作者： sarah

TOKYO, Oct 15, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - The NEC C&C Foundation today announced that the 2024 C&C Prize will be awarded to two groups for their contributions to the development and implementation of large-capacity, wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical submarine cable systems, and to pioneering research of the Transformer deep learning model serving as the foundation of generative AI, which is used in various fields such as global internet, web applications, data science, and artificial intelligence, that support modern society. Dr. Shigeyuki Akiba, Dr. Masatoshi Suzuki and Dr. Itsuro Morita will represent Group A and Transformer team will represent Group B. Each recipient will be recognized with a certificate of merit and a plaque. Each group will also receive a cash award of ten million yen.The C&C Prize was established in 1985 and is awarded to distinguished persons in recognition of outstanding contributions to R&D activities and pioneering work related to the integration of computers and communications technologies and the social impact of developments in these fields. This year’s two recipient groups are outlined below.The prize ceremony and acceptance speeches will be held on Wednesday, November 27 from 15:00 at the ANA InterContinental Tokyo and will be streamed live to those who apply at the Foundation’s website.2024 C&C Prize RecipientsGroup ADr. Shigeyuki AkibaFormerly KDDI R&D Laboratories Inc., President and Chief Executive OfficerDr. Masatoshi SuzukiChitose Institute of Science and Technology, Vice-President, ProfessorWaseda University Graduate School, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Visiting ProfessorDr. Itsuro MoritaWaseda University, Faculty of Science and Engineering, ProfessorCitationFor contributions to the development and implementation of large-capacity, wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical submarine cable systemsAchievementInternational communications began in the latter half of the 19th century with the laying of a submarine cable providing one telegraph line. This was followed by the appearance of coaxial cables that expanded circuit capacity and that could also be used for making telephone calls. In the 1970s and 1980s, however, satellite communications having even larger circuit capacity became mainstream. Nevertheless, on entering the 1980s, optical fiber and semiconductor lasers came into practical use, and by exploiting the low-loss and broadband properties of optical fiber, large-capacity transmission became possible while decreasing the number of submarine repeaters and decreasing the cost of communications, all of which drove the adoption of optical submarine cables. As for transpacific cables, operation of the 3rd transpacific cable (TPC-3) using optical fiber (capacity per fiber: 280 Mbps) began operation in 1989, TPC-4 (capacity per fiber: 560 Mbps) began operation in 1992, and TPC-5 (capacity per fiber: 5 Gbps), which significantly increased transmission capacity with the introduction of an optical-amplifier-repeater transmission system, began operation in 1995. However, due to a phenomenon whereby the velocity of light waves propagating through optical fiber differs according to wavelength (called wavelength dispersion) and due to the nonlinearity of optical fiber, WDM signal waveforms become distorted, which greatly hindered the implementation of large-capacity optical submarine cable systems spanning a distance of 10,000 km. Against this background, it was KDDI engineers including Dr. Shigeyuki Akiba, Dr. Masatoshi Suzuki, and Dr. Itsuro Morita that were instrumental in increasing the capacity of optical submarine cable systems and upgrading WDM-based optical submarine cable systems in particular, thereby supporting the rapidly expanding demand for Internet communications.The technologies developed by Dr. Akiba, Dr. Suzuki, and Dr. Morita became essential to WDM optical submarine cables and came to be applied to many optical submarine cables from 1999 to 2016 covering a total system length of 206,000 km. These included transpacific (PC-1: 1999, Japan-US: 2001), transatlantic (TAT-14: 2001), and Asia-region (C2C: 2001, EAC: 2002) optical submarine cables as well as 1-Tbps-class transpacific optical submarine cables (TGN-Pacific: 2003, UNITY: 2010). These technologies made a major contribution to the deployment of a global broadband infrastructure supporting communication traffic that increased rapidly due to the spread of the Internet and expanded use of smartphones.Dr. Akiba, Dr. Suzuki, and Dr. Morita pioneered the research and development of technology for expanding the capacity of long-haul optical submarine cables particularly through optical-nonlinearity control. They played a major role in applying this technology to transpacific/transatlantic large-capacity optical submarine cables, which constitute major arteries handling approximately 99% of all international communications. These achievements have had huge ripple effects in academia and industry. They are remarkable on a global basis and have made great social contributions in the C&C (Computers and Communication) field. For these outstanding achievements, it is