A Science Dream Created by People Vol.03 Technology and May.2018 Innova tion Center

Special Feature Daikin Undergoes Transformation Carving out Daikin’s Future with AI and IoT

Interview Yoichi Ochiai

The digital nature society that is just around the corner.

TIC seeks collaborative partners with whom to generate new value. How should the future For further inquiries, please contact: [email protected] look for technology? Date of publication: May 1, 2018 (Volume 03) Published by Technology and Innovation Center, Daikin Industries, Ltd. 1-1, Nishi-Hitotsuya, Settsu, 566-8585, (within Yodogawa Plant) http://www.daikin.com/about/corporate/tic/index.html Phone. +81-6-6195-7051 (switchboard) 2018 Vol. 03 Daikin Undergoes Transformation Interview

Contents Y

Defining the Researcher ③ Group Leader and Senior Engineer Technology A Science Dream Created by People Tomohiro Yabu and Innovation Center IAQ Technology ……22 Technology and Innovation Center Conventional air conditioners will become systems that maintain temperature while stimulating the senses CarvingSpecial Article out Daikin’s Future with AI and IoT oichi Interview Key Technology ③ Head of the Digital Nature Group, University of Tsukuba ……01 “Advancement” Yoichi Ochiai of analysis/evaluation technology ……26 The digital nature society that is just around the corner. Introducing future of air conditioner Daikin thinks of How should the future look for technology? Heating, Ventilating, Special Interview Air-conditioning and Refrigerating Professor, Open and Transdisciplinary ……30 Minoru Etoh Research Initiatives, Osaka University ……04 Expo Report Hoping to link the “corporate plants” Recent External Presentations ……33 and “university knowledge” organizations together, to advance together About Challenge A Science Dream Created by People Vol.03 Group leaders engage in passionate discussions If you remove the letters “lle” from the word Technology and May.2018 Innova tion Center Monozukuri (manufacturing) for kotozukuri (value creation), “challenge” it leaves “change.” Special Daikin Undergoes Transformation but our strengths lie in mechanisms The title of this publication reflects the change Feature which comes about through challenge, which is the Carving out Daikin’s Future aim of TIC and the heart of our corporate culture. Carving out Daikin’s Future with AI and IoT

……08 Interview Yoichi Ochiai with AI and IoT The digital nature society Cover design: Akane Sakagawa（krran） that is just around the corner. How should the future look for technology? Date of publication: May 1, 2018 (Volume 03) Published by Technology and Innovation Center, Daikin Industries, Ltd. 1-1, Nishi-Hitotsuya, Settsu, Osaka 566-8585, Japan (within Yodogawa Plant) Minoru Etoh × Yoshihisa Toshima × Naotake Shimozu Photography: Masatoshihttp://www.daikin.com/about/corporate/tic/index.html Uenaka Phone. +81-6-6195-7051 (switchboard) Chief editor ● Kenichi Azuma Special Feature Planning and editing ● Jun Kobayashi (Technology and Innovation Center, Daikin Industries, Ltd.), Shigeru Otsuki (Strategic Public Relation Human Knowledge：Storing ……13 Institute), Tamiwa Office Co., Ltd. Human beings have succeeded Writers ● Shigeru Otsuki, Osamu Tamamura, Megumi Tamiwa, in storing invisible things Ichiro Erokumae, Kurumi Kamimura, Kurumi Sekine Photography ● Masatoshi Uenaka, Yasutaka Hoshino, Yuta Fukitsuka, Yoshiko Yoda Ei-ichi Negishi × Ichiro Sakata Photography cooperation ● Aflo Co., Ltd., Photolibrary O Dialogue ……20 Printer ● Sanshodo Co., Ltd. Invitation to Web “Challenge” chiai ▼Please visit our web site at : https://www.daikin.com/about/ corporate/tic/magazine/

Vol.02 2017 Vol. 02 C A Science Dream 2017 Vol. 02 Created by People Sep.2017

Technology and Special 2017 Vol. 02 ion Center Feature Innova t Human Knowledge Taking on challenges in new fields ・ Please send your questions, ha Sleep We need advancementsIn modern intimes, the scientificpeople have approach strayed to Collaborativesleep. from the natural human instinct Innovationof sleep. at T I C A Science Dream Created by People Since opening in 2015, the Technology and Innovation Center (TIC) has engaged in various types Vol.02 of collaboration with other industries and fields as the control tower for Daikin’s technological Special Human Knowledgedevelopment. In particular, the collaborative innovation featured in this issue represents major comments and feedback challenges focused on state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI), in anticipation of future needs. A Science Dream Created by People Technology and Innovation Center Feature Sleep = a state of apparent death Sep.2017 Technology and Innovation Center l NEC Did Ancient People Wander × A world-first system through collaboration with NEC Sleeprelated to comfortCollaborative and intellectual innovationTIC productivity through a Mystical World For people who spend most of their time indoors each day, Building an indoor environmental control system l achieving a healthy indoor environment can be considered a key theme for maintaining health and improving intellectual Using AI to create highlyEach productive Night? spaces that improves intellectual productivity ・ We are looking for subscribers productivity. However, since the ideal space varies depend ing on individuals’ physical and emotional states, as well as ① Estimating the e Special the type of work they perform, conventional one-size-fits-all person’s st Feature environmental control cannot easily create spaces that are HumanControl Knowledge: that matches the person's various states Why do humans sleep? The answer Utilizing sensing ate conducive to maintaining health and improving intellectual ● Environmental condition 1: Temperature inside the room means in which the productivity. But what if we combined Daikin’s technologies, two companies excel Providing new values for to take on the chal- which adjust air to the most comfortable level, as well as lenge of estimating a Sleep aroma. Temperature setting was changed at the start of the air and space Daikin's knowledge of the effects that air and space have person’s intellectual Facial on people, with NEC Corporation’s technologies related to productivity. image AI and the Internet of Things (IoT)? Would it be possible to Voice Using an AI engine Biometric to analyze the person ②Spatial control tailored solve these issues and achieve air and space characteristics information and space Pulse A to eachSci individual ence Dream Created by People that suit individual needs? With this goal in mind, the two wave The aesthetic of “sleep” depicted in paintings by 19th century British artist The Sleeping CatCa carved into to our free magazine ● Environmental condition 3: Temperature kept constant at Utilizing Daikin’s technologies In ancient times, sleep was considered to be similar to death. companies embarked on a joint collaborative project in Nikko Toshogu ShrineS Temperature, Concentrating 27℃, no aroma → aroma → no aroma. AromaCollection was sprayed of human and environmentalhumidity, and information Tired for controlling such charac The history of sleep research is still short, and major progress has only beenOctober 2016. is a symbol of ppeace environmental Sleepy, etc. teristics as , for 30 minutes starting at the start of the second set and information Edward Coley Burne-Jones is a vivid reminder of this. aroma, and lighting, together Stimuli to the five senses, ending before the Thestart Sleeping of the CatCfifth carved set. into Nikko Toshogu with NEC’s AI forecasting and - Now in particular, focus has turned to the necessity of good quality sleepsuch as temperature changesNegishi and aroma, Shrine, in TTochigi Prefecture, is said to have control technologies to take between this world and the hea This experimentbeen produced carved byb Hidariresults Jingoro, showing in the that hope providing of 10 on the challenge of achieving greatly affect work efficiency The things that the spirit experienced the test subject withprotecting environmental Tok control (temperature Ei-ichi 20 ochigi Pref a space that maintains a high 2 tion rests on the premise that sleep repres Interview 30 there became dreams, and if the spirit stimulus and aroma stimulus) that stimulated the five senses level of intellectual produc 3 40 peace, in that the reigny Hidari of the Jingo Edo Sho made since the 20th century. Utilizing the TIC offices and conference rooms, the joint (R) (R) (R) (R) (R) 4 50 did not return, this was interpretedinterprete to tivity. (M) (M) (M) (M) (M) changed his alertness,was said to which bbeon “so the inpeaceful ugawapremise turn Ieyasu canthat tha evenimprove cats his work managers and researchers in architecture and brain science 8 research projectDublin will City estimate Gallery The testHugh Lanesubjects’ mental and 5 60 6 (Min)mean death. could sleep.sleep.” that the reign fields. This research will cover such subjects as on-site Challenge 2017 Vol. 02 (M)=M efficiency. The plan for the future is to carry out further - physical states (such as alertness) and create an environ ental arithme 7 for maintaining health. Although sleep was the state vens.research while incorporatinge “sothe peaceful opinions of. Anothercompany explan verification with the simulated tasksTechnology replaced by real tasks, and Innovation Center mental control schedule for optimizing them. In this way, tic “I hope researchers can learn (R)=Rest ” and improvement in the completeness of automated control the project aims to achieve a next-generation intelligent of rest shared by everyone, people partook of it under through the use of AI and IoT. This type of research is a a- Challenge” environmental control system that will help improve people’s “ how to independently identify Set to 27℃ remain unknown. different conditions. ented new genre for the world, and the project team members, intellectual productivity. d to gunate For example, it is said that beds including Toru Nishino, are energetically continuing with ion result over time were invented in ancient EgyptEgypt; The figurenew at the toptopics of page 3 shows to part challenge, of the experi e stimulus The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle already developed a physiphysi- NTT West experiments in the hope of completing new indexes for air ment that has been conducted so far. Biometric sensors, ) however, it is not clear how they later With constant temperatureological explanation for sleep, con- and space that can be utilized in a variety of fields, accord- cameras, and avoidingenvironmental sensors attachment were positioned inside to the past” spread. In Japan, there is evidenceevidenc Yoichi Ochiai With temperature stimulus sidering it a periodic phenomenophenomenon for Collaborationthat related bed-like tofurniture air-conditioning made from tree network ing to need. a room to collect data on a regular basis. The collected data recuperation from fatigue that was logs was once used. The covering was used to analyze the relationship between the alertness of ×TIC D only seen in animals. Aristotle sa used also differed from that used in the person present inside the room and the environment there. that sleep was time allotted to all In order to satisfy the changing needs of social infrastruc- ture, a collaborativethe West. Tatami project culture to create was borborna new in air-related value New air-related service The test subject was a male in his thirties who was asked people. But sleep environments, the con - the Nara Period (710 – 794A.D.), started last autumn. This project utilizes IoT and capitalizes to do mental arithmetic (with each set consisting of 50 places and bedding used for sleepingsleeping, - while during the Heian Period (794 – based on LPWA technology n for on Daikin’s air-conditioning technology and NTT West’s mental arithmetic addition problems). The test was repeated 1185A.D.), multiple tatami mats would LPWA technology (general term for low-power wireless a total of seven times with approximately five minutes of rest be stacked up to make a bed. We will send you every issue id communication technology that enables km-range Published by Technology and Innovation Center, Daikin Industries, Ltd. in between. However, this was limited to the 76 communication).Imperial and aristocratic families, n in Phone. +81-6-6195-7051 (switchboard) Set ver time while farmers usually wrapped them Date of publication: September1-1, Nishi-Hitotsuya, 29, 2017 (Volume Settsu, 02) Osaka 566-8585, Japan (within Yodogawa Plant) 2 In the trial, air conditioners located in western Japan, Challenge 2017 Vol. 02 selves in straw to sleep. For centuries, , where TIC is located, are connected to NTT West’s LPWA System configuration of the tr http://www.daikin.com/about/corporate/tic/index.html 17 Vol. 02 networkthe sleeping in order environment to constantly for people monitor of their operating lower social status did not improve. It statuses, as well as indoor and outdoor air-conditioning Daikin Industries Head of the Digital Nature Group, University of Tsukuba was not until the Meiji Period (1868 – 4.0 It could be said that for halfinformation. of our If suchlives, a system comes into wide use, it will ebony, gold, 1912A.D.) or later that the use of Air conditioner become possible to inexpensively keep a subscriber’s air shows the 5.0 *Aroma: Included scents suchthere is no difference between communication (Drowsy) cotton bedding became widespread. - of Tutankh as rosemary and lemon conditioner consistently connected to a remote monitoring ial 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 those who are diligent and NTT West with anima center, enhancing air conditioner maintenance service. those who are lazy. This is Furthermore, there is a great expectation that the project Indoor unit Outdoor unit LPWA might lead to the creation of new services that flexibly after your registration

utilize various types of information sensed by the air condi- Set tioner, such as temperature, humidity, windD velocity, and cleanliness of the inside and outside air. LPWA base station He studied media arts at University of Tsukuba and D

