEDO's IoT Promotion Depart-ment, explains: "The combination of multiple types of data creates a new value for data. I hope to create services for smart life in this way." NEDO will attempt to further improve the quality of care services for the elderly who live at home and increase the efficiency of care operations by working on the challenges revealed in this demonstration.
Because paper, telephone, fax, PDF files, and other conventional media are still persistently used for communica-tion among companies in international trade procedures, it is time-consuming and costly to check and enter informa-tion so mistakes such as missing or incorrect data still occur. In addition, a large economic loss due to cargo retention has been pointed out regard-ing the three-day rule for the cutoff day at container yards, according to which cargo must be brought to the container yard by three days before it is shipped.
Given this background, NEDO promoted the development of the international trade procedure data linkage system using blockchain technology so that companies involved in export procedures can safely manage and share one another's data. The project team conducted a demon-stration experiment to digitalize information on actual container exports and check and update the data in real time at Tokyo Port, Yokohama Port, Shimizu Port, and Hakata Port.
Mr. SUGIMOTO Taisuke from NTT Data Corporation, who led the project, explains: "A variety of companies including clearance agencies, delivery companies, and insurance agencies are involved in international trade opera-tions. So, we had to build a system that all related parties including those that did not have their own system can use."
That is why the project team devel-
Digitalization of international trade procedure data for good use among companies
Monitoring the lives of the elderly with IoT home appliances and sensors
Using analyzed life data for a more appropriate care plan
Even companies that do not have their own system can join at low cost.
Case Examples in the Project for Establishing the Infrastructure for Creating New Industry Models Using the IoT
Supply ChainInternational
Trade
Digitalization of International Trade Information and Later Cutoff Day at Container Yard
More Efficient International Trade Procedures with Blockchain Technology
Smart Life
Supporting the Elderly at Home by Connecting Information from IoT Home Appliances and Other Equipment
Creation of a Home Assistance Service Using Life Data
In front of the container yard at Tokyo Port where the data linkage system for international trade procedures was demonstrated.
SUGIMOTO TaisukeManager of Sales Group 1Public Division 2Public Sector 1NTT Data Corporation and other project members
NEDO conducted projects to share various kinds of data for use in many different industries. These articles present case examples to show what kind of data generates what kind of services that solve what challenges.
1st Featured Article Creating the Possibilities of New Industries Data Society
Focus NEDO 2019 No.7406 Focus NEDO 2019 No.74 07
3D plant model data platform for security sophisticationLinkage with plant security information as well as a 3D plant drawings
and other various kinds of information (external database) in plant
Anomaly monitoring and preventive safety (refinery)
Plant maintenance information 3D simulator
Computerized maintenance
management system
Standard water platformMonitoring, water system operation, ledger management, and other operations
Improvement of operation efficiency and maintenance, management, elimination, and consolidation of assets (each water facility and office)
Water office Water facilities
Device Sensor System Fee collection
Account processing
Inspection management
system
Electronic document
management system
Plant information management
systemPiping
corrosion Vibration
ing is also expected to reduce costs as related parties split the bill."
The common rules stipulated in this project were released under the titles System Standard Specifications and Draft Guidebook for Implementing the Water Information Usage System for water-supply utilities that implement the system. OTANI Satoshi, Director at NEDO's IoT Promotion Department, says: "The fact that we were able to es-tablish standard specifications alone is a big achievement. We are also consid-ering rolling them out to other social in-frastructure domains."
Mr. NAGAO Katsuhiro from Kaga-wa Water Supply Authority, who coop-erated in the demonstration experiment,
Water utilities are becoming difficult to operate especially for small entities due to aged equipment, retirement of seasoned staff, and other reasons. Al-though service areas need to be expand-ed to cope with this problem, in order to optimize equipment management and improve operation efficiency while maintaining a high level of service, im-plementation of CPS and IoT technolo-gies to share management and operation data is expected to fundamentally re-solve the problem.
However, the information system of each entity was bound by vendor-spe-cific specifications, making data link-age difficult. Therefore, NEDO investi-gated the current situation of water util-ities and conducted a demonstration ex-periment to create a common platform.
