Information-theoretic free-energy means the difference between recognition model and generative model. The principle of free-energy minimization suggests that the recognition model must follow a Bayesian posterior. I consider that the minimized free-energy represents potential information contents to be processed in the brain after recognizing external physical phenomena. I discuss how the minimized free-energy predicts human emotions such as surprise and valence (i.e. positivity and negativity). The minimized free-energy can be decomposed into two terms: novelty and perceived complexity. I demonstrate that the summation of the two terms works as arousal potential and forms a valence function.

In recent years, the possibility that IT (information technology) and artificial intelligence can perform tasks equivalent to or higher than humans has attracted attention both academically and practically. In this paper, the author explains an approach to ideation informatics in which human memory is expanded with a database of product/service functions and user experiences, and human thinking and ideation are enhanced by combining systematicity and comprehensiveness of IT to create ideas for products and services. Then, the possibility of its application toward the realization of a post-corona society is considered.

The high-resolution ocean model and high-density ocean observation have been developed to produce ocean big-data around the aquafarm located in the coastal seas toward realizing SOCIETY5.0. The high-resolution (~10 m) ocean simulation has been performed using the operational, meteorological and ocean predictions based on the multiscale resolution and nesting methods. To validate the simulated results, the high-density ocean observation has been conducted using the quad-maran automated vessel (RoboSen). RoboSen can measure more environmental data in the 3D space of the coastal oceans such as water temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen concentration than conventional observations with temporally and horizontally low density. Those novel state-of-art simulation and observation are expected to produce the novel datasets utilized for IoT and AI development and to create new values in aquaculture provinces.

Local energy production for local consumption, inter-regional energy accommodation, and saving energy at home by optimal proposals for energy use are proposed as the technologies that support Society 5.0. When realizing distributed power systems by massively introducing photovoltaic power generation, residents will be not only energy consumers but energy suppliers, and thus power must be exchanged complexly in a small region. To build a power system that meets the characteristics of each region, it is necessary to predict the power consumption in the region. However, the conventional power prediction models cannot take into account the power demand structure in such a small region. In this paper, the authors tried to predict the power consumption of each small region by using the urban model that can reproduce the population dynamics there. As a result of the simulation for Yokohama City, the power consumption of each ward associated with urban dynamics could be predicted.

In this paper, we review an implementation of topology optimisation method based on the level-set method and present its applications. The topology optimisation presented here follows Amstutz’ method which evolves the level-set function by the spherical linear interpolation of the topological derivative and the level-set function itself. In our implementation, the level-set function is discretised in space by a parametric surface such as B- and T-splines, which enables us to represent shapes with smooth boundaries with a few design variables. Moreover, this allows us to control the geometric complexity of the shape by adjusting the number of control points on the parameter surface. In addition to the basic benchmark problem of finding the optimal shape of a linear elastic body that minimizes the work by a given external force work, applications to the optimal design of optical cloaking devices, acoustic lenses, etc are presented.

Fused filament fabrication technique has been using in 3D printing of a continuous carbon fiber reinforced plastic. Since the continuous carbon fiber reinforced plastic has anisotropic mechanical property, print path optimization is required in the 3D printing to fully demonstrate the material property of carbon fibers. An open-holed CFRP plate was selected as a simple example to show some print paths. The intuitive and optimized print paths based on a genetic algorithm to maximize fracture strength were discussed.

The additive manufacturing technology has been increasingly paid attention from industries in recent years because it has a great potential as a practical and cost-effective manufacturing method. The direct energy deposition (DED) method is one of the popular metal AM processes. The application of DED, especially the hybrid technology with cutting, was conventionally limited to cases such as design reviews and verifications, but recently the technology has started to be used more practically for wider purposes such as buildup/repair of dies and molds, high hardness coating of existing workpieces and bi metal cladding. In the experiment of coating nickel-family alloy on pure copper, it was demonstrated that the coated surface was consistent with no peeling on the substrate and that the laser head was not damaged despite that the laser had been vertically irradiated on the substrate. For the stable application of DED, it is necessary to manage the process and the monitoring function is important. Molten pool size, working distance, work temperature and powder flow stability are key parameters, which can be monitored by the sensor and the camera. This report describes the features of DED type hybrid machine tools, application examples and material development results based on the in-house development of AM machines.