Cloud NTT West / DaikinData Industries analysis longside Socrates Utilizing an LPWA network to keep air-conditioning equipment ntury B.C., and is said consistently connected to a remote monitoring center shortens hilosophy, medieval sophy and logic. the time required for identifying failed equipment, diagnosing ・Introduction to Events failure details, and handling sudden accidents. received a Ph.D. in interdisciplinary information studies

9 3 We will provide you with from the University of Tokyo. He researches the information on TIC guided possibilities of multimedia beyond images. To demonstrate a new relationship between computers and people known visits and interactive meetings as digital nature, he also engages in exhibition activities as a media artist by mainly using media art expressions that combine real world-oriented computer graphics, human TIC seeks collaborative partners with whom to generate new value. For further inquiries, computation, and analog and digital technologies. please contact : [email protected]

1 Challenge 2018 Vol. 03 1 Interview

produced is very important in B to B business. Although ideas related to how to create new designs Yoichi Ochiai or make things more convenient are important, in current Daikin sales channels, customers do not necessarily select Daikin products because they are innovatively convenient. The digital nature society that is just around the corner. Once an air conditioning unit is installed in a building, it is used for decades. So, customers will purchase How should the future look for technology? Daikin products because they can see whether they are being approached with highly-sensitive added-values over many decades. While there are naturally various other issues such as cost, I believe that a policy of creating better quality air is an important key. Born in Tokyo in 1987, Mr. Ochiai engages in digital nature studies, including the realization of expressions In the near future, if all luxury Asian restaurants were that reconstruct the boundaries between images and to only open up branches in buildings that used Daikin physical matter by using computational fields (digital air conditioners, the added-value power of this would be holograms). He has won numerous awards in and outside of Japan, such as Ars Electronica Award, a considerably high. The flavor of wine and rice wine world-famous media art award. The picture above is changes completely when they are offered at different PixieDust, one of his well-known works. temperatures. Because the flavor is also affected by room humidity, temperature and site of placement, “air” is an important element. It is also highly significant that TIC has the facilities to perform experiments related to air. Although it is also important to consider how to improve sales in three-year installments, researchers and artists should be afforded a slightly longer temporal When this happens, it will be commonplace and span, even if that vision does not immediately lead to completely natural. It is like forgetting that the air profits, it can improve the company’s appearance. I conditioning is on─we will just forget the presence of believe that working to improve the appearance of the such technologies. In contrast to 30 years ago, when we At the Technology Innovation Center (TIC), I am don’t want to consume a rare, luxury wine in an company in the long-term should start from areas that would have a device and watch the contents contained currently engaged in collaborative research into the environment that causes the taste to deteriorate. Despite overlap with the company’s core technology. in the device, we will enter a world where information creation of an artificial climatic chamber to improve the this, what happens when wine is placed in an can exist without a frame and this will be considered From a ubiquitous society to a digital taste of wine. Although this surprises many people, I environment at 26 ºC, at a site that is subjected to a nature society natural. I felt that it was worth pursuing this idea. This think that it is very important research. Nowadays, as air strong breeze? Even when sommeliers take care to was why I first started in engaging in work in the field of conditioners have become commonplace, the present the wine at 17 ºC, the temperature of the wine We are now moving from a ubiquitous society in digital nature. specifications shown in catalogues, structural factors and changes 10 minutes after the user starts to drink it. Good which anybody can connect to a computer network In its most extreme form, digital nature is artificial price are all important element of competition. However, quality wine is not suitable for consumption in 10 anywhere at any time into a new digital nature society. I nature created specifically for humans. Although infrared what we need now is an attitude of determining how minutes. Thus, it is no overstatement to say that the think that air conditioning is an attitude close to digital light cannot be seen by the human eye, there are much added-values that are completely new to the flavor of wine offered in a decanter is altered by the air nature. This is because although it is winter right now, I organisms that can only see infrared light. When company can contribute to Daikin. This is why I believe emitted by air conditioning. am not experiencing winter in my room. When in my humans are seen from this angle, it must appear as if that my research is important. room, I don’t think “It’s cold today.” Once, peoples’ they are communicating with something completely What is important for B to B business? Incidentally, there is actually quite a large number of rooms were nearly as cold as it was outside. Creating unknown. Digital nature must be like that. The arrival of How can a sense of added-value high-income earners who consume wines that cost appropriate for the invested price be nature that is convenient to people in this way is an a currently unimaginable digital nature society is not too around 70,000 to 100,000 yen per bottle, such as those produced? attitude that is specific to digital nature. We have far off. produced at Chateau Latour and Chateau Margaux. achieved this in terms of temperature, but not yet in We are now living in such an age. Therefore, I hate all They might open a bottle of this wine at a restaurant, Although sushi or steak etc. could be the subjects for terms of audio and visual technology. technology that tries to gain the trust of users without nightclub, or for somebody’s birthday. In such a experiments, the fragrance and other elements of wine It is still impossible for 3D images nor sounds to making technological endeavors. This is never beneficial situation, it is very likely that although not selected by are strongly related to the air surrounding it and there is simply pop up in spaces to be visible and audible when for customers. Most technology that appears to be well- the end user or store, the air conditioner in use will be a much room for engineering-related research on wine. It you want them to. However, surely this will be possible built but is found to be mediocre during actual use. Daikin product. Such users are completely unaware that is not a bad investment for a restaurant that offers wines soon. When audio and visual data that is of much higher Innovation will not occur if harmless manufacturing is the taste of the wine is completely changed by the air that cost at least 10,000 to 20,000 yen each and has a resolution than that of a smartphone or similar and built upon prioritizing existing harmless manufacturing conditioning. turnover rate of 2 times to change the air conditioning covers a wider area appears, all other elements in our methods and content comes later. I believe that there is Temperature is crucial for managing the taste of wine, system entirely for that purpose. I believe that the environments will also naturally shift from real to no future for technology unless content comes first, and and the type of people who drink Latour-class wine question of whether this sense of added-value can be software. manufacturing methods follow. D

2 Challenge 2018 Vol. 03 3 Daikin Undergoes Transformation Minoru Etoh Serving as senior vice president at NTT DOCOMO from 2012, he Special Interview promoted the development of a cloud-based platform and the optimization of data analysis using AI in the company. He has been a professor at Osaka University’s Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives since 2017. He is also president of Mirai Translate, Inc. and president of COTOBADESIGN, Inc., while supervising research Minoru Etoh on the artificial field conducted under the CREST program sponsored by Japan Science and Technology Agency. Professor, Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University ) for two years and earned a doctorate in image recognition. Later, I used my findings to become a leader in decoding images, and worked on international Hoping to link the standardization with MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group), which tackled the television, audio and video compression and transmission standards. “corporate plants” and As a result of my experiences, my worldview completely changed. I realized that “technological development that does not benefit society is useless” and “university knowledge” “essays that do not benefit society are just wasted paper.” Prior to that, I wrote my thesis and spoke nervously in English at international academic meetings, organizations together, with acceptance rates of 8%, thinking I had made it. However, once our proposal known as MPEG goes through, people worldwide will use it. A part of the to advance together television that everyone watches is our technology. In that way I found that our achievements had spread throughout the world. Aiming to nurture Last July, Osaka technological development where the company was University welcomed the researchers with particular The international standards for the information talent capable processing technology used to compress/ of research who University and lacking, and solutions. However, outside of japan, courtesy and gratitude. We believe that they should be decompress videos, sounds, and other can contribute to Daikin Industries companies such as Microsoft and Google are fully used extensively as partners to conduct joint research. multimedia we enjoy in our everyday lives were Co., Ltd. signed a collaborating to conduct large-scale innovation in the The visiting researchers are expected to become leaders developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group society from within MPEG (MPEG), a subordinate organization of the comprehensive sense of “research for business” such as for cloud of information technology development for Daikin International Organization for Standardization the workplace cooperation services. President Nishio stated that to compete with Industries in the future. We hope to provide a place to (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical agreement focusing changes overseas, industry-academia collaboration gain systematic knowledge, practical skills, problem Commission (IEC). Mr. Etoh led the standardization work of the MPEG when on the field of information science. From February 1, should not be limited to single aspects but should be finding abilities and enthusiasm to change society. working at Panasonic. Daikin has stationed 25 of its young employees at Osaka organization-to-organization link-ups whereby “corporate University. We began collaborative research by plants” and “university knowledge” will be joined Technological organizing to place one researcher in each of 23 together for co-creation. He hopes that companies and In order to drive this laboratories and three other staff members who are universities will create a base within the university for development project, I believe that it is responsible for overall planning, management and co-creation, establishing a virtuous circle of people, that does not important to always operation. knowledge and funding through an open relationship benefit society change and to be Because the university medical department has a between companies and universities, aiming for a major is useless. enthusiastic. hospital, it is possible to conduct research that can breakthrough at the university within four to five years. Essays that I started working on AI contribute to society, without leaving from both of the In addition, the president also said that this about thirty years ago. At MP4 is a file format used to store video data do not benefit compressed in MPEG-4 format. It allows you to reality and the principle, however the engineering comprehensive collaboration is so important that it will society are just that time, we were save not only static images and subtitles but department does not offer such an opportunity. We decide the future of Osaka University. If we try to pay considered experts in MP4 also digital sounds and videos encoded in believe that university has a sense of crisis and a feeling the labor costs of teachers with only government wasted paper pattern recognition and MPEG in one file. MP4 was first standardized in 2001, and the extension format called “MP4 that it will get stack on. We hope that by collaborating subsidies, it will lead to a decline in research capacity machine learning. When AVCE” was established in 2004. with Daikin Industries, together we can develop human and reduce competitiveness. It is imperative that Osaka the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (the resources who can perform research that can contribute University achieves success in such large projects as this current Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) began to society, without leaving the reality and the principle. I comprehensive contract, to attract funds from other working on computers, we hoped for the creation of believe that it can in fact help the universities. companies and thereby revitalize the university. artificial brains, but nothing of the sort happened, and In conventional industry-academia collaboration, In regards to the assignment of staff, apparently AI entered a period of “winter.” I was dispatched to companies sought the assistance of universities in president himself was in charge of the selection. Osaka Osaka University from Matsushita Electric (now