Mr. ISHIKAWA Yuji from NTT Data Corporation, who handled this project, explains: "We created a working group with each vendor and came to a consen-sus about the rules for free data distri-bution." Mr. NODA Naoki also from NTT Data Corporation says: "You can separate the hardware and software of devices and eliminate vendor lock-in by using the same software. System shar-
tion, they demonstrated the technology to cover the degree of corrosion across the plant by calculating the corrosion rate of equipment and piping with a simulator and displaying their distri-bution on the 3D plant.
Mr. HONDA Yukihiro from TOA Oil Co., Ltd. explained the achieve-ments: "One advantage is that we can visually see information that could not have been known in the past with the 3D plant. The 3D plant also signifi-cantly saves effort and time it would take to visit the site.”
Mr. Kugou looks back on the proj-ect: "The future challenge is to improve not only the software perfor-mance but also the user friendliness of the interface."
HATTORI Shinichi, General Man-ager at NEDO's IoT Promotion Depart-ment, emphasizes: "We would like to further advance managing and enhancing security using the IoT tech-nology based on the achievements of this project and advertise the results as an advanced country in this field.” NEDO will use AI and big data to build an anomaly detection & predic-tion system and failure prediction system for much higher precision in the future.
Many facilities in refineries in Japan were constructed just after the Second World War and are now quite old. Mr. KUGOU Nobutoshi from Chiyoda Corporation, who led the project, explains: "We need measures against the risk of fire or other incidents caused by leakage from particularly complex piping and now that skilled engineers are reaching retirement age, it is urgently needed to pass on securi-ty knowledge and expertise."
In this NEDO project, the team developed and evaluated a security system that uses data based on a 3D plant model that aggregates various management data accumulated in the plant and expertise of skilled engi-neers.
Specifically, the team created a 3D plant model of an aged atmospheric distillation unit in Keihin Refinery of TOA Oil Co., Ltd. as the demonstra-tion site, and built a data platform linking various kinds of management data and location information. In addi-
expressed his expectations for the fu-ture: "I was convinced that having a common system platform for water util-ities would lead to the building of a sus-tainable water system with minimal costs with hardware deterioration sign diagnosis, true lifespan extension, and other improvements by hashing every-thing out. If you can standardize and share data on insights from water utili-ties across Japan, it will be a world-class database that forms the brain of an AI for perfect monitoring and control of water facilities."
Fires caused by aged facilities and shortage of engineers are common issues in the plant.
Visualizing the degree of corrosion for more efficient inspection work
Maximizing the advantages of broader area coverage by creating a common platform
Rollout to other social infrastructures is also expected.
Case Examples in the Project for Establishing the Infrastructure for Creating New Industry Models Using the IoT
Industrial Security
Central Management of Security Information Using a 3D Plant Model
Sophistication of Security and Management for an Aged Refinery
InfrastructureWater
Utilities
Visualization of Solutions to Challenges Facing Social Infrastructure
Maintenance of a High Level of Service by Establishing a Shared System for Water Utilities
Inspection point
Simulation result
Display of piping thickness inspection points and colored display of corrosion rate (data linkage between the 3D plant model and the inspec-tion management system)
In front of the atmospheric distillation unit used to demonstrate inspection work using the 3D plant model.
NODA NaokiSection Chief in Charge of Planning and SalesPlanning and Sales Control DepartmentUtility DivisionTelecom and Utilities Operation HeadquartersNTT Data Corporation
NAGAO KatsuhiroSection ChiefWater Clarification SectionKagawa Water Supply Authority
ISHIKAWA Yuji Chief of the First Development SectionSecond Control DepartmentUtility DivisionTelecom and Utilities Operation HeadquartersNTT Data Corporation
Reduction in equipment cost and costs for sharing the system over a wide area are a big challenge.
The water utility data of Japan, which extends a great dis-tance from north to south and has four seasons, is a reser-voir of diverse expertise.
