Japanese Cutting-Edge
Solutions for Metalworking
Japanese Cutting-Edge
Solutions for Metalworking
News
October 8, 2024
Hitachi held one of its largest annual events, “Hitachi Social Innovation Forum 2024 JAPAN,” on September 4-5 at the Tokyo International Forum in Chiyoda, Tokyo. Key highlights for the manufacturing industry were demonstrations of cutting-edge technologies such as digital twin technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotic automation that synchronize real-world factory equipment with virtual environments.
The event, now in its 26th year, serves as a platform for collaborative innovation between Hitachi, its customers and partners to solve societal challenges. This year, more than 100 programs, including seminars and exhibitions, were offered to the attendees.
In his keynote speech, Hitachi President Keiji Kojima emphasized the importance of enhancing human capabilities with technology, stating, “As labor shortages continue to grow globally, we aim to revitalize workplaces by augmenting human power through technology.”
Forum attendees experienced the digital twin production line through VR equipment.
In its proposals for the manufacturing sector, Hitachi showcased a range of digital automation technologies, with a special focus on the “next-generation factory”. This concept uses digital twin technology to create a virtual replica of a factory’s physical equipment, synchronizing real-time operations with the virtual model. The system is integrated with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) to optimize production planning, handle urgent orders with flexibility, and enable predictive maintenance based on production simulations.
Forum attendees had the opportunity to experience a fully synchronized virtual production line using virtual reality (VR) devices. By donning VR headsets, attendees were able to closely observe the operation of a digital twin-driven production line and gain an immersive understanding of how advanced smart factory technologies work.
A suitcase-sized test kit with the “ICHIDAS Laser” installed.
Another highlight was Hitachi’s new “ICHIDAS Laser” laser positioning system for automated guided vehicles (AGVs). This system uses lasers to detect walls and obstacles, automatically creates a map on the first pass, and then estimates its position based on the map. The system boasts an impressive positioning accuracy, achieving a repeatability of ±10mm during in-house testing. A suitcase-sized test kit was used to demonstrate the system’s accuracy on site.
Hitachi also introduced several innovations in AI technology. One such advancement was a talking machine system, “Talkative Products,” which integrates generative AI with Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled industrial pumps. The system can respond to equipment failures by referencing learned manuals and suggesting appropriate actions.
“Industrial manuals often span many pages long, making it difficult for users or service personnel to quickly find solutions. This AI-driven approach aims to speed up troubleshooting, and can be adapted for other types of equipment,” explained a Hitachi representative.
In addition, Hitachi demonstrated its “Edge AI Machine Vision” system for visual inspection, which can differentiate between good and defective products with the ability to operate using only examples of good products.
By: Masanobu Nishizuka
Staff Editor, SEISANZAI Japan
February 11, 2022
April 23, 2021
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