4 Challenge 2018 Vol. 03 5 Since then, I declared that gaining a doctorate is do it myself. I requested authorization to tackle with My boss at DOCOMO said “There is no way to head worthless (“as cooked rice underfoot”), which attracted data mining, and started with a team of five. Toshima research and development without passion. I will entrust much public scorn. Even if you get it, you cannot eat it. Group (see page 8) in the TIC must be same (laughs). my work to someone with passion.” In that sense, I only But it feels wrong if you do not get it. Everyone went into the Deputy Managing Director’s have passion. I will definitely commercialize this. For In the “Book II. Good Government” of the Analects of office, where we wrote our own programs, planned and me, it is important to “have no doubts at 40.” Confucius, it is written, “At 15, I had my mind bent on checked ourselves every day and analyzed the data to After starting with 5 people, the project grew to 20 learning. At 30, I stood firm. At 40, I had no doubts. At see how far we had progressed. Those days were the then 30 members, and DOCOMO’s data analysis is still 50, I knew the decrees of Heaven.” I was certainly an most fun. In 2007, we launched our data mining handled by the team I established. I think I’ve example of “At thirty, I stood firm.” MPEG became the business and built parallel and distributed petabyte contributed enough for my saraly. The important point first and most significant turning point in my life as a databases. The infrastructure of society today demands for commercialization is to see things as a whole, not as researcher—changing my view of life and the world. that we process large amounts of data at high speed and individual parts. I think it is important to develop the respond quickly to business changes. habit of adopting a bird’s-eye view. The habit of a bird’ In 2000, I transferred to s-eye view must be consciously adopted. In the past, I am the You cannot avoid a DOCOMO , where I was in bug as long as you about 1 in 100 incandescent light bulbs suffered filament grandfather- charge of mobile multimedia. work on software. damage due to vibration during transportation. At that The major view in in-law of iPod DOCOMO launched its third the IT world is that time there were two companies, one was M Electric and generation network 3G and you release a the other was H Manufacturing. The person in charge at was tackling multimedia─not simply talking on the product and H who received the complaint replied, “I will make a modifies it on your phone but viewing various content including videos and own. bulb that cannot be broken even by vibration.” M’s listening to music─which initially seemed just like a response was “I’ll give you one extra.” When I was fantasy. However, around 2001, this became a reality. young, I thought that M was a defeatist attitude, but now Essentially, the fact that we can now watch videos with I have nothing that I am “40 with no doubts,” I think that M was right. Special Interview DOCOMO is due to my first job and the decision made but enthusiasm When I was in Silicon It is about having ownership for the product. Even if we Daikin Undergoes Transformation with Apple to adopt the MP4 file format. Apple pleaded for this. We Valley, I realized that go back and fix it, it will take two or three years. with me to work together, making Apple’s QuickTime technology development Although it may be right from an engineer’s perspective, file format an international standard and enabling it to will definitely is linked directly to as a product manager responsible for products, on the function through DOCOMO. iPod was created from commercialize it commercialization. After spot compensation is the correct way. the belief that “I think the world will always get better,” entirely this concept. For this reason, I describe myself returning to Japan, I Of course you must also work to make an “I have to change constantly” and “there is no final as the grandfather-in-law of iPod. It was a shock when saw that colleagues engaged only in technological incandescent bulb that cannot be broken by vibration. destination.” According to the Analects, “At 60, I’m the iPod was release. The technology as well as the development were mistaken. While I am convinced that However, I came to realize that it is not good for an ready to accept atmosphere,” but I still want to change. business model were a tidied-up, scaled-up version of data mining is important, I also believe that, if handled engineer to become obsessed with making an In Japan, AI finally came to be common word, but i-mode. properly, data mining can be commercialized. While unbreakable incandescent bulb. I think that we can digitalization has still not been achieved. With digital This was between the end of 2002 and 2005, when I working on DOCOMO’s i-mode search engine and change when thinking more broadly with an overall transformation, we must position digital at the center of was in the Silicon Valley. I returned to Japan and was various data processing, I realized that, it would optimize perspective, and by developing a habit of engaging with management. You need the attitude that “the world is shunted to Deputy Managing Director of DOCOMO the DOCOMO telecommunications facility operation. the other party. If you cannot sell the products that you made of software.” Research Labs role for a while. Therefore, I started to That development was the result of a voice-agent developed, you should be concerned about you cannot Daikin should be proud of the basic technology which insist the importance of data in the future. In 2005, Tim application called “Shabette Concier.” We even handled sell it. You need to habitually consider technology, sales it has developed over the decades. But it needs to loosen O’Reilly announced that “data is the next Intel inside,” all the natural language processing by ourselves. I felt technique and branding as a whole. the yoke which developed without our noticing. “If they signifying the importance of data possession. I had like we were changing the world with each step, and I are motivated, l let them do what they want.” I think nothing, so I had nothing to lose. So I realized I had to enjoyed it very much. The idea that that this indicates the future of TIC’s digital era. D the world In the AI and IoT fields, we A voice-agent service offered by NTT Mirai Translate, Inc. was set up in must actually develop A yoke is a wooden crosspiece fastened on the DOCOMO. It is said to have resulted October 2014 with a capital of 495 is made of technology with considering necks of livestock when they are used to plow from research and development aimed at million yen based on Mr. Etoh’s hope that software commercialization from the fields and pull a car. It is fixed over the necks and creating something like “Aladdin’s magic people speaking different languages will connected to a car by attaching a stick called Shabette lamp” that meets any request from users Mirai become able to freely communicate with beginning. Commercialization Yoke nagae. It has substantially increased agricultural when they simply speak into their each other. The company aims to create and technological development are two sides of the one production, but at the same time, it is a tool Concier phones. It provides the most optimal Translate the common language function that coin. This was my personal “At fifty, I knew the decrees binding livestock and depriving them of their answer from among services and device transcends language barriers and bring freedom. functions when users speak into their new life and work modes as machine of Heaven” experience. phones about such things as what they translation by 2028. Europe turned software into science. It has been said want to research or do. that America made it a business and Japan made it a product. If you try to improve software performance, something always goes wrong or a bug emerges. In other words, if you do not allow bugs, you will not develop new features. How many times you failed is a reflection of how many times you tried. I continue my efforts with

6 Challenge 2018 Vol. 03 7 Symposium

Monozukuri (manufacturing) for kotozukuri (value creation), Daikin Industries, and TIC in how people live their lives. but our strengths lie in mechanisms particular, must put forward what E: That’s right. It’s like, start with it’s going to do. You must clearly urban design. Then, in the end, Carving out Daikin’s Future state your raisons d’être. Now you drill down to air conditioners. sell air conditioners. But, what are A: Consider the positioning of air Minoru Etoh you really selling? What value will conditioners in relation to the Professor at the Open and with AI and IoT you offer? For instance, Silicon whole frame. Otherwise, you end Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives (OTRI), Osaka University Valley’s discipline and code of up with something like a The angle of change will rapidly get steeper and steeper. Changes in AI After working at Panasonic (formerly conduct is, “The world is made of suboptimal approach, right? Matsushita Electric Industrial), the are particularly intense. What exactly is the essence of IoT? What are the software.” They share a common E: If Daikin gets stuck on the Advanced Telecommunications Research goals of TIC? The debate heats up around Professor Etoh. awareness of viewing things from idea, “But we’re an air con Institute International (ATR), and NTT DOCOMO’s Silicon Valley Office, Etoh a software-centric perspective. manufacturer,” then the company became a Senior Vice President at NTT This means they aim to create “a won’t grow, will it? DOCOMO, in charge of NTT DOCOMO system of systems,” that is, rather T: The only thing is though, Ventures and new business. He resigned as Senior Vice President in June 2017, and than solitary systems, they Daikin thinks that, when it comes has been in current position since July attempt to link them together to down to it at the very end, it’s 2017. make a bigger, more complex really about hardware. system. Otherwise, they believe, E: And that’s fine. there is no potential for future T: Daikin is a manufacturer that business growth. provides devices that directly S: It’s because we view software affect the end users and it can be in such a position that we could attentive in areas where IT reverse the concept of manufacturers can’t access. So, monozukuri, right? with manufacturing as its starting Photograph taken in E: You just mentioned design as point, Daikin should venture into Yoshihisa Toshima the Entrance Hall coming first. Are you referring to the world of IT. Deputy General Manager following the Technology and Innovation Center Symposium. Toshima design as in how a product looks? E: But, there are two demands After studying systems control engineering, says, “I don’t think S: No, I’m talking about user here. While it’s true that Daikin’s Toshima joined Daikin Industries in April humans will become experience, or UX. current strengths are important, 2007. He worked in product development, substitute robots.” before becoming engaged in the area of Etoh says, “I’m T: Previously, design was so too is leading into air cons air-conditioning IoT and AI in 2015. In looking forward to basically carried out by designing from setting urban design . 2017, he was appointed as Deputy General seeing what unusual the machinery for refrigerant Manager in charge of IoT and AI. In places humans T: For sure. It has to be addition to accelerating IoT and AI topics, appear.” control and required parts, and monozukuri (manufacturing) for Toshima is currently active in a wide range then designing the casing. But my kotozukuri (value creation), right? of areas, including the global promotion of Azuma: I heard that when the launched products, with Chinese society, and as we plunge into an view of design is, rather than E: But our strengths are in technology strategies and kotozukuri (value professor asked how many laps and Korean manufacturers also era of diversification, I want make working out how to design the air mechanisms. creation) and the acquisition/training of information system personnel. Daikin is behind in AI, many of newly entering the market, armed air conditioners more solutions- conditioner, look at how to design The next five years of Daikin engineers responded that with low prices. A sense of crisis based. The Internet of Things the air conditioning, the air and changes will be more it is three laps. has developed among TIC (IoT) and artificial intelligence the actual lifestyle of the user. intense than the last five Shimozu: That’s right, many of engineers that Daikin cannot (AI) have a particularly close S: Yes, that’s it. them were quick to respond that survive just by selling machines. connection with how to get this E: Take for example autonomous T: Currently, we have no idea Daikin is lagging three laps. S: When one thinks of air done. cars. Car manufacturers discuss where an air conditioner goes Toshima: That’d be because conditioner development, there is S: As things currently stand here, how automated driving ought to once it has been sold. Where does Daikin has developed as a top- a strong sense of machinery at any failings have ultimately been be. But they should be starting it go after it leaves our notch manufacturer of machinery, our company, and this atmosphere shifted onto software. If there was with the question of how traffic warehouse? My aim is to use IoT Naotake Shimozu right? Our technology is all about makes it difficult to understand even a slight fault with the ought to be in a particular city. to connect with customers so as Senior Engineer multi-split type air conditioners the values that can be offered by hardware, it would always be What should the city be like? to directly provide values. That’s Technology and Innovation Center for commercial buildings. The software development. managed somehow using Start with urban design, then because it’s only once we can see After working in the Electronics DESICA and Urusara are both software. But now I reckon the think about how self-driving where and how the air con is Engineering Laboratory and Electronic TIC must put forward Systems Business, Shimozu was appointed super innovative products, and game is changing. The approach buses should be; how self-driving actually being used that we’ll be what it is going to do manager in charge of prototype Daikin has been an industry is becoming more like there is taxis ought to be. That’s what I able to produce diverse solutions development at the Solutions Product leader ahead of other companies T: As we transition from an era of design, then there’s software and reckon design means. for each customer. Thus, when Development Center. He is engaged in developing a wide range of software in a sense of performance. simply making heating and then comes hardware. T: So, in other words, think about implementing diversification, products, including CAD systems and Meanwhile, competitors have also cooling more efficient to a digital Etoh: This is precisely why air conditioners by considering software is easier to apply, and I air-conditioning controllers.

8 Challenge 2018 Vol. 03 9 Symposium

saury will become 200 yen. keep making improvements every culture is built. Together, they Fishermen are happy, and day. We need to quickly acquire form two stories. The second customers are happy. But an era various data and respond, with so story must be separated from the of unhappy middlemen appears much speed that it’s like, “We first. They cannot be built on the horizon. received information from together. If you’re embarking on a T: There’s a high likelihood that Professor Etoh and we’ve already new business, you have to build a the world will become one where made modifications.” second story. Dejima is quite improvements and modifications E: Because the world of software important in this regard, being won’t cut it. Daikin now has to isn’t perfect, right? isolated trading post built in introduce AI into the world of air T: I’d like to develop such a Nagasaki in the 17th century for conditioning. Besides, more than sensibility going forward, Dutch traders that was separated