1st Featured Article Creating the Possibilities of New Industries Data Society
Focus NEDO 2019 No.7408 Focus NEDO 2019 No.74 09
Smarter information platformProducts with RFID are distributed and supply chain
information is automatically acquired.
Manufacturer Wholesaler Retailer Consumer
Manufacturing information
Delivery information
Inventory information
Sales information
State of loss
Expiration date information
Consumption information
Next-generation airplane flight support system using AISupport for decision making by the pilot and other crew members
and linkage with the external system for safe flight
Pilot
Air traffic control dataAir traffic control
Weather dataJMA and other organizations
Flight dataAirline
(ground flight support)Other flight support
systems
gether. Mr. YAMAGUCHI Hiroyuki and Mr. SHIMIZU Kenji from Toshiba Tec Corporation, who were in charge of the system, felt they had hit onto something: "We attached RFID to about 24,000 prod-ucts and verified the stocktaking speed at a store. The required time was only about one-fifth of what it normally is. The person in charge of the store was also surprised to see that stocktaking became so much faster even though the amount of data is so large."
Ms. FUCHIGAMI Nagisa from Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. pointed out the difficulty of using RFID on food and other products: "We need to figure out what to do about water, metal, and other substanc-es in packages and the product display en-vironment to which RFID are subjected." On the other hand, she has a vision for their use: "If we can link best-before informa-tion with RFID and create a system to pro-mote purchase as the best-before date ap-proaches or can manage data in refrigera-tors at home, we can reduce food loss by consumers."
In this project, the team also considered
visualizing Customer Journey including the shop visit, purchase, and product use at home and using the visualized data for new product development and marketing. KUDO Yoshihiro, Chief Officer at NEDO's IoT Promotion Department, has high hopes: "Not only did we improve work efficiency, but were able to show re-lated parties such as manufacturers, retail-ers, and consumers how good use of data benefits them. This is a big achievement. I hope that good use of data leads to the gen-eration of new services."
While sophisticated logistics support consumption and distribution field sites in Japan, the industry faces challenges such as shortage of labor due to aging popula-tion, food loss, and returned goods.
In this context, NEDO conducted a demonstration project on a supply chain information sharing system that uses RFID with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Mr. SUZUKI Shigeo from Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd., who led the demonstration, explains: "We at-tached RFID to products and shared data such as product movement information on the supply chain across industries in an in-formation sharing system that conforms to the international specifications of EPCIS*. We validated the new service’s effect as a solution to challenges such as food dispos-al by visualizing product movement from the manufacturing field all the way to after purchase."
In fact, this is the first demonstration in Japan where more than 60 companies across many industries including conve-nience stores, drugstores, logistics compa-nies, wholesalers, manufacturers, and system and device providers worked to-
To realize these data-use systems, NEDO worked with airline companies that have flight data, airplane manu-facturers, AI companies, relevant ministries, and other related parties and discussed what data should be linked and used for safer airplane flights along with the whole concept and effectiveness of the data platform across industries.
While good use of data for a safer next-generation airplane flight system is gaining momentum all around the world, NEDO moved into action before others by examining the system and business model and holding discus-sions for good use of data. We will take a new step based on this project.
As the demand for air transportation is increasing all over the world, the number of seasoned pilots could be insufficient in the future. If you were to create a system that analyzed airframe or turbulence data that the airplane acquires during flight and weather data with AI to forecast risks of sudden turbulence or lightning and present them to the pilot, the pilot could avoid turbulence or lightning in a more advanced way during flight.
In this NEDO project, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. developed a system that mainly forecasts sudden turbulence during flight and SUBARU CORPORATION developed a system that forecasts the risk of lightning.
Sharing data such as product movement information across industries
First demonstration at a real store in Japan raises expecta-tions for a new form of good use of data.
