In providing products and services, we will continue to search for and resolve
not only long-standing social issues but also new or latent issues that emerge
in our rapidly changing society, thereby meeting the expectations and trust of
our many stakeholders.
Approach to initiatives
TOKYO KEIKI Vision 2030 defines five business domains to strengthen based on the
society projected to exist in 2030. It also confirms the relationship between
those domains and our current businesses and technologies. Based on this, we put
together a list of potential new businesses for the Group to take on as
“candidates for growth drivers” and a list of “key points for
enhancing existing businesses” so that current businesses may grow. Then,
we set to work on the issues that come with these.
Promotion framework
Each internal company promotes enhancement of existing businesses while the
Corporate Planning & Administration Office takes the lead in promoting
candidates for growth drivers. We established the Business Development Office
within the Corporate Planning & Administration Office in April 2023 to
strengthen these efforts. Going forward, we will incorporate the progress we
make on our existing business strategies and growth drivers in the next
medium-term business plan.
Initiatives with candidates for growth drivers
We have set aside the period from fiscal 2021 to fiscal 2023 as a time to
identify, incorporate, and develop new growth drivers. We have begun the
following initiatives with five growth driver candidates.
We have developed tools that optimize the use of AI on processors for edge
AI and have made them available to users for testing. We have also begun
recruiting partners in development on our website.
* Edge AI: To enable artificial intelligence (AI) to learn large amounts
of data rapidly, AI typically resides on a server in a data center and
communicates with terminals (edge devices) via the Internet. By contrast,
edge AI can process calculations on-site without going through the
Internet. Edge AI technology is expected to find use in agricultural and
civil engineering/construction settings, where communication facilities
are limited and real-time processing within the terminal is required. Very
few companies in the world supply AI chips that can accelerate edge AI
processing, and we aim to offer AI chips for different applications than
others do.
In addition to hydrogen compressors, which we are working on within our
existing businesses, we are collaborating with a partner to make hydrogen
stations more compact and available in package form. We have also
commenced joint R&D of hydrogen production equipment with the National
Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST).
Building on our delivery of microwave amplifiers for small SAR satellites*
in our existing business, we partnered with Synspective Inc. to
mass-produce small SAR satellites and constructed a space initiatives
building where satellites are assembled within the Nasu Plant.
* SAR satellites: SAR = Synthetic Aperture Radar. As they move, SAR
satellites emit microwaves toward the earth’s surface and analyze
images of the reflected waves to monitor conditions on the ground. Optical
satellites used for surface observation cannot acquire images of
cloud-covered areas or at night. SAR satellites that use microwaves, on
the other hand, can observe ground conditions in any weather, day or
night. As such, they are expected to be used for disaster monitoring and
prevention and information gathering for infrastructure development.
Although these SAR satellites are small and in the 100-kg class (about
one-tenth the usual weight), they can capture high-resolution, wide-area
images rivaling those of larger satellites. As the heart of SAR
satellites, TOKYO KEIKI’s microwave amplifiers have contributed
greatly to this performance.
A track diagnosis support system we developed aims to save manpower by
automating judgments when monitoring railroad tracks, a job that
previously was only done on foot.
Together with
universities and outside R&D organizations, we are conducting research
and studies to contribute to medical and health applications of microwave
and plasma technology.
Initiatives with existing businesses
Having participated in the first stage of the Nippon Foundation’s
MEGURI2040 Fully Autonomous Ship Program, we are now taking part in the
second stage, which aims for real-world implementation. Other projects
include developing products that solve social issues by enabling safety,
energy and labor savings, and eco-friendliness. This includes joint
development with other companies.
Our hydrogen compressor for hydrogen filling stations is helping to build
a decarbonized society. Meanwhile, we are also developing energy-saving
and hybrid hydraulic equipment.
We offer water level gauge systems and fire extinguishing equipment for
the disaster prevention market to keep communities safe.
We are meeting ICT needs by
developing farm machinery automation equipment that makes agriculture more
efficient and by offering microwave amplifiers for semiconductor
production equipment. We also provide solid-state radars for marine
monitoring that contributes to maritime traffic safety.
We also develop,
manufacture, maintain, and repair products for the defense market to meet
rapidly growing safety and security needs.
R&D Initiatives
Research and development approach
Our Group’s products flourish in a variety of fields around the world, including shipping, aerospace, industrial machinery, farming, construction machinery, and social infrastructure. As the manufacturer providing these products, we understand that research and development serves as the foundation of the Group’s management.