Shimozu says, “Creating a just numbers and figures like wouldn’t you? so that it could not be interfered Dejima at TIC is about “Building energy efficiencies can S: Japanese manufacturers always with. people needing to have save you this much money,” there talk about quality first, so the S: Is this where changes are that enjoyable feeling of risk-taking more than are also “priceless” values, and notion of “software isn’t perfect” made, starting with the rules? wanting to take the easy this differs from person to person. is hard to explain, even for us at E: The culture is completely way.” Daikin. different. Isn’t software just the It’s like Daikin is using same as a growing child? conventional methods To change the corporate believe that hardware functions conditions by adjusting room For example, rules for games like Children fall over often, they cry to create a future climate, adopt will be gradually replaced with temperature and moisture in shogi and Go are fixed, but five “two-story management” at the drop of a hat, and they do software functions. Then we’ll be accordance with settings. It is years ago, we didn’t think that AI T: The world of software is one various things. They drive your able to propose air conditioning important to offer tailor-made would beat a human. And a without limits. A perfect score E: I mentioned this in my car, for instance, and cause an control functions for energy- services in accordance with machine built two years ago had now will not be for long. We can interview too, but Japan turned accident. And that’s why they saving and comfortable operation, needs. Although it’s based around an equivalent TOEIC score of 650 keep adding to it. And so, software into a product, right? grow. On the flip-side of growing as well as suggestions utilizing “comfort” and “energy-saving,” in points, and now, they’re getting operation is vitally important. The States, though, made it into a are failures and bugs. data for appropriate products and addition, we must make efforts in more than 900 points. In just two E: What troubles me at the business. T: Apparently, education at methods of use. For example, businesses related to air and years! It’s unimaginable, right? So moment is that Daikin is trying to A: That was your talk about just Company I starts from a zero “How about operating this air space in various situations. certain AI fields rise rapidly. create a future too much like it getting it out in the market, allowance for bugs, and so conditioner in accordance with A: I also want to consider AI in Sushi-making robots are already always has done. I think Daikin because society might fix it for us, employees learn about making the building in this way?” At the order to effect such revolutionary in sight. They’ve already been should challenge various or feedback could be utilized to excuses. same time, we will utilize our changes in the business model. incorporated into the industry, so unpredictabilities, but I still don’t make it better and better, right? E: That’s Company I in Japan, strengths as an air-conditioner E: One thing is for sure: the next it’s worth keeping an eye on what see it. E: To change this climate, I use right? It is commonly alleged that manufacturer to develop air five years of change will be more kinds of changes they’ll have. T: Current values might be able the phrase “two-story Company I wrecked Japan’s IT conditioners appropriate for intense than the past five years. There’s no doubt that some things to be achieved by confining management.” The first story is industry when they turned solutions to shift to monozukuri The angle of change will rapidly will change in certain areas. ourselves to functions. But if we sturdily built, and is where the software into a product. They for kotozukuri. Creating services get steeper and steeper... Perhaps they’re already taking try to take one more step, we current mechanics-centered turned it into something you’d and monozukuri for kotozukuri especially in the area of AI. Of place in air conditioners. must enter an unpredictable approach is practiced. On top of buy at a department store. You’d are the two aspects I want to course, change in agriculture and S: It’s mind-boggling, isn’t it? world. My view is that we must this sturdy platform, a separate open the “software” box, and but pursue. fisheries and so on will take a lot E: A few years back, no one somehow accomplish it through A: Even if it’s no longer about of time. But AI today is totally trusted Uber either, did they? operation, and that it is important selling products, air cons won’t different to AI five years ago. And S: That’s because in Japan, to have a sense of speed in trying disappear. That’s all the more AI in five years’ time will people’s first thought is definitely out modifications. More than reason why we have to get probably be even more different. something like, “What kind of quality of manufacture, I reckon creative. risks are associated with the use it’s about how to accomplish it Sushi-making robots T: The values provided by air of AI?” Right? quickly through operational parts. are already in sight conditioners will become more A: So then how should we go Security is one field in which a special, and become about A: Because the current world of about changing such a rigid, sense of speed is required. I need Etoh comments, servicing air conditioning and engineers cannot be extrapolated, conservative structure? nimble-footed talent in the field of “Ordering sudden, spaces. Ultimately, if we don’t everyone is anxious and no one E: While it’s unlikely any security. The discussion of across-the-board changes would be know how air cons are being wants to forecast the future. whether current version is right to disruptor will appear, sales impracticable. You’d used, our discussions will only E: Nevertheless, five years ago, channels in agriculture and in release is very important. But it’d be better off creating ever be about developing air no one could have really imagined fisheries are being largely be better to be a bit more teams of 5–6 people, and implementing conditioners that offer satisfaction the current situation. Even AI disrupted. A 50-yen saury won’t lighthearted, like, “Let’s just see changes sort of like a at any location and under any researchers themselves say so. become 300 yen, but a 100-yen how we go.” It is important to shotgun.”

10 Challenge 2018 Vol. 03 11 Special Symposium Feature

there’d be something wrong with E: From this perspective, too, TIC E: “Digitalization” has profound it. You’d ask them what they’re should build a Dejima. My view is meaning. It’s not just about going to do about it... they must make it two-storied. converting something into digital Human Knowledge T: Rather than dwelling too much form. “Digitalization” refers to IT plus OT makes IoT on that, the point is that the incorporating IT to change how customer’s values lie somewhere A: In an age of IoT, how do you something has been done. else. think TIC should change? S: It’s not simply replacing paper E: For example, the network E: IoT is short for “Internet of with digital. facility and operation manager at Things.” The two important A: And neither is it about putting DOCOMO’s R&D says to me, factors here are IT and operation heaps of microcomputers into air Storing “There’s still a bug in the network technology (OT). The way I put it conditioners. switch.” “Tell me there’ll never be is IT plus OT equals IoT. OT is S: How those microcomputers are any more bugs! Promise me!” I manufacturing technology. In the used changes. Human beings have succeeded in storing visible as well as say, “Yes,” but in my mind, I case of air cons, it is air- T: Work changes. invisible things by making full use of technologies. conditioner technology. That, plus A: Using various digital IT. You have to understand the technologies makes for greater two. Even if you analyze the data, efficiencies and fewer errors of if you’re in IT, for instance, you judgment, doesn’t it? know lots about IT but nothing E: Improved efficiency is just the about air conditioners, and so you first step of digitalization. There’s won’t be able to curate the data, also a second step involving in other words, select or explain changing how products are sold data. Therefore, in an age of IoT, and changing business models. you must know both. Anyone Appealing to Daikin is the fact who doesn’t know about air cons that it manufactures equipment Toshima comments, “If greater use will not be able to leverage IoT that is invariably installed in all of AI results in a sharing economy, for Daikin. Up until now, IT was office buildings and in all homes. it might lead to the end of purely the realm of IT. It was all I think more thought should be capitalism. That’s because matching is automated in sharing.” about data mind and optimization given to the tremendous power in cyberspace, but IoT of the this presents. For example, this future will at last be possible by could also be leveraged to change think, “There’ll be more bugs.” connecting with real OT. IT plus communications. We should This is the realm of the Company OT equals IoT. Daikin already discard current conventional I in Japan mentioned earlier. possesses OT. All that’s left is the wisdom and challenge the S: I, too, remember being called question of how to strengthen its unpredictable, braced with an de Paris Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville into the Quality Control IT. Reversing the hierarchy would almost belligerent mindset. Department and being asked be good. And using the earlier Remember, creation and failure whether there were no bugs in example of Dejima, while Dejima are two sides of the same coin. D our software. I told him there’d would be reversed, it’d be OK to be none, all the while thinking in also have some places that don’t my heart, there is no world turn around. Expressed in terms without bugs. of technologies that make for a Reporter for “Symposium” E: Quality assurance (QA) in the comfortable drive, Google will not Kenichi Azuma United States recognizes that win against for some time Chief Editor of Challenge Shifting from non-reusable batteries to rechargeable batteries: there are bugs. They consider to come. That’s because, although Technology and Innovation Center Batteries are said to have been in use since ancient times, whether the cost to fix a bug is Google might be able to do self- I am convinced but it was in the modern age that they underwent a remarkable evolution more than what they’d earn if driving, it won’t be able to build a that an approach to and contributed to the development of epoch-making electronic appliances, fixed. If it costs more to fix it, car that is comfortable to drive Kotozukuri (value and dramatically changed people’s lives. then they don’t. That’s how QA unless it has a thorough creation) based on The Electricity Fairy, painted by French Painter Raoul Dufy steady and realistic works. knowledge of cars. and exhibited at the 1937 Paris International Exhibition, Monozukuri S: That’s logical... T: Lately, I feel “digitalization” is (manufacturing) vividly portrays the world of electricity T: The concept of risk assessment more appropriate than “IoT” as will lead to as a symbol of science and technology. is pervasive. It’s a question of term for technology and a literary Kotozukuri . return on investment. methodology.

12 Challenge 2018 Vol. 03 13 Special Feature Human Knowledge: Storing

Was electrotherapy Primary to Secondary Moving from primary batteries clear, but one account holds that a state-of-the-art medical treatment Essential History to secondary batteries it dates back to an earthenware technique in the Edo of Batteries pot created in Baghdad (present- (With regard to some events, there period? are varying theories and the exact The history of “storing electricity” day Iraq) sometime between the year cannot be specified.) The technology of storing third to the seventh century A.D. electricity was slow to develop, 1780 ● Galvani (Italy) discovered started with the development of and called the “Baghdad battery.” but electricity created was used principle of batteries In a reproduction experiment, it in many applications. One 1800● Volta (Italy) invented the lithium-ion batteries unique example is “The battery was proved to actually function as Elekiter” created by Gennai battery, but it remains unclear as Hiraga, a Rangaku (Dutch 1866● Leclanché (France) invented to how it was used in ancient studies) scholar in the Edo the original form of the dry period. Gennai gained attention battery Human beings have evolved times. batteries—used in flashlights. for repairing and improving 1900● Edison (U.S.) invented the continuously by acquiring various It is natural to think that the With the invention of portable Dutch medical equipment and nickel-iron storage battery types of wisdom. “Storing things” battery was invented from the electronic devices, such as tape using it for medical treatment. 1955● Start of domestic mercury is also an essential type of need to “use electricity whenever recorders and home video battery production wisdom for evolution. necessary.” Considering this, it’s cameras, demand for secondary NiCd battery packs for 8 mm 1964● Start of domestic production Human beings have stored all sensible to presume that the batteries that can be recharged camcorders launched by of alkaline dry battery, kinds of things from food to history of batteries dates from the and used repeatedly has contained NiCd batteries and manganese dry battery and water, money, and energy. When 19th century, when many increased.” were therefore quite heavy. nickel-cadmium battery you think about storing things, different types of batteries were In the mid-1980s, when Mr. Therefore, Mr. Nishi received a 1976● Start of domestic production what is important is what to store developed. The term batteries Nishi started research on lithium- request from the Design of silver oxide battery and lithium primary battery as well as where and how to store include both primary batteries ion batteries, groundbreaking Department to halve the weight 1977● Start of domestic production it. Some things can be kept as and secondary batteries. Primary electronic devices started to hit of battery packs. In order to meet of alkali button battery they are while other things need batteries come with electricity the market. the request, it was necessary to 1986● Start of domestic production facilities for storage or know-how stored inside the housing and are “In those days, the mainstreams develop a new-type of high of air zinc battery for changing their shapes to store designed for single discharge. On of secondary batteries were lead performance battery to replace 1990● Start of domestic production them. Human beings have stored the other hand, secondary acid batteries and nickel- the NiCd battery. Inspired by the of nickel-hydrogen battery visible as well as invisible things batteries can be recharged after cadmium (NiCd) batteries. NiCd words of Mr. Akio Morita, then Developer of the lithium-ion battery 1991● Start of use of mercury-free by using cutting-edge they are used up. batteries used sintered nickel, a Chairman of Sony, that “you manganese dry battery. technologies. It’s safe to say that Yoshio Nishi This article focuses on “storing.” very heavy material, for their might as well develop a novel Produced and developed electricity, which is essential for Graduated from the Department of Considering that secondary electrode, resulting in heavy battery,” Mr. Nishi made up his lithium-ion battery Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science modern living, is one of the most battery is the first type of battery weight. So, the challenge we mind to work on the development 1992● Start of use of mercury-free and Technology, Keio University, in 1966. alkaline battery difficult things to store. After serving as Executive Vice that can store electricity, we will faced was to develop ‘more of a lithium-ion battery with high Stopped mercury battery President, Executive Officer of Sony look into secondary batteries in lightweight and smaller’ voltage and high energy density 1995● Corporation, left the company in 2006. production Rechargeable batteries this feature article. “While there batteries.” per unit weight. D are indispensable for Currently serving as Corporate Research have been different types of various types of electric Fellow of Sony Corporation. Received the Charles Stark Draper Prize (US) in secondary batteries developed equipment that are 2014. The author of “Speakers and New until now, I think it’s lithium-ion Money rapidly becoming Materials” (Tojusha) and “Story of available to consumers Lithium-Ion Batteries” (Shokabo), etc. batteries that have contributed COLUMNStoring significantly to the evolution of Other types of knowledge of the human race Converting energy among its The origin of the battery is not people’s lives,” says Mr. Yoshio Some items were difficult various forms including heat, Nishi, the developer of lithium- to store until money was electricity, and light does not ion battery. Mr. Nishi was Types and principal uses of batteries introduced as a common formerly a researcher at Sony means of exchange change the total amount of energy. Chemical battery Physical battery Corporation (“Sony”) who has With the diversification of people’s values for engaged in various types of things, trade by the barter system ceased to be Primary battery Secondary battery Fuel battery Physical battery workable. This created the necessity for Hermann Ludwig （rechargeable battery） research over many years. Alkaline dry cell Fuel battery Solar cell medium of exchange, which resulted in the “When I was a child, batteries introduction of money. It is said that grain, Ferdinand （Gaming console etc.） Nickel mercury External supply of Solar battery substances needed for Alkaline manganese battery meant dry-cell batteries—primary shells, and swords were initially used as money. chemical reactions dry cell （Digital camera etc.） von Helmholtz （Flashlight etc.） NiCd battery Batteries can be categorized into primary Beautiful, high-value （Electric power tool etc.） Lithium-ion battery batteries, secondary batteries, fuel cells, and money made of A representative physicist in mid-19th century （Camera etc.） Producing Lead-acid battery electricity by Converting physical cells, etc. Besides lithium-ion batteries, metals, such as gold, Germany. Derived the law of conservation of Silver oxide battery （Car battery etc.） chemical reaction physical energy research and development is also underway on silver, and copper, energy. His students included Heinrich Hertz, Alkaline dry cell Lithium-ion battery and chemical into electricity circulated at one （Mobile phone, the development of solar cells to solve who provided the existence of electromagnetic Alkaline button battery gaming console, substances environmental and energy issues. However, only time. waves, and Shohe Tanaka, a physicist and Zinc-air battery laptop PC, etc.） secondary batteries can store electricity. music theorist.