Verifying pilot support using data
First cross-industrial discussion toward good use of data
Water information system using CPS and IoT technologies
COLUMN
Case Examples in the Project for Establishing the Infrastructure for Creating New Industry Models Using the IoT
Supply ChainConsumption
and Distribution
Solving Challenges by Visualizing and Sharing Information
Information Sharing System Using RFID for Streamlining and Higher Added Value
Aviation
Considering Effectiveness of Cross-industrial Use of Data
Support for Decision Making by Pilots Using Data Acquired by the Airplane and Weather Data
SUZUKI ShigeoManager of First GroupBusiness Promotion DepartmentDigital Supply Chain Business Development Project TeamCommunication & Information CenterInformation Innovation OperationsDai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
FUCHIGAMI NagisaFirst GroupBusiness Promotion DepartmentDigital Supply Chain Business Development Project Team Communication & Information CenterInformation Innovation OperationsDai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
YAMAGUCHI HiroyukiDeputy SpecialistRFID Solutions GroupSpecialized Store Solutions DepartmentProducts, Marketing DivisionRetail Solutions Business GroupToshiba Tec Corporation
SHIMIZU KenjiDeputy SpecialistTechnology Strategy Planning Group Engineering Promotion Department Engineering & Design Division Retail Solutions Business Group Toshiba Tec Corporation
RFID used in the demonstration experiment. When the best-before date approaches, discount prices are displayed on Electronic Shelf Labels.
*EPCIS (Electronic Product Code Information Services): Specifications for storing and sharing data such as product movement information on a computer server to visualize the supply chain.
Release of Data Use Cases and GuidelinesUseful Information on Data Use That Helps You Create New Businesses and Services
The specifications, guidelines, manuals, and other helpful information related to the information system (platform) built in the NEDO Project for establishing the infrastructure for creating new industry models using the IoT are available to the public.
Open up the Possibilities! Think about a Better Relationship between Human Beings and Data with Familiar Themes
In the wake of the Tsukuba Ibaraki G20 Ministerial Meeting on Trade and Digital Economy held in Japan in June 2019, a future in which data distribution will be accelerated is illustrated in an easy-to-understand way under the following themes: workplace, local community, medicine, romantic relationships, and law.
■ Standard specifications of the water information system (including programs and source code)
■ Draft introduction guidelines for the water information system
https://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_101111.html
Guidelines for use of the IoT in the industrial security domain■ Guidelines for Contracts Related to Use of Data for
1st Featured Article Creating the Possibilities of New Industries Data Society
Focus NEDO 2019 No.7410 Focus NEDO 2019 No.74 11
In research and development proj-ects for future generations in 10 or 20 years, you must properly review devel-opment goals and other details in line with changes in the needs of the times and situation. Therefore, NEDO asks the evaluation committee consisting of external experts and intellectuals to assess each project in four phases from a variety of viewpoints. First, the com-mittee checks the plan in the project planning phase for the prior assess-ment. Next, it checks the degree of achievement of goals to improve and review the project at the middle stage of the project period in a mid-term evaluation. Then, it conducts an ex-post evaluation immediately after the project ends and conducts a fol-
low-up survey and evaluation for six years after the project ends.
Just conducting project evaluation is not enough. How the results are used is important. Therefore, NEDO's Evalua-tion Department, which plays a coordi-nating role in evaluation operations, improves the evaluation system so that the Project Promotion Department can properly operate projects with the PDCA (plan, do, check, act) cycle.
PDCA cycles are mainly broken down into a big cycle and a small cycle. You use a small PDCA cycle for future project planning, to improve and review management, apply findings to the evaluation system, and perform other activities in each project. In this
cycle, it is especially important to feed mid-term evaluation results back to the Project Promotion Department to apply them to the remaining period. The other large cycle intends to apply these evaluation results to government policies formulated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry or other agencies.
Although ex-ante, mid-term, and ex-post evaluations are essential to project implementation, follow-up survey and evaluation are also import-ant in terms of accountability for achievements of publicly funded proj-ects and application to future project management. These assessments play an important role in putting the achievements of NEDO projects to practical application in society.
NEDO evaluates the draft of the basic plan of a project to determine that the goals, purposes, subjects, period, and other aspects of the research and development are appropriate one year before the project starts. The results of this assessment are applied to the basic project plan by NEDO's Project Promotion Department and they are used to formulate government policies by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
NEDO conducts a mid-term evaluation for a five-year project in about the third year, which is the interim fiscal year. Whether the plan must be reviewed and so on are checked in light of domes-tic and international situations after the project starts. Not only simple achievement of numerical goals, but also whether the project result is feasible as a business in society are important.
