Archives for March 20, 2018

Husky UGV used for 3D mapping in Mars simulation

March 20, 2018 by Anna

The Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), in partnership with international research organisations including Oman Astronomical Society, conducted a four-week Mars simulation mission in the Arabian desert in Oman.

The study was to simulate a typical day on Mars. Tasks performed in the study included 3D mapping, minerology, evaluation of biological habitats, and preparation of food.

The Husky UGV from Clearpath Robotics, was used for 3D mapping of the Oman terrain and transportation in the simulated mission, with the help of a 260 degree scanner laser. Once the Husky mapped environments, it was able to identify potential hazards, move around and collect data for the astronauts.

Watch the video here

Fujitsu and INESA establish smart manufacturing joint venture in China

March 20, 2018 by Anna

A new joint venture, INESA Intelligent Technology, to provide services and a platform for smart manufacturing solutions in China has been set up by Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu (China) Holdings, and INESA Group, a major state-owned company in China that provides smart city solutions.

Fujitsu and INESA began their collaboration in the smart manufacturing field in 2015, and expanded the scope of that collaboration in 2017, to a broad-based collaboration, including smart cities.

By linking the experience INESA has developed on the front lines of manufacturing for over 80 years with Fujitsu’s ICT technologies such as IoT, big data, and AI, this new venture aims to provide total solutions for the manufacturing industry in China, optimizing customers’ manufacturing processes, improving the efficiency of factories, and reducing costs through detailed manufacturing management.

Large-scale battery to counter power outages launched

March 20, 2018 by Anna

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. has developed a container-type large-scale energy storage system for instantaneous voltage drop countermeasures, and has released the developed system to the market in cooperation with Japan Facility Solutions, Inc., a 100％ subsidiary of Tepco Energy Partner, Inc.

The energy storage block of this system uses the olivine-type iron phosphate lithium-ion battery “Fortelion”, manufactured by Murata subsidiary Tohoku Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and is used in combination with an AC-DC converter made by Meidensha Corporation or Yamabishi Corporation.

Instantaneous voltage drop (a momentary drop in power system voltage) such as due to lightning strikes to power transmission lines may have a large impact, such as stopping production in factories.

Japan Coast Guard expands unmanned Wave Glider fleet

March 20, 2018 by Anna

The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) has expanded its unmanned ocean observation fleet of Wave Gliders to the 9th Regional District, headquartered in Niigata, Japan, the fifth regional district to use them.

This unmanned ocean observation network provides real-time situational awareness of ocean currents, wave activity, and weather along Japan’s coastlines, and JCG publishes the environmental data free and in real-time to Japan’s commercial fisheries and tourism industries.

Wave Gliders, from Liquid Robotics, are environmentally safe and a more effective way to expand national ocean observation systems when compared to traditional methods such as ships, claims the company.

By utilizing a network of unmanned systems, JCG is able to provide access to continuous, real-time meteorological and oceanographic information from seas where monitoring ships often cannot operate and without putting personnel at risk.