14 Challenge 2018 Vol. 03 15 Special Feature Human Knowledge: Storing

Structure of lithium-ion battery Modern living supported by batteries Discharge Recharge the lithium-ion battery, he responsively to ideas for research became a major trend around the analyzes, “I’m a ‘rotary switch- and should place importance on world in the late 1990s. His A new-type rechargeable type’ person. That’s why.” “Rotary interacting with people in the research and development of

e- switch-type” researchers are same field of research as well as lithium-ion batteries has been e- e- battery developed from Li+ researchers who have lots of those from other research fields. often reported in the media as a

- channels and information and put This is because you never know major candidate for the Nobel more than 100 million e them to use according to needs. what amazing collaborative Prize. Concerns arose at one time + Active material Li Active material combinations of materials (carbon material) (lithium complex oxide) In these days, too much emphasis innovation can be created through about the possible depletion of is placed on having expertness in such interaction. lithium. However, such concerns Current collector Negative Positive Current collector (copper foil) electrode Separator electrode (aluminum foil) every genre that ‘knife switch- “I believe that researchers were eliminated following the

F Binder resin F Binder resin type’ researchers, who only have should make a conscious effort for discovery of lakes that contain （PVdF） （PVdF） The idea of using lithium for including materials for various Electrolyte specified narrow channels and ‘storing.’ That includes storing not highly pure lithium in South

batteries dates back to more than components. Mr. Nishi got all F electrolyte ＋ additiveF ＋ Solvent information are increasing. only knowledge and technologies America and China. Lithium-ion 20 years before Mr. Nishi started these done in only five years. In LiPF6 VC EC-EMC “I was able to broaden channels acquired through research but batteries have high energy LiBF4 FEC PC-DEC research and development on the addition, the finished lithium-ion because I engaged in research on also personal connections.” density, and will be increasingly EC ：ethylene carbonate lithium-ion battery, as researchers battery became a big hit and EMC：ethyl methyl carbonate acoustical materials at Sony for Lithium-ion battery invented by and deeply connected to the lives PC ：propylene carbonate in various countries have made contributed to making people’s DEC ：diethyl carbonate many years,” explains Mr. Nishi. Mr. Nishi became a big boom of modern people through further Reference: Comprehensive Primer on Fluorine many efforts to engage in studies lives more convenient. (Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, Ltd.) Acoustic materials range widely right after its launch in 1991. It improvement. D to achieve the practical utilization What are the reasons for his from audio speaker diaphragm of lithium-ion battery. However, success in a short period of time? two or three times as much and cabinet materials, diaphragm as lithium is a flammable metal, “There were various factors, but quantity/many units of measuring of headphones and microphones, Nearly every man who develops an lithium-ion batteries were one thing that contributed to equipment, test production and peripheral equipment of associated with safety concerns. speeding up research was that I devices, and materials as you built-in speaker record players, idea works it up to the point where Batteries mainly consist of used ‘parallel processing’ in need available all the time. Then, etc. The diaphragm of a speaker, it looks impossible, and then he gets three parts: positive electrode, research.” you won’t need to slow down for example, is made up of all discouraged. That’s not the place to negative electrode, and Parallel processing is a method your project work to, for example, kinds of materials, such as metals, electrolyte. “Various materials can of research whereby two or more fix broken measuring equipment.” polymers, ceramics, paper, and become discouraged. be used for each component, with studies of possible scopes are The most promising candidate wood, etc., as well as even more than 100 million kinds of conducted simultaneously, with selected through research was material based on bacterial combination of materials,” says the results checked periodically lithium-ion battery. People in the cellulose biosynthesis. Thomas Alva Edison Mr. Nishi, “However, I believe and unpromising projects being industry were astonished that Mr. “I was able to put into use that only about 30 kinds of abandoned. There will never be Nishi achieved the commercial various accumulated knowledge An American inventor and entrepreneur who made significant achievements from the 19th to the 20th combination have been put into enough time if you proceed with production of lithium-ion battery and technologies of mine in the Century. He is said to have created about 1,300 inventions practical use so far.” research by assessing the results in a short period of time. development of secondary and technological innovations, including the gramophone, incandescent lamp, and kinetoscope, throughout his life. Mr. Nishi chose lithium and of each process. batteries. Surprisingly, battery Becoming an open- designed the battery structure “It is also important to have materials and acoustic materials minded researcher with Heat many receptors have one thing in common: both materials need to be kept dry. COLUMNStoring Food Other types of knowledge of the human race Recalling the extraordinary Technologies that are moisture- COLUMNStoring Other types of knowledge of the human race speed with which he completed repellant that I found useful for Utilize heat insulating materials and heat reserve acoustic materials were also heating equipment etc. to block heat transfer The storage of food, one of the most important useful in the field of battery Because heat is transferred quickly things to store, started with drying food development.” from objects at a high temperature Storing food became widespread with the shift in people’s to objects at a low temperature, it is lifestyle from hunting and gathering to farming. People had “Researchers need to have a difficult to store. In housing, heat adopted drying process as the most common storage method bird’s-eye view: while they need insulating materials inside the walls long before moisture was scientifically proved to be the to have an overall view of their are used to block heat transfer from cause of decay. Food storing methods later underwent the inside and outside of the methods using chemical reactions such as smoke-drying, research, they must also have building. Mechanisms that make it curing and fermentation to produce smoked food, cured profound knowledge of difficult for heat inside to escape food, pickled food, candied food, and fermented food. characteristics and essence of outside can be called heat storage mechanisms. A modern means of Ice storing rooms are designed to keep natural Mr. Nishi believes that “researchers must be each substance to be able to use of heat is heat reserve heating Heat shielding materials are conducive to ice frozen until summer. The Imperial Palace conscious about acquiring storing knowledge combine many different equipment that uses lower-cost creating comfortable housing space. used to have its own ice storing rooms in and information in themselves,” He himself is substances,” says Mr. Nishi. For electricity at nighttime to store heat However, it is necessary to reduce Yamashiro, Yamato, Tanba, Kawachi, and Omi. an avid reader. He says that he doesn’t read as inside the heating device for use emissions of chlorofluorocarbon, etc. in much as he used to, but he still enjoys reading that reason, researchers need to during the day. their production processes. about one book every three days. have receptors to react

16 Challenge 2018 Vol. 03 17 Special Feature Human Knowledge: Storing

Fusion of lithium-ion batteries and fluorine Primary and Secondary Lithium-Ion Batteries─Structures and Fluorine Function

■Secondary ■e.g.) Fire alarm ■e.g.) EV/HEV Daikin’s goal is to “store lithium-ion battery Primary battery for automotive use

electricity in greater amount” CFx for BR Negative Heat resistance and “continue storing electricity” electrode terminal Negative Mr. Kenzo Takahashi electrode (lithium) PTFE binder and Ms. Naoko Separator Positive electrode Nakamura are (graphite fluoride or Oxidation manganese dioxide) resistance While Daikin Industries, Ltd. conducting research Development of a on electrolyte in their Secondary battery Positive PFA for packing (“Daikin”) is taking a leap as a electrode terminal Gasket fluorine additive for laboratory at TIC. manufacturer of air conditioning They pick out Long-term reliability electrolyte and binder promising electrolyte of electrolyte systems, the company has another resistance property from among Fluorine-containing Electrolyte Negative aspect as a leading manufacturer Increasing battery capacity numerous candidates electrolyte electrode terminal of fluorine. Fluorine plays an requires the inclusion of many based on their hypothesis and conduct tests Gasket Sealing plate to verify their hypothesis using different Long-life, important role in producing electrode active materials into high voltage property Positive Negative additives. electrode tab electrode tab lithium-ion batteries. In fact, batteries. Therefore, Daikin has Separator PFA for packing Gas blowdown valve fluorine compound is used in developed the highly flexible Negative electrode binder and electrolyte that are binder VT/VW series to meet that satisfies customers can be Long-term reliability plate Positive electrode used to retain active materials for these needs. maintained while aiding in giving of electrolyte (aluminum can) Separator Positive resistance property electrode binder the positive and negative As for Daikin’s effort for batteries a longer service life.” Positive electrode electrodes of lithium-ion batteries. “continuing to store electricity,” Daikin started its electrolyte plate Oxidation resistance, high capacitance Daikin has a long history of Mr. Kenzo Takahashi, who business in 2015 with an original Primary battery used in fire alarm and secondary lithium-ion battery equipped in research and development in conducts research and electrolyte containing this electric vehicle. Fluorine is used in various parts of both types of batteries. applying fluorine to lithium-ion development into electrolyte, additive. Daikin has also created batteries. Daikin has carried explains: new possibilities for electrolyte characteristic of having strong discussions are held to produce going forward. The development through research projects on “What we mean by ‘continuing composed a fluorine solvent. This voltage endurance. hypotheses to overcome each of electric vehicles is garnering various themes, and it is to store electricity’ is to contribute electrolyte can be charged with “Electrolyte, binders, and issue and research and attention around the world. continuing to engage in research to achieving a longer service life higher voltage than an electrolyte gaskets are the main products development is proceeded with Therefore, research and and development toward of lithium-ion batteries. composed of a conventional related to lithium-ion batteries. once a satisfactory answer is development in lithium-ion achieving its goal. One current Therefore, Daikin developed a hydrocarbon solvent. This is a We have grasped customer needs arrived at. Incidentally, moisture batteries is forecast to accelerate issue for Daikin is not just fluorine additive for electrolyte. It result of our focusing on fluorine’s related to this and are engaging in control is a specialty of Daikin, an further down the road.” “storing” electricity to “storing was demonstrated that by adding new product development air conditioner manufacture. We Mr. Takahashi himself is electricity in greater amount” and this to the electrolyte of lithium- together with other departments have infrastructure to create a dry working on the development of “continuing to store electricity.” ion batteries, output performance and companies.” environment, which is essential materials for secondary batteries However, it is not easy to meet for the research and development that can store electricity more the needs of customers. Batteries of batteries, which do not tolerate efficiently. Toward that end, it is Water have a very complex structure in moisture. Daily research and essential to carry out collaborative COLUMNStoring which metals, ceramics, organic development activities are innovation with a partner who Other types of knowledge of the human race substances, as well as polymer conducted in such an understands and sees possibilities Hydraulic power generation and gas, are contained in limited environment. Battery in Daikin’s uniqueness. D also possible at dams, which space. Furthermore, technological manufacturer overseers who issues need to be solved under come to visit our facilities are said store the water required for Reporter for “Storing ” preserving life very severe conditions in terms of to be surprised at the expanse Humans have long gathered at mainly sites where Kenzo Takahashi temperature, electricity, etc. and ability of this dry Jun Kobayashi water is available, such as springs and mountain Electrochemistry Team, Product R&D “Meanwhile, Daikin has its infrastructure. Challenge Planning and Editing Supervisor torrents. To secure the water that is required for Department, Chemicals Division and Technology and Innovation Center daily life, it needs to be stored. Such sites for TIC Chemistry Advanced Technology strengths,” says Mr. Takahashi. “Demand for lithium-ion storing water eventually become larger, forming Group Specifically, Daikin, albeit being a batteries, advantageous for weight We are conducting Water stored in dams is used for reservoirs and dams. Current dams are used not Engaged in the development of support of battery material manufacturer, and size reduction, has increased research and various purposes. In Japan, a dam only to store water for drinking, but also to humidity conditioning materials for development for has development members who rapidly with the spread of mobile is defined as an installation with a prevent floods by adjusting the amount of water aluminum fins at Daikin Environmental more efficient height of 15 m or higher. There so that river water levels do not rise above a Laboratory. After working on the PS project, are not only specialists in phones, gaming consoles, and secondary are about 3,100 dams throughout certain level. In addition, the energy produced by joined the Chemicals Division. Currently chemistry, but also batteries, notebook computers. In addition, batteries. For the country. The photo shows flowing water can also be utilized to generate involved in the development of electric further inquiries, Kurobe Dam. hydraulic power. electricity, machinery and spread of electric vehicles is double layer capacitors and electrolyte for please contact me. lithium-ion batteries. intellectual property. Thorough expected to boost their demand