more than fitting that Dr. Akiba, Dr. Suzuki, and Dr. Morita receive the C&C Prize.Group BTransformer TeamMember：Eight authors of the paper "Attention Is All You Need"Ashish Vaswani - CEO, Essential AINoam Shazeer - VP, Gemini Technical Co-Lead, Google DeepmindNiki Parmar - Research scientist, essential AI, GoogleJakob Uszkoreit- InceptiveLlion Owen Jones - CTO, Sakana AIAidan Gomez - CEO, CohereLukasz Kaiser - Member of Technical Staff, OpenAIIllia Polosukhin - NEAR ProtocolCitationFor pioneering research of the Transformer deep learning model serving as the foundation of generative AIAchievementArtificial intelligence (AI) technology has been evolving remarkably in recent years and has come to deeply penetrate not only industrial fields but society as well. The appearance of generative AI, in particular, has sent shock waves throughout the world as AI possessing creativity. The third-generation AI boom arrived in the 2000s. Machine learning came into practical use, deep learning made its appearance, and the performance of AI improved in many fields including image recognition, natural language processing, and speech recognition using convolutional neural networks (CNNs), recurrent neural networks (RNNs), and other models. In 2017, the innovative Transformer model that revamped conventional neural networks appeared achieving a level of performance greatly exceeding existing models. It is said that the present progress in AI could not have occurred without Transformer.Following the presentation of the paper, AI studies using Transformer architecture were announced one after another. In addition to high speed and high performance, Transformer features a significant improvement in accuracy as the scale of training data increases, which has also brought about scale-related competition in AI models. In 2018, OpenAI announced the initial version of its generative pre-trained transformer (GPT), a large language model, and has been releasing updated versions ever since. As AI that can carry on conversations like a human, the number of users of ChatGPT appearing in 2022 topped 100 million in less than three months after its release. In addition to being talked about as AI that can foster innovation in a variety of fields including business, work, education, medical care, and everyday life, it also gave rise to discussions on ethical matters. Open AI also announced DALL-E, an image generation system, and Whisper, a speech recognition model. In 2018, Google announced a natural language processing model called BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers), which was followed up by ViT (Vision Transformer) specializing in image recognition. Then, in 2023, it announced Gemini (formerly known as Bard), a generative artificial intelligence chatbot. These eight individuals who presented Transformer that changed the history of AI have since left Google. Seven of them have founded their own start-ups and all but one of these companies conduct business based on Transformer technology.Transformer not only broke through the limitations of what were advanced technologies at that time like RNN and LSTM but also enabled the seamless integration of diverse types of data in multimodal AI while greatly improving the capabilities of AI systems. Although deep learning gave rise to AI-based innovation from around 2010, Transformer can be called the second great innovation in the sense of revamping existing neural networks. The present spread of generative AI using Transformer as base technology and its impact on society has been huge, and in view of these achievements, these eight members of the Transformer team are deserving recipients of the C&C Prize.For additional information, please visit The NEC C&C Foundation website at: www.candc.or.jp/en/index.html About The NEC C&C FoundationThe NEC C&C Foundation is a non-profit organization established in March 1985 to foster further growth in the electronics industry by encouraging and supporting research and development activities and pioneering work related to the integration of computers and communications technologies, that is, C&C, and ultimately to contribute to the world economy and the enrichment of human life. The Foundation is funded by NEC Corporation.The Foundation currently has two main activities. It presents the annual C&C Prizes to recognize outstanding contributions to R&D activities and pioneering work in the area of C&C. Candidates are recommended from all over the world. Each prize winner receives a certificate, a plaque, and a cash award (ten million yen per group). As of 2024, 129 prominent persons had received the prize.The Foundation also gives the following two grants: (1) grant to enable researchers in Japan to attend international conferences overseas to make presentations in the field of C&C and (2) grant to researchers in a doctorial course at a graduate school in Japan.For additional information, please visit The NEC C&C Foundation website at: www.candc.or.jp/en/index.html About NEC CorporationNEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of “Orchestrating a brighter world.” NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at www.nec.com.  Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.