A clamp-on type flowmeter for steam and air, which does not require pipe-cutting for installation, is needed for diagnosing performance and saving energy in facilities such as factories and power plants. Therefore, in our previous study we devised a heater method for measuring steam and air flow, in which a circumferential heater was attached to the outside of a pipe and then the axial temperature distribution on the outside of the pipe was measured by thermocouples. Fluid velocity was analyzed on the basis of the temperature distribution in the pipe axial direction, considering heat transfer inside the pipe and thermal conductivity in the steel pipe-wall. Thus, we determined a thermal boundary layer coefficient, which is the ratio of the thermal boundary layer flow rate to the flow rate in the whole pipe cross section, and two kinds of thermal transfer coefficient depending on position, which were that upstream of the heater and that at the middle of the heater. In the present study, we conducted further experiments under various steam pressures, calibrated the reference fluid flowmeter under supervision of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. Using the experimental data obtained, we could decide the parameters more precisely compared with in the previous study, and thus improved the accuracy of the heater method.

This study describes lubricant formulation technologies for improving a fuel saving efficiency with application to recent automatic transmissions. The first lubricant technique is concerning to an improvement of anti-shudder durability in a wet clutch system by automatic transmissions fluids (ATFs). It was clarified that a calcium type detergent additive having lower base number is effective in reducing the damage of the clutch disk to improve the anti-shudder durability. Secondly, the transmittable torque capacity for metal pushing v-belt type continuously variable transmissions fluids (B-CVTFs) is focused. Higher metal-to-metal friction for increasing torque capacity was achieved by the optimal additive formulation consisting of phosphorus, sulfurous-phosphorus extreme pressure agent, calcium detergent and dispersant. The results of surface analysis on the wear scar indicated that the tribofilm possessing the fine deposition layer could play a role in demonstrating a higher friction. The third topic is as to the coolability of lubricant properties for motors. Quantitative analysis revealed that viscosity and heat conductivity are highly influential on cooling performance.

The automotive industry is said to be facing a once-in-a-century time of major change, as represented by the key words of CASE(Connected, Autonomous, Shared, Electric).Among these, further enhancement of bearing performances in response to expanding electric motorization and also new mechanisms are required.

This paper introduces JTEKT's automotive bearing technologies responding to these needs.

Because of rapid advances in technologies, it behooves professional nurses and healthcare providers to be particularly involved in the development of advancing technologies, such as robotics, to be able to participate in a manner that is appropriate to healthcare robot-human person interaction. However, there are aspects of human healthcare and caring in nursing that cannot be replaced by communication robots with artificial intelligence, i.e. the ability to understand context, emotions, reflect empathy, and act on intuition. Whether robotics can parallel these characteristics remains uncertain. Thus, intermediaries as healthcare providers are critical in these situations. The purpose of this presentation is to describe the intermediary role of healthcare providers with communication robots in the hospital and elderly welfare settings. Important roles of intermediary are below: Nursing functions as intermediary in transactive engagements with communication robots. Understanding the performance, distinction, value, possibility and limits of communication robots. Engaging in rehabilitation and recreation care activities with communication robots. Encouraging the provision of healthcare and utilization of communication robots. And identifying issues related to ethics, morality, security and safety. The role of intermediary in nursing practice with communication robots as partners will be valuable in healthcare and assure nursing professions and healthcare providers' position as vital to human health and welfare.

The rehabilitation robot reduces the burden on the therapist. Robots for various treatment purposes are being developed, such as training support type robots for the purpose of quantitative treatment, and care support robots for the purpose of assisting daily activities in close proximity to the patient's life. The aim of this presentation is to illustrate on barriers to utilize the engineering devices, and rehabilitation robots in the clinical rehabilitation. At present, current rehabilitation robots’ performance is good at providing quantitative training i.e. continuous passive motion exercise, muscle strengthening exercise, and various voluntary movement control exercise in order to improve their physical functions. On the other hand, its performance is insufficient to provide rehabilitation considering human life, living environments, and various pathological conditions. Thus, development of equipment and applications with motor learning (or machine learning) functions that can adapt to various obstacles is an essential condition.

Under the risk of COVID-19, it is very likely to be the increase of the communication robot, because it is possible to be the second-best tool for human to satisfy a desire that they want to talk in face-to-face situation without risk. The robot designers consider various factors including a figure and behavior, spoken language and the sound quality to have people have friendly feeling toward the robot. However, they don’t have basic guideline for the communication robot, then the robot design is based on their sensibility. In this article, we discuss the possibility of the robot which promotes action transformation of the person, giving case of the experimental results of influence of robots’ color and behavior on human personal space.

I introduce our mathematical model of emotions evoked by novel events. The core idea is to use information contents processed in the brain through experiencing an event to represent novelty and its emotions. The model explains human surprise of novelty as Kullback–Leibler divergence of Bayesian posterior and prior, i.e. information gain. We formalized habituation to novelty as decrement of the information gain through repeated exposure of the same event and demonstrate how initial condition of uncertainty affects speed of the habituation. Furthermore, I consider information theoretic free-energy as arousal potential decomposed into two terms: novelty and perceived complexity. As the model predicted, an empirical study shows that emotional valence (positive-negative) shapes as an inverse-U function of summation of novelty and perceived complexity.