18 Challenge 2018 Vol. 03 19 Technology and Innovation Center Fellow × Fellow Dialogue Ei-ichi Negishi Ichiro Sakata Special Dialogue

Ei-ichi Negishi The great enemy of research is to think that nothing can be Awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry done because a more experienced employee says so. It’s a Daikin Industries Fellow After graduating in 1958 with a Bachelor kind of pitfall. Ei-ichi Negishi of Engineering in applied chemistry, he joined , Ltd. In 1960, he won a Fulbright Scholarship and commenced S: This is exactly why everyone Even an abnormal idea studies for a Ph.D. degree at the has to study. University of Pennsylvania. Since 1999, gains its own kind of he has been a Distinguished Professor in N: This is a major point we respect. the Herbert C. Brown Laboratory of should correct in Japan. Chemistry at Purdue University. He also S: We are in a period of S: Your idea of cross-coupling is a has honorary doctorates from the University of Pennsylvania and the significant change, and the leap that famous forerunners University of Tokyo. culture in global research must be could not make. Global companies Ichiro Sakata adopted by the management of in Japan need to shift to Professor, Faculty of Engineering TIC (the Technology and environments that nurture ideas University of Tokyo Innovation Center). like that. Daikin Industries Fellow Born in 1966. He has served as professor N: Daikin’s strength now is it N: It would be more challenging, in the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of regards a study directly linked to and the success rate would be Engineering and its Policy Vision a good product or business as low. That’s why they tend to take Research Center. Prior to that, he was an Sakata: Thank you for coming to ask even if they are wrong. They official with the Ministry of Trade, good research. This is to protect the easier way by focusing on a the Hongo campus today. can start from that point. They Economy, and Industry. His interests the company. high success rate. span energy and sustainability, Negishi: The president just said, ask because they do not know. In a modern company today, In order to create such an human beings is to be created in nanotechnology, innovation policy in the S: S: “One of the challenges the “Nothing wrong”, even if they are information sciences field, technology it’s not possible to determine environment, one thing that is the future, it is in new ideas and University of Tokyo faces is the off point. management, regional clusters, and what a good product is only at the needed is a culture where the challenges. It is ways of thinking industrial policy. lack of enthusiasm in the younger S: In Japan, the more talented a R&D site. A good product is one leader calmly listens to ideas possible only by human beings generation.” Haven’t there been person is, the fewer opportunities that creates added value not different from his own and that will develop companies. In any channels to nurture active he has to make a fool of himself. S: The laboratory in the U.S. is expected by anyone when looking recognizes the good ideas. It’s the coming era, if you try to bring people? N: To feel ashamed leads to competitive, isn’t it? ahead into the near future. Really important to pay respect or have out the added value of each S: There have hardly been any modesty. Without this type of N: An issue might be discussed successful technology hardly ever an interest in things that are person, it may be necessary to throughout Japan, I believe. The sensibility, real collaboration is for two or three hours, for come out from the extension of different. Even Don Quixote, find and dig up sources of new University of Tokyo is attempting impossible. Being Don Quixote instance, and a consensus is the past technology or idea. The whom you mentioned earlier, or a ideas, using ways of thinking that to change freshmen mindsets as will eventually lead to trust. reached from the perspective of extension of the past might be somewhat abnormal idea has its are unique to human beings. soon as students enter the S: If we do not welcome those research. Then I make the final good for a short time, but it is not own way of gaining respect. That N: That ability derives from the university. They do not have the who are different from ourselves decision. The judgement should a source of dynamic idea nor makes it possible to take on fundamental abilities of the sensibility of creating questions, with interest and respect, we be constant. However, if I do not breakthrough technology. challenges. person, but the policy of the as the Japanese education they cannot achieve open innovation. clarify the basis of the judgement, N: There are two kinds of new N: Companies want short-term university or the company is also had up to then is to solve difficult Daikin is trying to create new the researchers will ask me about discoveries, inventions, and gains by any means. important. Again, companies go problems quickly and accurately. value by collaborating with others it mercilessly. innovations—improvement types S: I study the data science of AI. for short-term gains. This kind of Once a student asked a professor from an equal, win-win position. S: Even with a teacher or a more and non-continuation types. Human beings have a very strong corporate culture impedes new to tell him the answer. The N: Not competitively, but experienced employee, a doubt is ability to produce things that are ideas from appearing. How far student was shocked to hear his collaboratively. The competition a doubt. This is healthy different from others, things that and how long should companies reply that “a question with an should be in a collaborating collaboration, isn’t it? are not extensions of the past, wait for them to appear? That answer is not worth studying in group. N: The great enemy of research things that can fuse with things makes a subtle difference and can the first place.” is to think that nothing can be that have never been encountered determine success or failure. The extension of the past is Japan has a shame-based done because a more experienced before. This ability cannot be N: not a route to really S: That’s where the cleverness of culture, but students in the U.S. successful technology employee says so. It’s a kind of easily replaced by AI. AI is good management lies. We are now in are more like Don Quixote. They pitfall. at predicting what will occur an era where it is important to

Courtesy visit to Makoto Gonokami, three years in the future based on find out what is happening Added value unique to human beings and irreplaceable President of the University of Tokyo. past trends. Therefore, if a person everywhere in the world and how The president said, “In this period of does only this type of thing, the it is happening, or how to by AI comes from new ideas and challenges that are not globalization, it is necessary for various people to share ideas and to take value of that person will fall discover the future society extensions of the past. Ichiro Sakata action through cooperation.” steadily. If the added value of through reliable road mapping. D

20 Challenge 2018 Vol. 03 21 What is the best room temperature, Defining the Researcher Series ❸ humidity, scent or wind? Conventional air conditioners will become I want to create a yardstick measuring systems that maintain temperature while the sensibility of different people. stimulating the senses

To m o h i ro Ya b u Group Leader and Senior Engineer Technology and Innovation Center IAQ Technology

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) means a comfortable indoor people. It will also be possible to maintain health, cure environment. In the 1980s, “sick building syndrome,” illness, and improve mood using air. In other words, “If which results in physical ailments caused by chemical we don’t have standards, the culture of IAQ will not substances emitted from building materials, became a spread and improve,” explains Yabu. problem in the United States, and IAQ was widely One example is the research on “air that prevents discussed. More recently in Japan, airborne substances fatigue” that the Group has been conducting in that can impair human health such as pollen, PM2.5, collaboration with RIKEN since November 2017. They and yellow sand from dust storms have become an issue have been measuring typing error times and other of social concern, and interest in IAQ is rising. Taken factors when workers operate PCs in a room with varied literally, IAQ simply means the “quality of indoor air,” conditions such as temperature, humidity, and air flows. but IAQ Technology Group Leader and Senior Engineer By measuring biological information relating to Tomohiro Yabu sees it more than in terms of “making autonomic nervous functions and indicators of fatigue, the air clean.” they are elucidating the relationships between air and fatigue. Each person senses room temperature, The Group is working with NEC, using facial humidity, and scent differently, so the first step is to determine standards for measurement recognition technology with AI to measure single aspects of facial expressions such as the appearance of wrinkles The IAQ Technology Group, of which Yabu is the in the forehead and establishing links between air and leader, develops technology for using air conditioning to comfort. The Group is also conducting research using AI control air, which accounts for the majority of indoor and IoT technologies to collect brainwave and other data spaces, and conducts research on enhancing quality of on how the brain becomes aroused by changes in life by improving IAQ. temperature, airflows, and scents. They are also In order to do this, Yabu believes that standards for conducting research from various perspectives with measurement that determine “the indoor air the people Osaka University. experience as pleasant” are necessary. If standards for Yabu explains, “We are currently still in the research measuring how each individual experiences temperature, stage, but we are starting to form a hypothesis on how to In front of the DESICA developed by Yabu. He said he was impressed when executives at different companies said, “The DESICA is a Novel humidity, scents, and so on can be established, it will be raise the level of brain arousal using temperature, Prize for air conditioners” and “The person (Yabu) is a treasure for possible to determine what is air that is beneficial to airflow, and scent.” If this research proceeds, it will be Daikin.” Reflecting on these words, he looked embarrassed.

22 Challenge 2018 Vol. 03 23 Defining the Researcher Series ❸

Daikin’s needs Collaboration with Provision of values Hope to provide users Osaka University to society with air and space that enriches State-of-the-art people’s lives sensing technology Space reducing fatigue and stress Data analysis technology capitalizing on AI, etc. Improvement in sleep quality Space improving the quality of sleep Actuation technology based on robot technology, etc. Space contributing to preventing illness Air conditioning technology/ fluorine science technology

̶Daikin’s strength Comfortability in self-driving cars

■ Riken, Japan (CLST) × Daikin Copyright■ (C) 2017 DAIKINOsaka INDUSTRIES, ltd. UniversityAll Rights Reserved × Daikin On November 1, 2017, in collaboration with the RIKEN Center In July 2017, Osaka University and Daikin announced that for Life Science Technologies (CLST), Daikin Industries their researchers would conduct a joint study to commercialize opened an experimental facility to measure the fatigue people the achievements of studies on comfortability, productivity, feel at various temperatures and humidity levels. and security in space.

possible to measure whether a person is experiencing most enjoyable.” Broadening one’s perspectives involves stress with the sympathetic nervous system, a part of the combining information that one already possesses with Yabu says, “It is important to work with a hypothesis.” He always asks young researchers at the IAQ autonomic nervous system, playing a dominant role or is new information. For Yabu, curiosity is communication Technology Group, which he leads, “Do you want to buy this?” He requests subordinates in the group to work on their own, saying what they do not want to buy or sell is not worth to propose. in a relaxed condition with the parasympathetic nervous and supports passion and motivation. system dominant, and by establishing associations, it will “I store information on the cache memory of my brain, be possible to control this with air. rather than its hard disk, as much as possible. I want to I record information on my sponsored by the Japan Institute of Invention and “With current air conditioning, users can select only immediately integrate new information as electrical brain’s cache memory so that new Innovation. from among modes such as ‘hot’ and ‘cold,’ but in the signals. It’s important to always keep information near “It is only when seeds are planted that needs appear. I future, remote control units may have functions such as the surface.” information can immediately be believe that we need to think of things that will surprise ‘relaxation’ and ‘prolonged concentration.’” customers.” Committing 110% to one’s work leads integrated as electronic signals. Standards that establish associations between air to personal growth We know everything there is to know about air temperature/humidity and human sensibilities, actuation to the later DESICA. and will become the world’s first “air doctors” in the form of differentiating machinery to achieve those After joining Daikin in 1991, Yabu was assigned to the “Hot water supply units and air conditioners already associations, and solutions to select the various optimal Sonic Vibration Group, where he conducted research on existed, so I said I would work on humidity control, According to Yabu, Daikin’ IAQ Technology Group spaces that exist for each individual: “I believe that in reducing the noise of hydraulic pumps and coolant flow which I had not done and seemed more interesting.” “needs to know everything there is to know” about air. the coming era, value will not be recognized if any one noise. He later spent a year conducting pipe vibration He wants to hear, “if you have any questions about air, We need to think of things that will of these three elements is lacking. We need to integrate equipment tests. Day after day, he struck pipes up to surprise customers ask the IAQ Technology Group in the Daikin TIC, and the three into one,” says Yabu. 1,000 times a day. “I’m the type of person who enjoys they can answer everything.” He wants to have myself no matter where I am. At that time, I attempted By separating the heating and cooling of air personnel responsible for comfort and personnel Passion, motivation, and curiosity are essential for people who create things to produce a good sound with a single strike and collect conditioning from the dehumidification and handling odors. He tells IAQ Technology Group data. For me, it is the unknown that is interesting.” No humidification of the DESICA, it became possible to researchers to “become air doctors.” Yabu jokes, “If that Yabu made “passion, motivation, and curiosity” the matter where I go, something can be gained. It is by independently control temperature and humidity, happens, maybe I’ll be ‘Dr. Yabu,’” making a pun with educational slogan for the IAQ Technology Group. committing 110% to one’s work that we achieve achieving both comfort and energy savings. In the early the Japanese for “quack doctor.” Even so, it would be Passion refers to following up on products even after personal growth. stages of development of the DESICA, the basic system quite interesting if someday there really were “air they have been marketed. Motivation means the desire After that, Yabu worked in a Laox consumer was highly rated, and it was known to be technologically doctors.” to carry out research and development, and current electronics shop in Kotesashi, Saitama Prefecture (the possible. The biggest issue was how to miniaturize and Yabu says regarding the future of IAQ, “The major engineers are motivated to a certain degree. On the store has since closed) selling products to customers. commercialize the DESICA heat exchanger and the premise of doctors is that they make things better. I hope other hand, curiosity may be lacking. Through this direct contact with customers, he learned eight necessary damper systems. that in the future we will be able to create enjoyment “I am always telling researchers that they already the importance of following up to the very end with Yabu went to see Daikin sales personnel to ask their and comfort with air.” D understand what they can do, and I ask them to set that products that he had participated in creating. He opinions. He had them call customers, and Yabu He appeared, wearing aside and create something completely new—it can be believes that curiosity was a driving force with regard to explained the product, and asked for the customers’ glasses different from anything—in order to expand their range.” the challenges of the DESICA heat pump desiccant opinions. He did this from morning till night for a week. those he wore at the In Yabu’s day-to-day work, he spends very little time humidity control outdoor-air unit, which was released in Ten years later, when the product was finally symposium for the second issue of “Challenge” (refer sitting at his desk. Throughout the day, he scurries about 2007. commercialized, the sales personnel became his to page 25 of the second the TIC to talk to people. He says with a smile, “The Around 1997, Yabu had three options regarding his supporters, saying “Yabu went to such lengths to create issue). He has 10 pairs of times when I’m not acquiring new information are the next research subject: saving energy with hot water a good product that we have to sell it.” In 2011, the glasses that are different in shape and color and most tedious. Learning new information and thinking supply units, saving energy with air conditioners, or a DESICA won the Ministry of Economy, Trade and cares about his appearance. He smiles, saying, “I just change about how to combine it with other information is the humidity control outdoor-air unit that was a predecessor Industry Award, a commendation for invention glasses, depending on my mood.”

