Reporting on Today and Tomorrow’s Energy, Environmental and Industrial Technologies [1st Featured Article] A Gamechanger in the Skies (ceramic matrix composites) CMCnd [2 Featured Article] Toward Safer and More Efficient Skies Advanced Systems for Aircraft Perspectives on Future Technologies Kaoru Takeuchi, Science Writer Directing the Future Perspectives on Future Technologies A “Koto” Revolution, With Information as a Key Element Kaoru Takeuchi, Science Writer Just as the term “from mono (things) to koto (experiences)” being used frequently in the business and economic fields, there is a “koto-centric worldview” in the field of physics as well. The materials in the Newtonian mechanics are mono, but when they are microscopic – so small they cannot be observed – these mono materials and a solid conception of materials gradually start collapsing and shift to koto. A typical example of this framework is the concept of “entropy”; in information theory, this refers to the “amount of information.” In other words, the “koto” of “from mono to koto” is “information,” and I believe this is the case in the business world as well. Nowadays, competitions over technology development and the transformation of business ideas are taking place, a change collectively described as the “Fourth Industrial Revolution.” In looking back at previous industrial revolutions, the first one was a revolution of power; the second was energy; and the third one was production. Although all of them were transformative, they were still strictly within the scope of “mono.” In the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the key element is information. The entropic idea that was not emphasized in the past has become significant and I would say now that it has entered a completely new stage in the transformation of “koto.” The worldview of “koto” in business, such as services and value Kaoru Takeuchi delivery, is changing through the leveraging of big data, artificial intelligence Science writer with a Ph.D. degree in (AI), IoT devices connected with AI, and robotics. physics. Kaoru Takeuchi earned his How can we survive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution? The main bachelor’s degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences as well as the Faculty technologies might all be grouped under the term “computing.” Therefore, of Science of the University of Tokyo. He many countries in the world have been devoting themselves to education, so earned his PhD in high energy physics that they can prepare the next generation of workers to succeed in this Fourth from McGill University in Canada. He has authored many publications, Industrial Revolution. For example, in the United Kingdom, programing including guidebooks about physics education has been compulsory since 2014. On the other hand, in Japan, it will as well as science reviews. He is also a columnist for newspapers and become compulsory in elementary schools starting in FY 2020, but I worry magazines, including “Three Books for that will already be too late. This Week: Selections from an Expert” The winners and losers of this industrial revolution won’t be determined in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun. He also frequently appears on TV including within the next one or two years, but rather in ten, fifteen, or twenty years from as the host of the television program, now. I believe what increasingly more important is technology development “Science ZERO” (NHK Educational TV). based on the principles of how our society and country should be – not just In the spring of 2016, he established the YES International School, which because a technology is “convenient.” provides tri-lingual education in Japan. He currently serves as the school’s principal. 02 Contents 02 Perspectives on Future Technologies Kaoru Takeuchi, Science Writer 04 1st Featured Article A Gamechanger in the Skies CMC (ceramic matrix composites) 06 New Materials for Aircraft: An Introduction to CMC 08 Toward Practical Applications for CMC 11 Other Technology Developments Related to the Design, Process, and Inspection of Structure Components for Aircraft in NEDO Projects 12 2nd Featured Article Toward Safer and More Efficient Skies Advanced Systems for Aircraft 16 Easy to Understand! News Release Commentary Japan’s First Safety Test for Manned Helicopter and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operating in the Same Flight Area Conducted in Fukushima 18 After Project Follow Up! NEDO Project Success Stories Playback History Vol. 7: Development of Material Surface Control Technology for Low Friction Loss, High Efficiency 2018 No.67 Drive Machines Reporting on Today and Tomorrow’s Energy, Environmental, and Industrial Technology “Focus NEDO” is the public relations magazine of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), introducing the public to NEDO’s various projects and technology development activities related to energy, environmental and industrial technologies. Focus NEDO 2018 No.67 03 st 1 Featured Article A Gamechanger in the Skies (ceramic matrix composites) CMCCompetition in the aeronautics industry has intensified due to growing demands on commercial aircraft. In order to raise the competitiveness of aeronautics industries in Japan, NEDO has been working on the research and development of next-generation materials. One of these promising materials is CMC (ceramic matrix composites). It has the potential to bring transformative changes to jet engine technology, the core of any aircraft, and to reshape the structure of the aeronautics industry. Increasing expectations for next-generation materials as a solution to the aeronautics industry’s challenges large share of the global market. For next-generation aircraft, which is Leveraging Japan’s strength in materials to achieve expected to have significant improvements in fuel efficiency, I believe success in the growing aeronautics industry that Japan can excel in this market by making superior materials.” One of the challenges Japan faces is to increase its competitiveness Imagining the future of the aircraft, and working to in the commercial aeronautics industry. Demand by global air travelers advance the Japanese aeronautics industry is growing (Figure 1), and the number of commercial jets in use is expected to increase (Figure 2); against this backdrop, the “Vision for When materials are changed, usage needs to change as well. Simply the Aeronautics Industry” report, released by the Japanese government switching out old materials for innovative ones, but continuing to in FY 2015, declares an intent to double domestic aeronautics industry use them in the same way as existing ones, does not result in optimal sales to 2 trillion yen by 2020, reaching 3 trillion yen by 2030. performance. In this project, NEDO is developing not only materials, In this fierce international competition, any aircraft manufacturer but also optimal structural designs and process technologies based on hoping to be successful must fulfill the market demands of conserving which materials are used where and how in the aircraft, the way each energy and reducing environmental burden, without sacrificing safety component influences the others, and manufacturing time and costs. and reliability. It is critical to reduce aircraft weight in order to improve Hirohisa Ito, a project manager and Chief Officer in the Materials fuel efficiency. Against this backdrop, NEDO took over a project Technology and Nanotechnology Department at NEDO, emphasizes the from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and contributions of the project in terms of its social impact generated by the launched “Development of Technologies for Next-generation Structure advancement of the Japanese aeronautics industry, including small and Component Creation and Processing” project in FY 2015. Through this medium-sized companies. project, NEDO has worked to develop materials suitable for use in next- “There are about three million parts used in one aircraft, while one generation aircraft. automobile has only thirty thousand parts,” said Ito. “In other words, “After World War II, aircraft development was prohibited in Japan, more parts manufacturers are involved in the aeronautics industry and not resumed until 1952,” said Takahira Aoki, a project leader and than the automobile industry. NEDO is making a concerted effort to Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Tokyo implement developed technology in such a way that small and medium- Graduate School of Engineering. “Since then, our technologies have sized companies can play a role in the aeronautics industry, which has a fallen behind that of Europe and the United States. Especially, in aircraft wide range of supporting industries.” materials, it takes such a long time from development to implementation. Aiming to apply CMC to aircraft engine components So, if we look further in the future, at ten to fifteen years from now, and develop highly advanced technology to meet the market needs, Aircraft use many materials in their construction, including composite Japan should be able to catch up with the rest of the world.” He added, materials and metals. One of the next-generation materials NEDO “Even in the aeronautics industry, Japan has been a leader in the field of has been doing research and development on is a “ceramic-matrix materials development, including carbon fibers, and has maintained a composites (CMC).” By combining ceramic fibers with ceramic matrix, 04 Market needs in the aeronautics industry Energy Environmental Safe navigation conservation burden reduction Reduce Increase