Tokyo Institute Of Technology Hosts 7th Super Smart Society Promotion Forum
The Super Smart Society Promotion Consortium (SSS Promotion Consortium), led by Tokyo Tech, held a hybrid technical forum titled Super Smart Society x Industry 5.0 on March 15. The seventh forum of its kind attracted attendees from both inside and outside the Institute, and was joined by 40 participants on Ookayama Campus and 217 participants online.
In the era of a super-smart society, many believe that production and factory-wide process management will be transformed by the advancement of digital transformation (DX). The active use of information and communications technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and cyber-physical systems is expected to enhance efficiency and accuracy. Furthermore, industrial structures and productions are expected to evolve into innovative frameworks through the coexistence of robots and humans, holographic communication, and integration with virtual, augmented, and mixed reality.
This forum introduced innovative technologies and cutting-edge knowledge on a wide range of topics, including elemental technologies that will support next-generation production, and ways to realize a future super-smart society guided by these technologies.
On-site participants at Tokyo Tech’s Ookayama Campus
On-site participants at Tokyo Tech’s Ookayama Campus
After an opening address by Professor Eisuke Fukuda from Tokyo Tech’s School of Engineering, who also heads the Super Smart Society Promotion Committee a number of speakers shared views on innovative technologies and their latest findings.
Keynote speech
Evolution of processing machines through fusion with automation and measurement technologies
Kenta Kanto
Senior general manager, Gear Solution Center, DMG MORI CO., LTD.
Kanto during his keynote speech
Kanto during his keynote speech
During his talk, Kenta Kanto explained his employer’s efforts in the three areas of process integration, automation, and DX. As a result of process consolidation, processes that once required multiple specialized machines have been consolidated into a single multitasking machine, and hence, dimensional and shape accuracy have improved. As for automation, Kanto introduced the development of a self-propelled robot that can coexist with humans. Lastly, he spoke about various cases of DX applications, such as data aggregation at manufacturing sites and simulation of physical property models.
Invited speech 1
Smart manufacturing for reforming work styles
-Aiming for solutions to current issues and preparing for the future-
Shinichi Nakano
Senior manager, DX Strategy Division, Digital Strategy Group, Data Science Technology Department, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Nakano from Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Nakano from Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Shinichi Nakano spoke about automation and digitalization efforts at Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. Topics included the optimization of production planning for assembly lines, prevention of work errors, automation of appearance flaw inspection, digitalization of design and production information, and development of remotely piloted robots. Through automation and digitalization, the company aims to replace skilled and veteran workers, diversify worker recruitment, and improve job satisfaction.
Invited speech 2
Utilization of AI technology with the goal of autonomous operation
Keiichiro Kobuchi
Executive officer, general manager, DX Service Division Control Center, Yokogawa Digital Corporation
Kobuchi speaking about AI technology for autonomous operation
Kobuchi speaking about AI technology for autonomous operation
Keiichiro Kobuchi spoke about the development of AI for control at Yokogawa Digital Corporation. Specifically, he introduced the operation experiments on a simulator of a vinyl acetate production plant that utilizes reinforcement learning, and demonstration experiments on control training experimental equipment of an actual plant. He also reported that in 2022, a chemical plant could be successfully controlled continuously for 35 days by autonomous control using AI, achieving a significant improvement in efficiency compared to the previous system, which required an operator 24 hours a day.
Invited speech 3
Use of AI and software for labor-saving in production of automotive parts
Tohru Onozaki
Chief of business field, Research & Development Division, JTEKT Corporation
Onozaki speaking about JTEKT’s accomplishments
Onozaki speaking about JTEKT’s accomplishments
Tohru Onozaki introduced two examples of JTEKT’s application of AI in its latest technologies. The first was from the plastic injection molding process, where a machine learning-based quality prediction method and an AI-based automatic molding condition adjustment system are used. The second was a technology for judging product acceptability during the appearance inspection process, in which hybrid judging that combines rule-based and AI judging is used.
Invited speech 4
The evolution of robots and realizing data-driven autonomous distributed manufacturing
Shinji Murai
Director, Robot Controller Department, Robotics Division, YASKAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
Murai speaking about evolution of robots
Murai speaking about evolution of robots
Shinji Murai spoke about the evolution of robotics solutions, introducing examples of AI applications, new autonomous robots, and human-collaborative robots. He referred to innovation in manufacturing through the use of data, and highlighted that the added value of automation can be increased by digitizing manufacturing and other processes. Murai introduced an application example in motor improvement, explaining that by utilizing the accumulated data chain, flexibility can be created in the planning and execution of the next production.
Invited speech 5
Trends in AM and its practical use in production systems
Tomohisa Tanaka
Associate professor, School of Engineering, Tokyo Tech
Tokyo Tech’s Assoc. Prof. Tanaka
Tokyo Tech’s Assoc. Prof. Tanaka
Tokyo Tech’s Tomohisa Tanaka spoke about the process and benefits of additive manufacturing (AM). He explained examples of AM in relation to industrial modeling machines and metal materials, comparison of processing equipment, and research to increase the value of AM. As examples of actual AM applications, he introduced insole printing, 4D printing, and 3D food printing. In addition, machining efficiency, surface roughness, and maintaining machine-to-machine accuracy in the machining of high-precision parts were highlighted as current challenges in the AM field.
Closing remarks by Tokyo Tech’s Prof. Sakaguchi
Closing remarks by Tokyo Tech’s Prof. Sakaguchi
To wrap things up, School of Engineering Professor Kei Sakaguchi, who serves as the coordinator of the Super Smart Society Promotion Consortium and the dean of the Tokyo Tech Academy for Super Smart Society, offered his closing remarks.
After the event, a number of this spring’s participants stated that they recognized the key word of the current era to be “autonomization”. Other were pleased to learn about initiatives in industries other than their own, and to gain insight into the possible review of DX initiatives in their companies.
The SSS Promotion Consortium plans to continue to hold technical forums on cutting-edge technological themes in the future.