The Model Based Development of Autonomous Transportation and Logistics machinery is investigated.

In order to improve a safety and efficiency of an autonomous driving system, real-time information sharing between cars and remote centers is important. In this paper, I introduce learning-based communication control technology for real-time and highly reliable communication using mobile networks. I show an application of this technology to safe driving support and remote control with experimental results.

Recently, research and development on safety driving support systems and automated driving equipped with sensors that detect the surroundings of vehicles are being actively conducted. On-board sensors have a problem that dangerous events out of the sensing range cannot be detected. V2X communication can be supported to improve safety by collecting driving environmental information. A common data management platform is required to realize cooperative autonomous driving among multiple vehicle manufacturers. In this article, we introduce the next-generation dynamic map (DM2.0), which is a information and communication platform for cooperative autonomous driving systems that manages data with a three-layer structure of vehicles, edges, and clouds, and can execute maneuver coordination application.

Level 4 automated driving bus service is expected to be implemented in society to keep useful public transportation service especially in rural areas. Pilot tests of the automated driving bus on public road have been conducted in every region in the country. ITS center in the university of Tokyo participates in these tests through the collaborative researches with the companies. These activities, mainly ones ITS center related, are introduced and perspective of social implementation of the automated driving bus service is discussed.

Japan was the first country to realize autonomous driving (GoA4) in the world, but autonomous driving on the subway is behind the world. At present, the introduction of automated driving is being considered in subways and conventional lines in Japan, but the driver plays a very large role, and the role of the autonomous driving is to ensure the same safety as the driver by sensors. However, in Japan, where the birthrate is declining and the population is aging, it is essential for subways and conventional lines to operate automatically, which can also contribute to productivity improvement.

Technological advancements in new areas called “CASE” such as connected, autonomous, shared, and electric are progressing. MaaS has begun to efficiently and conveniently connect all kinds of mobilities from buses, trains, taxis to ride sharing and share cycles using information technology. In this report, the history of ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) and automobile safety systems is described at first. Next, I show what new services can be introduced into car by connecting mobilities to networks, sensing the surrounding environments in more detail and sharing information. In addition, the next three topics are explained as a key in-vehicle technology from recent technological advancements.

① Environmental sensor technology

② Positioning with reliability enhancement by coupling IMU, satellites with external sensors (PRECISE)

③ Cloud-operated spatial mark information creation (COSMIC)

Finally, I give an overview of the role of mobilities in Society 5.0 in the future.

Conventionally, in designing the strength of machines and structures, it was common to use the allowable stress method of design that uses an empirical safety factor with a sufficient margin in strength. However, since ISO 2394:1973 was published, standards based on limit state method of design that quantitatively evaluates the reliability of materials and structures against damage by means of reliability engineering methods and ensure an appropriate safety margin have been established. The crane design is also similar. In Japan, JIS and construction code for mobile cranes have been established or revised in recent years, and a system that can use the limit state method of design for crane design has been established. In this study, we investigated the difference between the allowable stress method and the limit state method, and the development trend of standards for crane design, and confirmed that the use of the limit state design method in crane design is a global trend.

The structural standards that are the basis for the design and manufacture of cranes specify the materials that can be used for structural parts. The material must be a steel material that conforms to JIS, or a steel material of equal or higher quality. The newly applied material can be used if it is approved, and Japan Crane Association is involved in deciding on the adoption of the material. As a recent trend, the number of inquiries about overseas standard materials, thin high-strength steel, and aluminum materials used in imported cranes is increasing. In some cases, a clear view cannot be given due to the lack of standards that show the basis of judgment and the difference between JIS and overseas standards (eg, test method, chemical composition, etc.). In this paper, regarding the materials used for the structural parts such in cranes, we will show the related standards and problems in judging the acceptance, and introduce the efforts of Japan Crane Association.

In this paper, we state a new pendant type controller for overhead crane. Compared with the conventional push-button type pendant controller, a new pendant type controller, “zen®” has the following advantages: (i) shorter path of transporting a suspended load by the overhead crane, (ii) fewer number of buttons to push when we control the overhead crane, and (iii) an operator, who holds the controller, simply stands facing to a traveling direction behind transporting the suspended load. This means that the direction of the operator’s body is much the same as direction that the operator is going to transport the suspended load. As a result, we can contribute to a decrease in industrial accidents by a reduction in potential accidents.