The basic policy of our Group’s research and development is based on our Management Philosophy—“To contribute to society, with a focus on our business of leveraging electronics and other advanced technology to create products that embody functions of human senses: measurement, cognition, and control.” Research and development is carried out based on the technology strategy and R&D plans of our research arm, the Research & Development Center, and is also implemented as part of product development by our internal companies and subsidiaries.
Research and development system
Our Research & Development Center primarily engages in relatively
long-term research and development and, in general, the development of
products utilizing the center’s results is conducted by the development
departments of our internal companies and subsidiaries. In addition, the
Center is also responsible for providing technical support for individual
projects, and for undertaking research and development that would be
inefficient for our internal companies and subsidiaries to perform on their
own. Seizing future business opportunities, the Center researches and develops
technologies that will serve as the core of a business. At the same time, our
internal companies and subsidiaries engage in development, including the
development of products whose commercialization is still years away, based on
customer needs.
Development Committee
The Development Committee is an organizational body chaired by the Chief
Engineering Officer. Its members include the Chief of the Research &
Development Center and engineering managers from various internal companies.
The Development Committee determines a variety of matters concerning the
drafting and execution of our Group’s technology strategies, with the
committee chair making proposals and reports to the Management Conference as
necessary.
Open innovation
The TOKYO KEIKI Group actively participates in joint research with industry,
government, and academia, as well as open innovation that promotes
collaboration among businesses. The following are recent examples.
TOKYO KEIKI is a member of the Designing the Future of Fully Autonomous
Ships Plus Consortium (DFFAS+), which consists of 51 companies in Japan.
We are participating in the “Joint Technological Development Program
for the Demonstration of Fully Autonomous Ships”(*1) under the
Nippon Foundation’s MEGURI2040 Fully Autonomous Ship Program
(MEGURI2040).
The program is considered the second stage of MEGURI2040,
which launched in 2020. Through it, TOKYO KEIKI and the Nippon Foundation
aim for full-fledged practical application of autonomous ship technology
cultivated in the first stage, known as “Joint Technological
Development Program for the Demonstration Experiments of Fully Autonomous
Ships,” by 2025. This program has four objectives: demonstration
experiments, standardization of developed technology, strengthening the
development process infrastructure, and real-world implementation.
TOKYO
KEIKI participated in the first stage of MEGURI2040 as the DFFAS
Consortium, the predecessor of DFFAS+. We continue our participation in
the second stage of MEGURI2040, in which we are serving as the leader of a
working group tasked with standardizing the technology.
For the demonstration experiments, next-generation ships are being
designed to support the domestic coastal shipping industry of the future.
Demonstrations of ship and land operations that envision a future domestic
coastal shipping industry supported by autonomous vessels are also being
conducted. These demonstrations use four different ships(*2) and two fleet
operation centers. In addition to autopilot, gyrocompass, and other
products, TOKYO KEIKI is providing steering control technology cultivated
during the R&D phase of these products for a newly built full-package
container ship equipped with all the autonomous navigation functions. The
system will help keep autonomous operation safe by providing appropriate
position control on the entire route from detachment to berthing and for
evading hazards.
Working with the Nippon Foundation, the other DFFAS+
participating companies, and cooperating organizations in Japan and
abroad, TOKYO KEIKI will continue working on MEGURI2040 as it seeks to
achieve commercial autonomous ship operation by 2025. This will help
support stable domestic logistics and transportation infrastructure by
solving social challenges facing the Japanese coastal shipping industry,
reducing labor shortages and workloads, preventing marine accidents, and
maintaining shipping routes to remote islands.
(all
rights reserved)
(*1) Technological Development Program for the Demonstration of Fully
Autonomous Ships: A financial support program for the development of
technologies to promote practical use of autonomous ships and thereby
create opportunities for further technological development in the field,
thus promoting the transformation of Japan’s logistics, economy, and
social infrastructure.
(*2) Four different ships: A newly built full-package container ship
equipped with all the autonomous navigation functions, an existing
container ship with some autonomous navigation functions, an existing RORO
cargo ship, and an existing remote island route ship.
TOKYO KEIKI and its subsidiary TOKYO KEIKI POWER SYSTEMS INC. (TPS),
together with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and
Technology (AIST), have begun “Joint Research and Development on a
Compact and Practical Model for a System for Producing High-Pressure
Hydrogen using Formic Acid.”*
TPS, a developer and producer of hydraulic systems, applies hydraulic
control technology to offer hydrogen compressors for hydrogen filling
stations, especially in urban areas. At the same time, we have been
studying compact, low-cost hydrogen supply systems that can be used
on-site. These are intended for rural areas with inadequate hydrogen
filling stations and other hydrogen supply infrastructure, or for
relatively small-scale hydrogen use.