Toyota City, Japan, Oct 11, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team will continue its chase for the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship on challenging roads across Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria when the Central European Rally takes place on October 17-20.2024 GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRIDBy achieving a magnificent maximum score on the previous round in Chile, TGR-WRT more than halved the gap to the manufacturers’ championship lead from 35 to 17 points with two rounds remaining. Both of the final events are made up of demanding asphalt roads – as the WRC returns to the surface for the first time since the Croatia Rally in April – with the second edition of the cross-border Central European Rally to be followed by the season finale at Rally Japan in November.Sébastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans both remain in mathematical contention for the drivers’ championship and are joined in the team’s line-up for the Central European Rally by the returning Takamoto Katsuta. Following impressive first drives in the GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID on the gravel stages of Finland and Chile, rising star Sami Pajari once more lines up in an additional fourth entry for his first experience on asphalt at the highest level.The Central European Rally made its WRC debut one year ago, becoming the first round to ever feature stages driven in three different countries. The character of the stages varies from one region to another and the weather – in the middle of the European autumn – can also be changeable, making the roads more slippery with rain, mud and leaves.As in 2023, the rally begins from the Czech capital city, Prague. This year, shakedown will also be held on the edge of the city on Thursday morning before the ceremonial start in the capital’s famous castle district. The opening super special stage follows at the Velká Chuchle horse racing course, before a longer stage in the evening near the town of Klatovy. The same test is run twice more on Friday together with two other stages on Czech roads – which are especially bumpy and narrow yet fast in nature. There are opportunities for remote service to begin the morning and mid-afternoon, before cars return to the service park in Karpfham, to the south-west of the German city of Passau, at the end of the day.Saturday is the longest day of the rally with 123.46 competitive kilometres to be driven across two loops of three stages spanning Germany and Austria. The middle stage of the loop, Beyond Borders, begins in Germany and ends in Austria. Sunday’s finale features a pair of stages run twice on German roads before the final podium in Passau.The GR Yaris Rally2 car will be seen in WRC2 action in the hands of the top-seeded Czech driver, Filip Mareš, entered and run by ACCR Toyota Dolák.For more information, visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/wrc/release/2024/rd12-preview/. About Toyota Toyota strives to be a strong corporate citizen, engaging with and earning the trust of its stakeholders, and to contribute to the creation of a prosperous society through all its business operations.Our corporate principles form the basis of our initiatives, reflect values that enable action, and drive our mindset.For the latest Toyota-related news and information:https://tinyurl.com/ToyotaPressReleasenewsroom@global.toyota Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.

Toyota City, Japan, Oct 11, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Honda released an overview of the RTL ELECTRIC competition trial bike, to compete in the 2024 MFJ(1) All Japan Trial Championship Series, starting with the 6th round in Wakayama/Yuasa on October 13, 2024.RTL ELECTRICThe RTL ELECTRIC is being developed as an electric trial bike superior to the Montesa COTA 4RT factory bike, the pinnacle of trial bikes which demand lightness and strength to balance and operate in the most demanding situations, which contributed to Toni Bou’s unprecedented 18 consecutive Trial World Championship titles.For the power unit, the RTL ELECTRIC is equipped with the CR ELECTRIC PROTO electric motocross bike’s battery which has been optimized for trial use. The motor is integrated with an inverter. Honda is aiming to achieve high output performance with a view to future participation in the World Trial Championship. The RTL ELECTRIC is also equipped with a clutch, flywheel and transmission, essential for trials.The frame is newly developed based on the aluminum twin tube that has a proven track record with Honda’s RTL series of competition trial bikes. The frame’s rigidity is optimized for riding stability and weight reduction. The swing arm is also newly developed based on the RTL series, contributing to weight reduction. Furthermore, EV component placement has been optimized to position the center of gravity so that it is ideal for trial riding, aiming to realize intuitive maneuverability.Honda is committed to the electrification of motorcycles as the mainstay of its future environmental strategy, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality in all of its products and corporate activities by 2050, and in all of its motorcycle products by the 2040s. In motorsports, the CR ELECTRIC PROTO competed as a wildcard entry in last year’s All Japan Motocross Championship (JMX), and is competing in the FIM(2) E-Xplorer World Cup, a worldwide competition for electric off-road bikes, from this year. By competing in trials with electric bikes, Honda aims to further enhance its technologies.(1) MFJ: Motorcycle Federation of Japan(2) Féderation Internationale de MotocyclismeFor more imformation, visit https://global.honda/en/topics/2024/2_2024-10-11eng.html.  Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.