When a project ends, NEDO assesses whether remarks and points to be improved pointed out in the mid-term evaluation were properly addressed, whether the final goal was achieved, whether practical application and commercialization of achievements are foreseeable, and other aspects. Ex-post evaluation results are also important because they are applied to planning and operation of subsequent projects.
In principle, NEDO conducts follow-up sur-veys on the second, fourth, and sixth years after the project ends. NEDO fulfills its responsibility for explaining how the study outcomes of the na-tional project contribute to society and reliably applies them to future project management by NEDO or other participants.
For More Sophisticated Management
NEDO Project Evaluations
NEDO has a consistent evaluation system to properly assess all projects. NEDO conducts an ex-ante evaluation, a mid-term evaluation, an ex-post evaluation, and follow-up survey and eval-uation at each of the planning, implementation, and commercial deployment phases of the proj-ect to adequately provide feedback to the project plan, improve or review details of development and management, and take other actions based on each evaluation result.
Project flow and positioning of evaluation
Project
Year 1 2 3 4 5 7 9 110-1
Planning phase
Implementation phase
Practical application phase
Apply Apply
Ex-anteevaluation
Mid-term evaluation
Ex-post evaluation (output)
Follow-up survey and evaluation (outcome and impact)
NEDO keeps track of economic and social effects through a six-year follow-up survey.
Evaluation committee members check the actual development site in a field survey.
The evaluation consists of presentation on project achievements and questions by evaluation commit-tee members.
Building an evaluation system essential to project management
Using evaluation results for project operation with two PDCA cycles
2ndFeatured Article
Focus NEDO 2019 No.7412 Focus NEDO 2019 No.74 13
NEDO has conducted evaluations since 2000, before it became an independent administrative institution. Continuing evaluations for a long time with the help of evaluation committee members has led to the current evaluation system. Accumu-lated individual evaluations results create an enormous amount of data. How to use it to raise its value is important. NEDO should continue to conduct evaluations with a strong sense of purpose in line with changes of the times.
The NEDO Project Success Stories is a series present-ing how the technologies developed in NEDO projects are used as products and services. NEDO conducts follow-up surveys to trace completed projects and keep track of the spread of achievements across society. It also interviews researchers in companies, universities, and other institutions, focusing on the products or services revealed by the investigation.
NEDO keeps track of and systematizes the economic effects, social benefits, and other effects of products, services, and other results developed in past NEDO projects and announces achievements in a way that is easier to understand than before.
https://www.nedo.go.jp/content/100899120.pdf
https://www.nedo.go.jp/nedo_inside.html
NEDO has analyzed its evaluation results and follow-up survey data and systematized accumulated management exper-tise. This provides a compass for all staff to have a common vision and recognition to efficiently and effectively operate projects.
NEDO received the Society Award from the Japan Society for Science Policy and Research Management in 2009 for its pioneer-ing and proactive efforts to build the evaluation system. NEDO also received the Society Award from the Japan Society for Research Policy and Innovation Management in 2017. This award was granted for a new activity where external researchers analyze and study follow-up survey data provided by NEDO.
Awards ceremony at the Japan Society for Research Policy and Innovation Management
The Importance ofProject Evaluation
PuttingProject Evaluation to Use
Evaluations assume an important role in effectively implementing NEDO projects, improving man-agement operations, and achieving accountability for national projects. This article presents an interview with UESAKA Shin, Director at NEDO's Evaluation Department, and Professor KOBAYASHI Naoto, who chairs the research evaluation committee, which coordi-nates all NEDO evaluations, about the significance and importance of project evaluation.
NEDO has accumulated a variety of insights and expertise from project evaluations to improve and enhance the management function as a whole.
Continuing evaluation with a sense of purpose is important.