24 Challenge 2018 Vol. 03 25 Key Technology ❸

Embodying the philosophy of TIC Ensured reliability of air Unique properties of conditioning products fluorine compound The manifestation of Chemical the feature can Water/ resistance Performance Flame- oil resistance occur in tiny fields, degradation Corrosion/cracking retardant Low gas on the level of Repels oil permeability Advancing the of constituent Fireproof and water Chemical and molecules and solvent resistant materials Heat atoms. Analysis and Water leak resistance Proposing solutions Weather evaluation requires Heat-resistant beyond imagination resistance Gas leak utilizing the unique Environmentally observation even of Analysis and Evaluation resistant the molecular Slipperiness properties (lubricity) Optical structure. From this Non- Small friction Electric properties said micro Odors Individually adhesiveness properties coefficient Low refractive perspective, targets strengthened, Antifouling Insulation indexes Non-adhesive Hardly conducts have been expanded Technologies enhancing electricity and air quality releases no electricity to metals, chemical Daikin is doing its best for the analysis and evaluation of products and materials as well as the trouble compounds and even air, and they prevention, putting the top priority on trust from users. The core of this action is the Advanced Analysis are developing and Evaluation Technologies Group, composed of technical experts from multiple different genres. ‘visualization’ technology. Functional expression, durability and degradation mechanism Fusion in the three fields of Mechanics, controlled by micro phenomenon on material interface Chemistry and Electronics can only be realized in TIC

2018 is the third year since the and skills, but if our duty were data. It is our task to proactively The group considers advancing not Advanced Analysis and Evaluation only as a result of technology which Technologies through Internal Collaboration start of TIC. The Advanced just these two, we could be the reach this level.” Morimoto says. uses expensive equipment also as Analysis and Evaluation Analysis and Evaluation Group. advancement of data use Collaborate, utilizing Technologies Group is one of However, our mission is to mechanisms. Also, it is important to advantages from broaden the focus at the initial stage, close to 20 groups of TIC. Kouki advance further, and the word different fields or to adopt a composite-view. Morimoto, the leader and senior advanced implies many meanings

engineer of the group tells the rather than merely using The Advanced Analysis and Analysis of micro-structure members, “let's call it by its full advanced equipment. Based on Evaluation Technologies Group is name without abbreviating it, future analysis needs, it means a group of around thirty technical because it represents our group’s establishing new analysis experts working together, Structural analysis duty accurately, even if it is long.” methods, processing technology representing the three fields of

The mission for this group is with higher accuracy, increasing mechanical, electric, and Surface analysis Antibacterial resistance ‘Analyzing’ what is requested and efficiency, expanding analysis chemical analyses. The ‘Evaluating’ the result. objects, composition of analysis characteristics of the three fields Durability “Of course, analysis requires technology, and effectively are outlined below. Corrosion analysis advanced specialized knowledge utilizing the accumulated analysis Mechanical experts analyze and Mechanical properties

investigate the cause of faults in with excellent slippage and ● Internal implementation of collaboration air-conditioning equipment of our electrical properties, and chemical products to clarify fault experts verify if this is the case mechanisms. For example, fault based on the molecular-structure. modes such as corrosion and Electric experts evaluate the breakage are discriminated from electromagnetic compatibility surface analysis of the fault site, (EMC) of developed devices. This and the corrosion progress form involves evaluating whether Masao Nomi Kouki Morimoto Kunihiro Okada and breakage form etc. are electric waves emitted by air- New Analysis and Evaluation Technologies Advanced Analysis and Evaluation Technologies Group Material Corrosion clarified by metal structure. We conditioning equipment influence Search-Introduction Team Leader Group Leader and Senior Engineer Advancing Team Leader Wide area Minute area (Mechanical properties) (Chemical properties) can also determine what type of communications of Played an active part in the Pursuing the design and development of the Engaged in analysis work, Chemicals Division, engaged in compressors and development of reliability particularly on air-conditioning Collaboration—conducted by experts in stress was applied based on metal electromagnetic waves in a living materials development, mass evaluation technology at the air-conditioner equipment rejected by the analysis and evaluation technology for material shape. space, and whether air production, quality control, etc. production headquarters. Striving to bolster market, in the environmental air-conditioners (machinery, electricity), based on chemical analysis. cooperation in the reliability of the compressors and engineering institute. Recently, which more closely fits the user (customer Chemical experts verify conditioners are durable enough Striving to advance a wide- other products. Since 2015, he has been the leader he has been working to clarify needs), and the chemistry deeply connected whether or not the feature to function satisfactorily despite range of technology while and senior engineer of the Advanced Analysis and the mechanism of cooling- to the basic elements of materials—leads to claimed for a material is being subject to electromagnetic promoting cooperation with Evaluation Technologies Group in TIC. Promoting medium leakage by corrosion the development of reliable and new research institutes and analysis efforts towards building an analysis central base and on preventive measures. products, resulting in previously unheard of exhibited. For example, Daikin interference. organizations. integrating air-conditioner and chemistry. advanced analysis capability. developed a fluorine compound “We not only gather technical

26 Challenge 2018 Vol. 03 27 Key Technology ❸

Interns and group members. Advancement of technology Interns are proactively ● ̶Specialized advanced large research facilities̶ through external collaboration included in the group. By

Synchrotron radiation High-speed computer High-intensity proton having them conduct facility accelerator Next-generation super experiments on actual issues Spring-8, SACLA computer (K computer) J-PARC neutron-beam facilities such as the analysis of

̶Advanced measurement technologies of incorporated PM2.5 shape and substances Establish a comprehensive administrative agencies and universities̶ that have adhered to alliance with universities, official surfaces, as well as analysis facilities, etc. Active collaboration ̶Unique and innovative technologies outside our company̶ of the starting point of metal with external parties will promote corrosion, students learn the Microstructure basic enhancement and enable In situ/on site difficulty of visually analyzing analysis operands technological issues to be solved. (nanomeasurement) what cannot actually be seen and the fascination of these discoveries. Mechanism elucidation

Fine processing Functional expression Physical properties Degradation/defects

Nanomorphological Computational observation science

̶In-house facilities/equipment̶

Data and know-how accumulated based on experience

experts from the three fields but refrigerant through to the air- Evaluation Technologies. also exercise the advantages of conditioning product, but in the Kunihiro Okada from the information on substances that and structures are being We can create a ‘ruler’ that will each in order to collaborate,” field of fluorine chemistry, we also mechanical field, the Advancing have adhered to the outermost efficiently searched for through become a base to reliably evaluate Morimoto heartily says, “I think act as a material manufacturer.” Team Leader of Material surface of the copper tubing. the data mining of various and analyze these technologies that it is the significance of this Morimoto says, “This uniqueness Corrosion, actually feels that the Sometimes there are things which material properties. and principles. We believe that group.” He describes Advancing make the existence of our group approach to the analysis method can only be analyzed and “Someone is required who will this then makes it possible to also as “We are not just waiting possible.” in the mechanical field has evaluated at a nano-level. direct learning content for MI. We produce new values.” for a request from other sections, changed in collaboration with the “What was done in chemistry need to learn what data is valid to “To obtain feedback from users Viewing from Multiple for example, ‘Please analyze and chemical field. and what was done in air- input and what kind of data is that a Daikin product is good Perspectives─Macro, evaluate this and this,’ but we Micro and Nano “We have made observations conditioning are only integrated useless, and to grasp the essence requires trust more than anything want to anticipate and suggest the on a micro unit so far, but at TIC, so I think we are of computations.” Nomi also else. Supporting development to needs, as in, ‘If you are planning To clarify phenomena in chemical experts view things at approaching what TIC is intended expressed his ambition, “I hope establish such relationships is our this kind of product, these types materials function expression and the nano-level. Put simply, it is a to be.” Okada says. our undertaking will lead to the job.” of analysis and evaluation will be durability, it is essential to have difference in scale of the range of creation of a unique new ‘ruler’ The Advanced Analysis and Requirement for required.’” both macro and micro viewpoint what was previously measured for Daikin.” Evaluation Technologies Group someone to direct MI At TIC overall, although, in each level and region. using a ‘ruler’ marked in meters tackles to the creation of new learning content Our main goal is user collaboration among technical Collaboration is now occurring in now being measured with a ‘ruler’ trust value with an eye firmly fixed on experts is proceeding well, major this field through the fusion of marked in millimeters. Thus, the Morimoto believes that as the future, while confronting the characteristic of this group is the chemical and the mechanical world that we can see and the integration between the chemical The Advanced Analysis and past to determine the cause of fact that so many experts from fields. amount of information that we and mechanical fields progresses, Evaluation Technologies Group is troubles. The group is steadfastly many clearly different fields are “Especially, I want to introduce can obtain has changed technology to read and utilize also trying to make a ‘ruler’ to supporting Daikin's trust. D gathered together for this nano measurement technology, drastically.” data correctly becomes necessary. measure scent with Tomohiro purpose. It is an arrangement which is undergoing remarkable For example, when analyzing Moreover, he says that making Yabu of IAQ (refer to P22). for Analysis and Evaluation rarely seen, even in other development, and maximize surface elements in the use of accumulated past data and Morimoto says “I think that Reporter companies. functions by controlling materials elucidation of corrosion in air the prediction of possible scent is like a key to evoke Masao Nomi “Daikin is a company which on a molecular level.” says Masao conditioner copper tubing for the outcomes is also important. memories in a person. If we can New Analysis and Evaluation Technologies ＊1 Search-Introduction Team Leader integrates producing from the Nomi from the chemical field, the SEM-EDX, this involves internal For example, when developing evaluate scent to a degree where Search-Introduction Team Leader element information of several air-conditioning equipment, it can be carefully controlled, this Through of the New Analysis and μｍ based on the principles of the trouble can be prevented before it will lead to the creation of advancement of ＊2 equipment. However, if the XPS arises by utilizing the enormous services, such as ambience our group’s analysis Morimoto says, “Initially, we encountered ＊3 and evaluation, we or TOF-SIMS are used, separating amount of information evaluated design, which can please visitors.” difficulty because our communication didn’t provide support match, due to the technological terms (handled information from that of the basic and analyzed. Moreover, in the Each technology group needs to for trust in Daikin substances, units and scales etc.) we used, copper material reveals nano level current flow of analysis and create technologies that as well as product being different.” He continues, “My duty is to and technical encourage technical experts from three fields to information such as element evaluation, materials informatics differentiate our products and development. integrate from the viewpoint of customers.” information and chemical (MI) cannot be ignored. Materials services from other companies.