Toyota City, Japan, Oct 11, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) and MoneyGram Haas F1 Team announced today that they have concluded a basic agreement on entering a technical partnership concerning MoneyGram Haas F1 Team vehicle development and collaborative efforts. Through this partnership, the two sides aim to contribute to the development of the automotive industry by creating an environment in which young Japanese drivers, engineers, and mechanics can gain experience and grow in the FIA Formula One World Championship (F1), the pinnacle of motorsports.TGR continues to compete in motorsports to hone the three essential elements of car manufacturing: people, pipeline*, and product. In the "driver-first" carmaking strongly advocated by Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman Akio Toyoda, aka Morizo, cars are repeatedly broken and fixed in the arena of motorsports, and professional driver feedback is thoroughly incorporated into the development of production vehicles. In recent efforts to strengthen this approach, there is a growing need to enhance people by developing drivers, engineers, and mechanics, to effectively use the pipeline of data analysis and utilization, and to apply insights gained to products through vehicle development. Through the technical partnership announced today, TGR intends to further strengthen people and learn MoneyGram Haas F1 Team's pipeline, which is one of the team's strengths in F1, to accelerate the creation of ever-better motorsports-bred cars.Specifically, the agreement entails the participation in MoneyGram Haas F1 Team test drives by TGR training drivers, engineers, and mechanics. This will enable the drivers to gain driving experience in F1, and it will allow the engineers and mechanics to learn how to analyze vast amounts of data, such as driving data, to effectively operate a pipeline for such at TGR. The agreement also entails the participation of TGR engineers and mechanics in MoneyGram Haas F1 Team racing car aerodynamics development to cultivate human resources―by having participants design and manufacture carbon-fiber parts in simulated extreme operational environments―who can play active roles on the front lines of the pinnacle of motorsports and reflect the technology and knowledge acquired in production vehicles.Sharing a desire to contribute to motorsports and the automotive industry through human resource development, TGR and MoneyGram Haas F1 Team intend to continue their initiatives for strengthening their racing teams.*The know-how and infrastructure for multi-point sharing of vast amounts of data, such as ongoing-race driving data, immediately analyzing such data, and promptly utilizing it in strategic planning for the race at handAbout Toyota Toyota strives to be a strong corporate citizen, engaging with and earning the trust of its stakeholders, and to contribute to the creation of a prosperous society through all its business operations.Our corporate principles form the basis of our initiatives, reflect values that enable action, and drive our mindset.For the latest Toyota-related news and information:https://tinyurl.com/ToyotaPressReleasenewsroom@global.toyota Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.