Evaluations are essential to the success of research and development projects. Follow-up survey results have revealed that final achievements depend on elabora-tion at the project planning phase. Therefore, ex-ante evaluations are very import-ant. I believe that NEDO is the most advanced organization in Japan in that it has a consistent evaluation system from ex-ante evaluation to follow-up survey and evaluation. It is important to think about how to apply each evaluation result to government policies with a large cycle while applying it to each project and future project planning. In addition, the purpose of NEDO projects is to eventually lead to business. Therefore, NEDO must feed the results of follow-up survey and evalu-ation back to the industry, providing impetus to commercialize the results.
Applying each assessment result to businessand government policies
UESAKA Shin DirectorEvaluation Department, NEDO
Professor KOBAYASHI NaotoChairperson of NEDO Research Evaluation CommitteeDeputy Dean, Research CouncilWaseda University
Project evaluation implementation framework To society
Chairman
Report
Research Evaluatinon Committee
NEDO project evaluations are generally conducted for each evaluation target in the framework shown in the left figure.
Committee for project A
Project Promotion Department
Project Promotion Department
Project Promotion Department
Evaluation Department
(Evaluation Office)
Committee for project B
Committee for project C
Evaluation report
Apply evaluation results
Members Members Members
01 Application to management guidelines and active use
02 Keeping track of the effects of NEDO projects
NEDO Project Success StoriesThe product, process, or other result that uses a devel-
opment achievement of a NEDO project as its core technology* and shows larger economic or social effects is called a NEDO Inside Product. Specifically, this is a project achievement that is put on the market or commer-cialized, used for products, processes (processing or treatment), or other purpose, and leads to sales.
NEDO Inside Products
*Core technology refers to a technology that had been in the research and development phase but was put into practical application, taking advantage of a NEDO project, and that is essential to a product or process.
2ndFeatured Article For More Sophisticated Management NEDO Project Evaluation
Focus NEDO 2019 No.7414 Focus NEDO 2019 No.74 15
https://www.nedo.go.jp/
news/press/AA5_101150.html
RENEWABLE ENERGY 2019 EXHIBITIONNEDO Booth
Featured News Release
NEDO Repor ts from the Field
In this section, we report on events and opinions from the field that we could not cover in news releases, such as the latest technological develop-ment results, unprecedented demon-stration projects, and new projects to be launched.
Demonstration Drive of EV Equipped with the World’s Most Efficient Solar Batteries on Public Streets Started
*1: Total module output based on calculation of cell output (as measured by Sharp).
Note) aximum amount of charge generated by the solar charging system while the vehicle is parked or be-ing Mdriven, converted into travelling distance according to the JC08 Japan test cycle. Calculated based on the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association Labeling Guidelines (FY2015), taking into ac-count the various losses incurred in onboard systems. Solar radiation amount calculated based on the daily data of the average year between 1990 and 2009 in the Nagoya district (source: NEDO).
Performance item
Solar battery cell conversion efficiency
Prius PHV(Solar charge system) Demo car
22.5% More than 34%
180 W Approx. 860 W
BEV-mode cruising range equivalent to 6.1 km
BEV-mode cruising range equivalent to 44.5 km
Supplies power only to auxiliary battery, which
powers the car navigation system, etc
BEV-mode cruising range equivalent to 56.3 km
Rated power generation output
Maximum charge to the driving battery while the vehicle is
parked (per day)Note
Maximum charge and power supply to the driving and auxiliary battery while the vehicle is being
driven (per day)Note
Vehicle
*2: Set up by NEDO in April 2016 to investigate and consider the on-board photovoltaic sys-tem with the aim of creating new photovoltaic system markets and further contributing to solving energy and environment issues.