In this area, we are researching and developing a compact and practical
model for a system that produces high-pressure hydrogen using formic acid.
AIST has been researching technology for producing high-pressure hydrogen
from formic acid and implementing it in the real world. To store and
transport hydrogen in large quantities, it must be compressed. Most
hydrogen generation systems start with hydrogen at a pressure equivalent
to the atmosphere and use a compression device to bring it to high
pressure. A hydrogen production system using formic acid, however, can
omit the compression process because it can obtain high-pressure hydrogen
directly. This could allow for the use of smaller, less expensive
equipment in the high-pressure hydrogen production process.
The Group is promoting the hydrogen and energy business as one growth
driver in TOKYO KEIKI Vision 2030. We will work to further advance
hydrogen energy through our R&D.
System for producing high-pressure hydrogen from formic acid, used by AIST
to demonstrate the technology (Photo courtesy of AIST)
(*) Formic acid: A chemical widely used in industrial applications,
including as a preservative in livestock feed, a tanning agent for hides,
and anti-freeze. Storing and transporting hydrogen consumes a great amount
of energy. This has prompted R&D on hydrogen carriers that can
efficiently store and transport hydrogen by converting it to another
substance. AIST has long focused on formic acid as a new hydrogen energy
carrier.
Aiming for Track Diagnosis Support System
Track inspection today
Japan prides itself on the unrivaled safety and accuracy of its railroads.
Even today, many inspectors work to protect the tracks. It takes many
materials (components) to build tracks, and these materials must be kept in
sound condition for trains to operate safely. Inspection and repair work is
performed late at night, after train service ends for the day until the first
trains start running early in the morning. However, “foot patrols”
(visual inspections) require monitoring track conditions on foot during the
day. Workers risk being hit by a train while doing this very dangerous job.
It’s critical to secure highly skilled individuals, as they need to
inspect the condition of track materials while walking along the line.
Moreover, the work is a heavy responsibility and psychological burden for
workers. The rigorous work conditions are one reason why the number of workers
has fallen in recent years, making it acutely challenging for railroad
operators to maintain safe and sustainable railroads. The need to solve this
social issue has led to a great demand in recent years for measurement work to
be done with rolling stock that carries inspection equipment.
The “track
diagnosis support system” from TOKYO KEIKI RAIL TECHNO (TRT) could help
to free workers from dangerous foot patrols and improve track maintenance
productivity by enabling more frequent inspections and examinations and using
data gathered at high frequency to predict the deterioration of facilities.
Merits of the track diagnosis support system
More than 70% of the ultrasonic rail inspection cars*1 used by railway
companies in Japan today are TRT products. Based on this success, TRT
developed the track diagnosis support system, which inspects various track
materials. Mounted on passenger trains as well as exclusive maintenance
vehicles, the system can automatically determine the condition of track
materials. The result is greater efficiency, safety, and accuracy in the
monitoring of track materials compared to foot patrols.
The system uses
multiple image sensors that are located under the cabin and continuously
photograph the track from different angles. It identifies individual track
materials from the images taken. AI is implemented to support determination on
whether anything has fallen off or is missing and whether there are any
defects or other abnormalities from the track images.
The system can even be
mounted on passenger rolling stock for high-frequency measurement. Operators
can therefore switch from the conventional repair planning method of TBM*2 to
CBM*3 and accurately calculate when repair work is required. This reduces both
human and financial costs.
Through R&D conducted at TRT and TOKYO
KEIKI’s Fluid Power & Control Systems Company, we developed
proprietary imaging equipment that mounts under the cabin. TOKYO KEIKI also
made the image processor used by the system. In addition, the TOKYO KEIKI
Group manages all processes, from the development of image processing
algorithms to software production. This enables us to offer prompt and
detailed support.
*1 Ultrasonic rail inspection car: A non-destructive
inspection car, it has equipment that uses ultrasonic waves to detect flaws
inside rails that are concealed from visual inspection.
*2 TBM: Time-Based
Maintenance. A maintenance method based on periodic maintenance. Maintenance
is performed at predetermined times and cycles, regardless of the condition of
equipment and machinery.
*3 CBM: Condition-Based Maintenance. A maintenance
method that utilizes IoT, AI, or other technologies to monitor and predict
equipment deterioration and breakdowns. This enables appropriate repairs and
parts replacement before breakdowns or malfunctions occur.
A multifunction inspection car of Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu)
equipped with the track diagnosis support system
Track diagnosis support system
Automatic determination of railroad sleepers
Perpendicular determination of railroad sleepers
Determination of fishplate bolt
Base corrosion
Measurement of joint gaps