TOKYO, Oct 11, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Ltd. (Dongfeng Honda), a Honda automobile production and sales joint venture in China, today held a ceremony to commemorate the start of operation of its new energy vehicle (NEV) production plant in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China.The ceremony was attended by a number of guests and executives including representatives of Wuhan City and Hubei Province governments; Yang Qing, Chairman of Dongfeng Motor Corporation; Toshihiro Mibe, Global CEO of Honda; and Masayuki Igarashi, Managing Executive Officer of Honda and Chief Officer in charge of Regional Operations (China).The Dongfeng Honda NEV production plant is the first dedicated Honda electric vehicle (EV) production plant in the world to begin operations. A highly efficient EV production line was realized by increasing the level of automation, mainly in the assembly process, and also by integrating quality and various operational data obtained in each process within the plant. Moreover, through the introduction of a multi-level automated warehouse and automation of parts logistics, this plant became the first Honda plant in the world to completely eliminate logistics personnel in the stamping process.As for environmentally-responsible features, the overall energy consumption of the plant was reduced through various measures including the reduction of electricity use with the adoption of an efficient daylighting layout, as well as the utilization of thermal energy generated during production for heating systems and other purposes. In addition, through the real-time monitoring of the energy consumption of each process within the plant, excess electricity consumption will be reduced depending on the situation. Furthermore, Dongfeng Honda will strive to further reduce the plant’s environmental footprint by linking the respective data on each process and optimizing overall power consumption, while minimizing the impact on production.Dongfeng Honda NEV production plantHonda has set a global environmental goal of “realizing carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities Honda is involved in by 2050.”In China, Honda is planning to introduce a total of 10 Honda-brand EV models by 2027, including models for the e:N Series launched in 2022, as well as the Ye Series, a next-generation EV series Honda unveiled in April 2024. With these EV models, Honda is aiming to achieve 100% EV sales in China by 2035.Comments by Toshihiro Mibe, Global CEO of HondaIt is our great pleasure to hold an opening ceremony for the first dedicated Honda EV production plant which just started operation. Honda will operate this new plant smoothly and stably and provide high-quality EV models to our customers in China, through which we will continue our pursuit to “Expand the Joys for our customers and society.” Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.

TOKYO, Oct 11, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - The UAE Space Agency ("UAESA") has formalized an agreement with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. ("MHI"), a renowned global industrial group and trusted provider of the H-IIA and H-IIB Launch Vehicles. This partnership will provide launch services for the UAE's landmark endeavor, the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA).Signing CeremonyThe UAE Space Agency is spearheading the development of the MBR Explorer, named in honor of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as part of the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt. This flagship mission, a successor of the Emirates Mars Mission, is set to launch in the first quarter of 2028. The mission aims to add to our understanding of the foundation of our solar system and the presence and origins of the building blocks of life found in the asteroid belt, as well as lay the ground for possible future resource extraction from asteroids.EMA comprises a thirteen-year mission: a six-year spacecraft development period followed by a seven-year flight to the main asteroid belt beyond Mars, performing a series of close flybys to make unique observations of the main belt asteroids and land on the seventh one, Justicia.This is the third launch services agreement between MHI and the UAE for Emirati national missions, following KhalifaSat launched in 2018, and Emirates Mars Mission launched in 2020.Mohsen AlAwadhi, Mission Director for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt, said: "We are pleased to partner once again with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) as the launch provider for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt. MHI's consistent track record of reliability, coupled with their cutting-edge H3 launch vehicle, aligns with our mission's ambitious goals.We have high expectations for the H3 launch vehicle, given its enhanced capabilities and MHI's commitment to precision and excellence. This partnership represents not only the next step in the UAE's journey into deep space but also a testament to our confidence in MHI's technology and expertise."Iwao Igarashi, Vice President and Senior General Manager of Space Systems at MHI, said: "First of all, we appreciate UAESA for selecting MHI as the launch services provider for EMA and their continued trust following our partnership for KhalifaSat and Emirates Mars Mission. It is our honor to provide the launch services to the UAE again for their important national mission. On behalf of MHI, I express sincere respect for the UAESA and involved organizations for challenging this highly unique, unprecedented, and adventurous project. We are very excited to support the project as the launch services provider. MHI is committed to delivering the MBR Explorer to the orbit successfully and providing a smooth start of the UAESA's new journey to the deep