Structure
Conversion efficiency
Installation parts
Overview of solar panel(Solar charge system)
Structure that consists of three compounds
34% or higher (single photovoltaic cell)
Roof, hood, trunk lid, and trunk lid garnish
Field Watch Re por t
From late July 2019, NEDO, Sharp Cor-poration (Sharp), and Toyota Motor Cor-poration (Toyota) began Public Road Trials of Electrified Vehicles Equipped with High-efficiency Solar Batteries. The trials aim to assess the effectiveness of im-provements in cruising range and fuel effi-ciency of electrified vehicles equipped with high-efficiency solar batteries.The project team installed a solar panel created by changing the world’s most efficient photovoltaic cell with a conversion effi-ciency of more than 34% into the vehicle mounted modules. This solar battery cell was developed by SHARP in the NEDO Project for develop-ment of high performance and reliable photovoltaic (PV) modules to reduce lev-elized cost of energy.They installed the modules on the roof, hood, trunk lid, and other parts of a TOYOTA Prius PHV to create a demo car for public street driving.The demo car achieves a rated generated output of about 860W*1, which is about 4.8 times the commercially available Prius PHV (equipped with solar charging system), by increasing the efficiency of solar panels and expanding the onboard area.
NEDO set up the Solar Photovoltaic System Car Examina-tion Committee*2 in April 2016 before starting this demonstra-tion and has been examining photovoltaic system automobiles as having the potential to solve energy and environment issues in the transport domain. According to this committee, using a photovoltaic cell module with a conversion efficiency of 30% or higher makes it possible to generate 1 kW even with the limited installation area of an automobile. The committee also estimated that the annual number of charges could be as low as zero depending on the usage. In addition, reduction in CO2 emissions is expected.
The solar panels installed on the demonstration car use multiple photovoltaic cells with a conversion efficiency of 34% or higher. TOYOTA determined the shape of the module, environment resistance, surface material, and other details based on the specifications of the driving demonstration. Photovoltaic cells are thin films that are about 0.03 mm thick and can be efficiently attached along curves even on the roof, hood, trunk lid, and other parts of the automobile that have a limited installation area. This demonstration car achieved a rated generated output of about 860 W.
Some of the data on this demonstration conducted by TOYOTA was shared with NEDO and SHARP. The Solar Photovoltaic System Car Examination Committee and other related parties will assess the reduction in CO2 emissions and convenience improvement effects including reduction in the number of charges with the aim of creating new solar panel markets including the transport industry and further contribut-ing to solving energy and environment issues.
❶ Exhibition at the NEDO Booth of the RENEWABLE ENERGY 2019 EXHIBITION
❷ Prius PHV demonstration car driving on a road❸ Solar panels made up of photovoltaic cells on the Prius PHV demonstration
car (front)❹ Trunk lid of the Prius PHV demonstration car❺ Full view of the Prius PHV demonstration car equipped with solar panels
❶
❸ ❹ ❺
❷
Interim report by the Solar Photovoltaic System Car Examination Committeehttps://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_100909.html
Video: World Made Possible by the Solar Photovoltaic System Carhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifDlGzAcZjY&list=PLZH3AKTCrVsVdnh2iBwhy6KRVj0srSQ9u
Focus NEDO 2019 No.7416 Focus NEDO 2019 No.74 17
Autonomous Control Systems provides drones made in Japan and peripheral systems as a total solution using various robot system control technologies as the core technologies. We conduct research and development to bring about an industrial revolution in the air and realize a society where drones flying around is normal. We participate in NEDO support projects when our direction matches the purpose of the NEDO project and have participated in multiple NEDO projects.
Needless to say, subsidies accelerate development activities and solve challenges that hinder specific commercialization. We have also experienced many other benefits such as acquisition of customers as a result of the publicity and enhancement of engineers' skills through collaboration and information exchange with NEDO and joint developers, among other activities.
In the AI system joint development support project, we used the visual SLAM technology that enables the drone to fly by estimating its position through image processing even in places where GPS signals do not reach, and automatic decisions by AI, to develop a total solution where the drone and peripheral system take airborne images of inspection points in the plant, manage data, identify corroded parts, and create reports.