＊1 SEM-EDX: Scanning Electron Microscope/Energy Dispersive Using X-Ray (SEM) ＊2 XPS: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy ＊3 TOF-SIMS: Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry 28 Challenge 2018 Vol. 03 29 Technology and Innovation Center at HVAC&R JAPAN 2018 TIC report

Heating, Ventilating, Air-conditioning and Refrigerating Expo Report HVAC & R JAPAN 2018 (40th Heating, Ventilating, （ Air-conditioning and Refrigerating Expo ）

The 40th Heating, Ventilating, Air-conditioning and Refrigerating Expo was held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City from February 27 for four days. Exhibiting companies numbered 206, the largest number of exhibitors ever. Daikin Industries, as the world’s top sales company of Air conditioner, promoted its technological capability applicable to a number of different settings, throughout the largest exhibition space at the exhibition. Here the Technology and Innovation Center (TIC), the command tower for product development, presented, among other things, its technology perspective and how it creates cooperatively through open innovation. Daikin Pavilion The Daikin booth was the largest at the Heating, Ventilating, Air-conditioning and Refrigerating Expo. At the makes everyone comfortable representative examples of self- start of the presentation, there was a crowd of people. Our competitors were also watching intensely. Welcome to Daikin City and TIC within the large space by, for sufficient development, a The Technology View Zone example, changing the angle of lightweight micro-channel heat Right: The Technology View Zone was where TIC made the presentation on product life Daikin Industries ran 90 of the the airflow; how in an elderly exchanger with outstanding heat cycle support. How Daikin will approach the total of 802 booths, taking up healthcare zone, air conditioning conversion efficiency and a scroll challenge of giving up on things that cannot twice the space of other that is unobtrusive for elderly compressor that compresses heat be done now with air conditioning was also communicated. companies, creating its own city. people who have difficulty with with low power consumption They exhibited optimum air regulation of body temperature. were also exhibited. Far right: In the Technology View Zone, there were products developed using technologies conditioning and heating and They are human-friendly and Expand TIC’s philosophy, from TIC that have been put to practical use. employed innovations to make it have taken not only temperature find partners The far-right photo is of a microchannel heat visible, not only in zones such as but also humidity into account. exchanger, one of TIC’s technological exhibits, which supports Daikin's core homes, shops, factories and A TIC corner was also What is the ideal of TIC as a technology. large-scale buildings but also for established in a corner of the base to actively collaborate with healthcare facilities for the venue crowded with visitors. external parties to create new presence while developing their explained that, “The major aim is derived from this. This is elderly, that are increasingly Here, they traced the history of value beyond the limits of own differentiating technology, to expand TIC’s philosophy and condensed into the important in our super-aged the development of element principles of proprietary that does not allow others to to find partners. To make that straightforward catchphrase society. They also proposed components for air conditioning technology? will it increase TIC’s follow? An image of the future happen, we have created a “Daikin contributes to humans, devices for visualization. equipment, how the TIC that addresses this question was graphic showing in a society and the Earth”. Their human-friendly engineers combined those presented. straightforward way the direction “Good for the Earth” signifies technology and its attention to components, debated and Daikin, as an global company, is in which Daikin and TIC are the “realization of a low-carbon detail attracted the attention of adjusted the development plan advancing the localization of heading and it has been made society” that will be achieved visitors. For example, how spot and commercialized products “monozukuri.” And the role of the public.” through further development of air conditioning in a factory zone through multiple simulations. As TIC as a technology control tower equipment and materials. The TIC グラフィック W2765mm × H2300mm（塗り足し 20mm） カット罫線 Good for the Earth and base for promoting Good for society primary focus is on improving the

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i n TECHNOLOGY r t o n m and Heating e there were a number of people on the core technology and environmental impact. n Office was in charge t ta ilo re l d ua to the individ VIEW of the TIC exhibit in Good associated with the industry who fundamental technology related to “Good for society” signifies for Connecting Daikin with customers the Technology View society by advanced technology, Optimal borative were amazed by the number of air conditioning technology (for “optimal management” aimed at olla crea C tio Daikin contributes to humans, Zone at the Daikin n management by o p society and the Earth. of people, e 30,000 or more visitors, and the example, chemistry, filters) that expanding services that utilize AI n Booth.

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a d o n n n si a on T Core o Io f s use ervices that NEW CORE technology At the Heating, Ventilating, Air-conditioning and and intention to advance cooperative and emphasizes the importance of connected to the Internet. It is TECHNOLOGY fundamental Refrigerating Expo, a presentation with a focus on the technology future was rolled out primarily in the Technology View creation. creating new core technology now a minimum requirement for Good Realization for the Air of a low-carbon D i conditioning Filter Naoko Kuriyama of TIC through open innovation. There is Earth a s Chemistry Zone. The vision for future technology as seen by Daikin products to contain IoT and AI, t ly e society a a l ac an p e c a eo by reducing q um dat p Oil uip ulation and d Special is one that will give rise to invention of new core m an machinery F the burden en nt Technology and Innovation great enthusiasm for finding but what we need are the u t, environme machinery r t on the h ls e a technology, not only through the development of “now” i r r d environment e e t v a e m Strategy Office, who was solutions to issues on a global l associated services. A concept op d m an technology but also through collaborative creation by en nt t of equipme people and companies in various fields and industries. responsible for the TIC exhibit, scale with the technology that is movie was screened to explain

30 Challenge 2018 Vol. 03 31 TIC report

Total Reproduction of Creating Personal Air Conditioning Recent External Presentations Natural Environments We strive to generate innovation through mutual activities which transcend both internal division lines and also the framework of Daikin itself. We will introduce some of the research presented at TIC between April 2017 and March 2018. Through this, we aim to encourage new themes of collaboration for technology development.

Academic Paper Title of paper Paper/Proceedings Presentation date Performance Evaluation of Air-Conditioner Using R452B in Wide Cooling Proceedings of the JSRAE Annual November 2017 If, in urban areas where A temperature-controlling chair with built-in Load Range Conference, C321-1-6,2017 opportunities to commune Airitmo that detects the condition of an individual with nature have Higher Radial Suspension Force of Magnetic Bearing on Centrifugal Journal of the Japan Institute of Power November 2017 and creates a comfortable condition for the sitter. Compressor for HVAC Electronics Vol.43 decreased, we had the Air can also flow from the lower back and neck. A control method of a single-phase-to-three-phase power converter with an IEEJ Transaction on Industry Applications April 2017 opportunity to feel nature, Using your smart phone, selection of you active buffer for increasing voltage transfer ratio Vol.137(2017)No.2 P.112-118 would it be comfortable? A preferred type of air conditioning is also possible. natural wind generating One presentation of the concept of “individualized Application of an Indirect Matrix Converter for Air Conditioner（Re-posted IEEJ Transaction on Industry Applications July 2016 device was on display as a air conditioning.” for the correction） Vol.136(2016)No.7 P.471-478 trial product of this concept. Natural winds International Conference such as those at Karuizawa Title of paper Paper/Proceedings Presentation date and Nasu Plateau were Autonomous Fault Detection and Root Cause Analysis for VRV Systems NSF I/UCRC Intelligent January 2018 measured and reproduced What is Comfort? MaintenanceSystems(IMS) Center 34th with Daikin’s air Industry Advisory Board(IAB) Meeting 2018 conditioning technology. Demand Response by optimization of flexible Air Conditioning capacity the 72º meeting of the International October 2017 Energy Agency Renewable Energy Working Party(IEA/REWP) the CRESNECT cooperative of space using air conditioning The second one was the Development of Three-dimensional Measurement Technique for 5th Japan-U.S. Bilateral Meeting on Rare October 2017 creation platform, which employs etc. by analyzing various data and temperature-controlling chair, a Demagnetization Distribution in Permanent Magnets of Motors Metals airspace data with the aim of gaining an understanding of the chair that automatically adjusts National Team 2017 Lessons from the Greater Manchester Smart Energy IEA National Teams Meeting for the UK Heat September 2017 creating new valuable services in features of such an environment. the temperature of your neck, Project. Pump Industry High Voltage Sensitivity of Organic Pyroelectric Sensors with Polarization 2017 International Conference on Solid State September 2017 indoor air conditioning, as well as What was exhibited was the lower back, and seat using the Treatment during Evaporation Process Devices and Materials the air conditioning solutions natural wind of Okunikko. Airitmo sensing technology that Research for Indoor and Outdoor PM Concentration in Asian Countries Healthy Buildings 2017 Asia September 2017 using the IoT and AI. Multiple propeller fans were measures breathing, heart rate, installed and individually stress etc., while in a sitting Others Creating individually- Title of paper Paper/Proceedings Presentation date controlling to create the swaying position. Fans are built into the tailored environments, Development of Nano second pulse super multi-bit recording material with JAPAN OPTOMECHATRONICS March 2018 and the gentleness of the wind. In mechanism at neck and waist beyond cooling and the aim of 10 TB optical disk ASSOCIATION (lecture) heating actual nature, the wind dances height and assess how much Drowsiness Estimation from Low-Frame-Rate Facial Videos using Eyelid The 2018 IEICE General Conference March 2018 constantly back and forth from stress the sitter is experiencing. A Variability Features “Good for humans” signifies strong to weak. How do we wind at an appropriate EMS Simulation in an Inverter-Driven Air Conditioner The Annual Meeting record I.E.E. Japan(2018) March 2018 “environmental control beyond reproduce the wind’s numerous temperature is then delivered Identification of high contributing part to the radiated noise of Acoustical Society of Japan 2018 Spring March 2018 air conditioner’s outdoor unit using operational TPA Meeting cooling and heating” that makes a aspects, for example, blowing through the fans. When tried, a The properties of Poly (tetrafluoroethlene “co” vinyl alchohol) and their gas The 26th Polymer Materials Forum November 2017 transition from the air conditioner across a part of the face or across gentle wind can be felt on the permeability The Society of Polymer Science, Japan to the human conditioner and the whole body by changing the neck and lower back. Wind Preparation of fluorinated polymer thin film with both super water repellency The 40th Fluorine Conference of Japan November 2017 and abrasion resistance The Society of Fluorine Chemistry, Japan provides an environment for the surface area? Innovative thinking volume and temperature can be One-pot fluorination using new method for SF4 preparation The 40th Fluorine Conference of Japan November 2017 individual. This field in particular from a number of different fields manually adjustable according to The Society of Fluorine Chemistry, Japan was emphasized at HVAC & R will be required for technology the season and individual Structural Design of Fluororesin Gasket for a Long-term Use The Japan Society of Polymer Processing November 2017 JAPAN 2018. At the venue, two development. With the prototype preference. The 25th Autumn Meeting interesting ideas were introduced “Although I have applied for a Development of Measurement Method of Three-dimensional Demagnetization JMAG Users Conference 2017 December 2017 presented at the venue, different Distribution in Permanent Magnets for Motors as examples of development that winds of varying strengths and patent, there is still room for Performance Evaluation of Air-Conditioner Using R452B in Wide Cooling 2017 JSRAE Annual Conference September 2017 would make this a reality. from various angles made contact improvement. I would like to Load Range The first one suggested by using with the body and face, and felt make it an even better thing, Simulation for Evaluation of Next Generation Refrigerant for Air-Conditioners 2017 JSRAE Annual Conference September 2017 air conditioner to reproduce a cool and refreshing. In addition to partnering with different fields as Measurement of clearance around bush in swing compressor by visualization 2017 JSRAE Annual Conference September 2017 of behavior stress-free natural environment. Okunikko, data was also collected to where it could be applied” said Evaluation of performance of VRF air conditioning systems using low GWP 2017 JSRAE Annual Conference September 2017 We humans are comfortable from places such as Karuizawa, the person in charge Refrigerants when in a natural environment Toyako and Furano. enthusiastically. Development of refrigerant distribution in a micro channel heat exchanger 2017 JSRAE Annual Conference September 2017 because our bodies are completely A strong will attempting to for air-conditioning The temperature- Fabrication of inverted organic photovoltaics using D:A1:A2 ternary active The 78th JSAP Autumn Meeting, 2017 September 2017 surrounded by pleasant winds, create new innovation through controlling chair─ layer sounds, scent, clear air etc. that partnerships with various fields Mechanism of Voltage Sensitivity of Organic Pyroelectric Infrared Sensors The 78th JSAP Autumn Meeting, 2017 September 2017 automatically adjusts Fabricated by Vacuum Deposition under Electric Field are felt throughout. An attempt to the user and frank and open discussions was made to reproduce this kind was felt from the TIC exhibits. D Developing low-noise propeller fan using CFD STAR Japanese Conference 2017 July 2017

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