space."MHI Launch Services enjoys an extremely high success rate of over 98%, utilising its H-IIA and H-IIB launch vehicles, and has executed more than 50 successful consecutive launches since 2005, delivered on-time and to the customer's satisfaction. Today, MHI's technologies and know-how of development and operation of launch vehicles are exploited in successful launches of H3, Japan's new launch vehicle. H3 Launch Vehicle builds on the legacy of the highly reliable H-IIA & H-IIB and it is designed to be more customer-oriented and capable to satisfy a variety of launch demands. The third launch of H3 was successfully completed the third launch of H3 on 1 July 2024. MHI is determined to sustain the quality of launch vehicles, providing reliable launch solutions to the market.This partnership embodies MHI's long term support for customers and commitment to providing reliable means of access to space to a variety of customers in space industry. With this partnership to launch the MBR Explorer for EMA, UAESA and MHI will contribute together to diversification of space exploration, enhancement of space industry and solving of global social issues.About UAE Space AgencyThe UAE Space Agency is a federal agency that was created under Federal Law by Decree No. 1 of 2014, to be responsible for all the projects, activities, and programs related to outer space. The UAE Space Agency aims to organise, regulate, and support the space sector in the country, support the sustainable national economy, and promote the UAE's position on the regional and global space map.The UAE Space Agency is responsible for proposing policies, strategies, legislation, and plans related to the space sector, offering guidance for national space programmes, developing and attracting national capabilities, supporting research and development projects, and granting permits for space activities.The Agency also leads many projects and initiatives, including the Space Economic Zones Program, to support startups and SMEs and strengthen the national space economy, the Space Data Center, the Geo-Spatial Analytics Platform, the Space Analytics and Solutions (SAS) Program, the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) Hope Probe, and the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA), the first mission of its kind to study seven asteroids in the main asteroid belt.About MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com. Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.

TOKYO, Oct 11, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - National University Corporation OITA UNIVERSITY ("Oita University") and Hitachi High-Tech Corporation ("Hitachi High-Tech") today announced that we have started conducting research ("this research") into predicting and extendingthe life of electrocatalysts used in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC), utilizing Hitachi High-Tech’s technology that uses AI to perform image analysis. We will be giving a joint presentation on the contents of this research at The Chemical Society of Japan Autumn Event 14th CSJ Chemistry Festa 2024, which will be held at Tower Hall, Funabori (Tokyo) from October 22 to 25, 2024.Kinumoto Laboratory at the Faculty of Science and Technology of Oita University is involved in research initiatives using the Identical Location Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscope (IL-FE-SEM)*1 of Oita university's proprietary technology to figure out the degradation mechanism of PEFC electrocatalysts and develop robust PEFC.This research is part of the Green Technologies for Excellence (GteX)*2 project of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).Hitachi High-Tech develops, manufactures, and sells electron microscopes, so has a wealth of expertise in the analysis of observation images, also solves problems faced by customers using informatics technologies, Materials Informatics (MI) and Process Informatics (PI)*3. Hitachi High-Tech has drawn on these strengths and combined them with AI and SEM image analysis technologies to provide support for Oita University’s PEFC research and development.Including with this research, Oita University and Hitachi High-Tech aim to continue working to accelerate efforts to develop longer-lasting PEFC going forward and contribute to solving social issues such as by achieving carbon neutrality and a decarbonized society.BackgroundPEFC are a type of fuel cell that use polymer materials as the electrolyte*4 to generate electricity (energy) by causing chemical reactions between hydrogen and oxygen at two electrodes. Fuel cells of all kinds are increasingly used as a form of sustainable energy that can reduce CO2 emissions and, among those, PEFC are also used in everyday applications such as vehicle and household power sources. As the achievement of carbon neutrality becomes recognized as a key issue facing society, it is predicted that PEFC will become increasingly necessary. To that end, however, PEFC in their current state need to be higher durability, with higher output, and lower in cost. This research aims to shed light on the mechanism behind the degradation of electrocatalysts, which is the utmost important issue in prolonging PEFC life, by using AI technology to analyze FE-SEM observation images and make more efficient analysis based on quantitative data possible.Overview of this ResearchThis research used Oita University's IL-FE-SEM technology and Hitachi High-Tech's AI- powered image analysistechnology to study electrocatalyst durability and surface degradation through accelerated degradation tests in which a pulse voltage is repeatedly applied to the PEFC electrocatalysts.