We would like to roll out this system to a variety of locations including factories, buildings, bridges, and tunnels while improving this technology to further expand and develop our business. Ascent Robotics participated in the
NEDO AI system joint development sup-port project for research and development in the practical application of an AI learning environment for object recognition and robot operation generation. A decrease in workforce due to demographic aging is ex-pected in Japan. In this context, laborsaving and productivity improvement with robots are demanded in small- and medium-sized companies, food, pharmaceutical, and cos-metics industries, and other fields. In this project, we developed an AI learning envi-ronment that has an object recognition system that applies deep learning and a gen-eration model and operation generation that applies reinforcement learning among other techniques with the aim of realizing an in-expensive and easy-to-use robot system that anyone can master to meet this demand.
We will create a combination of a robot system and an AI learning environment that can be implemented at low price in small- and medium-sized companies and in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics indus-tries, where work is mainly done manually, to roll it out to many factories and produc-tion lines. We will develop functions that have high added value based on profits and name recognition achieved through this ac-tivity to further advance collaboration be-tween robots and human beings and expand sales to the service domain beyond the
scope of conventional industrial robots.Bearing in mind that new technologies
increase productivity, create affluence, and accelerate economic growth, we want to solve social challenges with state-of-the-art AI technology. We will lead these technolo-gies to the development of self-driving cars that run even more autonomously.
NEDO
File.3 File.4
Startups Future
NEPNEDOEntrepreneursProgram
STS Seed-stage Technology-based Startups CRI Collaboration with
Research Institute SCA Startups inCorporate Alliance
To revitalize the economy, it is important to foster entrepreneurs that have competitive
new technologies. NEDO provides start-up support from a variety of perspectives to develop
research and development-based startups and entrepreneurs. Here, we examine a notable
start-up company that continues to grow toward the future.
Innovator Innovator
Manufacturing and sales of commercial drones and provision of solution services for unmanned or IoT operations using autonomous control technology
2013 : Founded Autonomous Control Systems Laboratory Ltd.
2017 : Participated in the NEDO Project for re-alization of the energy-saving society le-veraging robots and drones.
2018 : Automated video shooting and inspec-tion decisions of plant equipment using drones and AI in the NEDO AI system joint development support project.
https://www.acsl.co.jp/en/
Autonomous Control Systems Laboratory Ltd.OHTA Hiroaki, PhD, President, Representative Director
Development of AI software for industrial robots and autonomous cars
2016 : Founded. Nov. Became a partner company of the
NVIDIA INCEPTION PROGRAM.2018 : Mar. Raised about 1.8 billion yen as a
company in series A round. Selected as a participant in the NEDO AI
system joint development support proj-ect.
https://ascent.ai/en/
Ascent Robotics Inc.ISHIZAKI Masayuki, CEO
Q1.How do you use NEDO's support program?
Q2.What is Autonomous Control System’s vision for the future ?
Q1.How do you use NEDO support projects?
Q2.What future do you envision for Ascent Robotics?
Drone taking photos during plant inspection
Ambient detection camera attached to the drone
Calculation of characteristic points through image processing
Autonomous Control Systems is a start-up that spearheaded a project that could serve as a role model for using the data of other enterprises to create AI. We have high hopes for the develop-ment of this automation solution for the problem of infrastructure management facing society.
Comment from a NEDO EmployeeWe expect Ascent Robotics to develop their business far and wide in fields, such as robots to save labor and improve productivity, and then to apply this technolo-gy to autonomous driving by using an object recogni-tion system that applies deep learning and other tech-nologies and the AI learning environment that applies reinforcement learning as the core technologies.
Support program for entrepre-neurs originating from universi-ties, research institutes, and startup companies
TCPTechnologyCommercializationProgram
TCPNEP
STSCRI
SCA
Startup support provided by escort-type support personnel
Support for Seed-stage Technology-based Startups (STS) Supporting seed-stage startups in collaboration with venture capital firms
Support for Collaboration with Research Institutes (CRI)Supporting research and develop-ment-based startups to facilitate the de-velopment of commercial applications
Support for Startups in Corporate Alliance (SCA)Supporting research and develop-ment-based startups that carry out joint research with project companies
Startup Support and Beyond
The Future for NEDO Startups
NEDO's Seamless Startup Support Services for R&D Related to Mining and Industrial Technologies Search in NEDO Venture Support