*5In order to figure out the deterioration mechanism, in which there is a reduction in the electrochemical surface area (ECSA)*6 of the electrocatalytic platinum particles, Oita University is using IL-FE-SEM technology to visually inspectand analyze the platinum particles in observation images. However, although it is possible to use IL-FE-SEM technology to acquire a large volume of observation images, this has its problems in that there is a tremendous workload involved in analyzing all of the observation images due to there being hundreds of platinum particles present in each individual image. To resolve this problem, Hitachi High-Tech provided AI-driven image analysis technology to streamline the task of image analysis. Specifically, AI image analysis was used to detect*7 platinum particles present in each test. After the particles were detected in the images that had been taken, changes in the status of the particles (their disappearance, aggregation, or formation) could be tracked and the particle count automatically determined.Going forward, the researchers will continue to work to improve particle detection accuracy and make advancements in figuring out the degradation mechanism of more efficient PEFC, as both Oita University and Hitachi High Tech will push ahead and continue to work together to develop long-lasting PEFC. They will also contribute to the cultivation ofdata scientists with a grounding in chemistry by working together with the students of Oita University on pushing this analysis forward.This research is being performed through technical collaboration with Hitachi Co., Ltd. (“Hitachi”), and the presentation at CSJ Chemistry Festa 2024 is planned to be performed jointly by Oita University, Hitachi High-Tech, and Hitachi.Related Information- CSJ Chemistry Festa 2024 https://festa.csj.jp/2024/index.html (Japanese only)- The date and time of the presentation on this research: Wednesday, October 23, 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM within the Festa plan, student poster presentations*8.- Presentation topic: “Analysis of Degradation of Pt/C Electrocatalysts for PEFC using Identical Location FE-SEM Observation and AI Image Analysis”(1) Identical Location Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscope (IL-FE-SEM): It refers to the observation of a fixed-point using FE-SEM and is a technology independently developed by Oita University. Observing a fixed-point can be used effectively in research tracking and figuring out changes in physical matter.(2) Green Technologies for Excellence (GteX): A project by JST for supporting R&D and personnel development at universities, National Research and Development Agencies and similar institutions with the aim of continually creating new technologies targeted toward achieving GX (green transformation).(3) Materials Informatics (MI) and Process Informatics (PI): Initiatives to make materials development more efficient by using informatics techniques that leverage statistical analysis and other such methodologies. MI is often used to predict material properties or for design purposes, while PI is often used to streamline the production process.(4) Electrolytes: A substance used to move ions between electrodes and facilitate an electrochemical reaction.(5) Durability testing using an accelerated degradation test (ADT). ADT rapidly evaluates fuel cell durability by applying a constant potential pulse to a sample. FE-SEM was used to image the same location on the catalyst surface to study the degradation in the cathode catalyst surface occurring over repeated tests.(6) Electrochemical surface area: It refers to the surface area over which the reaction occurs, and it serves as an important metric when evaluating the performanceof catalysts and electrode materials. The larger the electrochemical surface area, the higher the electrochemical reaction efficiency.(7) Detected particles using semantic segmentation. Semantic segmentation assigns labels to each and every pixel in an image, enabling a precise level of detection even across wide image areas.(8) Student poster presentations: A student poster session will be held with the objective of encouraging discussion between students and industry, academia, and government representatives.About Hitachi High-TechHitachi High-Tech, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is engaged in activities in a broad range of fields, including manufacture and sales of clinical analyzers, biotechnology products, radiation therapy systems, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, analytical instruments, and analysis equipment. Also, we provide high value-added solutions in industrial fields such as mobility, connected, environment and energy, etc. Through business based on our core Observation, Measurement and Analysis technologies, we will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society by solving social issues.The company's consolidated revenues for FY2023 were approx. JPY 670.4 billion. For further information, visit https://www.hitachi-hightech.com/global/en/About Oita UniversityOita University has a Faculty of Education, Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Science andTechnology, and Faculty of Welfare and Health Science. The university's Basic Policy state that it strives to “foster people rich in creativity, social abilities, and humanity through education and research in the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences. In addition, it will actively contribute to peace and development in the world. It will play an active role in promoting human welfare and creating new culture.” This initiative is being conducted at theFaculty of Science and Technology, where research and development targeted at achieving carbon neutrality is conducted, including research into fuel cells.Contact:Takumi SenbaMaterial Solution Dept., Supply Chain Resilience Div.,Supply Chain Platform Business Group, Hitachi High-Tech CorporationEmail : mi-info.aj.ml@hitachi-hightech.com/ Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.

TOKYO, Oct 11, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - NEC Security, Ltd., an NEC Group company, has been commissioned by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to conduct cybersecurity capacity building exercises for Pacific island countries. Exercises were first conducted in Fiji for seven days from October 2 to 10, 2024, with 29 cybersecurity practitioners from government agencies and critical infrastructure operators from 13 countries participating. Additional training is scheduled to take place in the United States territory of Guam in February 2025.In recent years, international cooperation is indispensable for ensuring the success of cybersecurity measures that are implemented across national borders. In order to reduce cybersecurity risks for the entire world, it is important to support the building of cybersecurity capabilities in developing countries, including the Indo-Pacific region, which occupies an important geographical position.Since the opening of the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre (AJCCBC)(1) in 2018, NEC has supported the project’s operations through initiatives that include the coordination of approximately 30 cyber exercises for ASEAN member countries. Utilizing this knowledge, instructors and tutors from NEC Security, a cybersecurity specialist, are providing training tailored to the current state and needs of cybersecurity in Pacific island countries. Specifically, after participants conduct more than one month of online pre-study, NEC Security’s program includes five days of incident response training in the event of a cyberattack, thereby contributing to the building of practical cybersecurity capabilities.SummaryDate, time and place: - 1st Session: October 2, 2024 ~ October 10, 2024, Fiji- 2nd Session: February 2025, Guam, USATarget Audience: - Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga, Nauru, Tuvalu, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Cook Islands- Cybersecurity practitioners serving government officials and critical infrastructure operatorsOrganizer: Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and CommunicationsContents of the event: - 1 month or more of online pre-study- Incident response training, review of pre-learning and desktop exercises- Cyber exercise using CYDER(2) (5 days hands-on)Going forward, NEC and NEC Security will continue to contribute to the improvement of cybersecurity capabilities by providing cyber defense exercises, products and services to government agencies and critical infrastructure companies internationally.Under the value-delivery model “NEC BluStellar”(3), NEC is transforming business models with cutting-edge technologies to help solve challenges for customers and society.(1) The ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre (AJCCBC) was opened by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in September 2018 to promote the development of cybersecurity human resources for ASEAN member countries.(2) The Cyber Defense Exercise with Recurrence (CYDER) is a hands-on, practical cyber defense exercise conducted by Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) for information system personnel from national administrative agencies, local governments, independent administrative agencies, and critical infrastructure operators.(3) NEC provides end-to-end services for digital transformation (DX) through the "NEC BluStellar" value-delivery model. NEC BluStellar transforms business models to address social and business challenges by applying diverse industry insights and world-leading technological expertise to the entire DX process, from customer strategy consultation through implementation.About NEC CorporationNEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of “Orchestrating a brighter world.” NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com. Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.

TOKYO, Oct 10, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC), MC Retail Energy Co., Ltd. (MC Retail Energy), Kaluza Japan and Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) are pleased to announce our official commencement of an electric-vehicle (EV) smart-charging service leveraging connected technologies. The commercial viability of this business, which is the first of its kind in Japan1, was verified during a proof of concept (PoC2) that began in February 2024. The objectives of the PoC were to refine both the level of service provided and precision of the app used by its customers.Features of this ServiceThis service makes it possible for owners of MMC's Outlander PHEVs3 to directly control the charging of their vehicles from an advanced energy software platform provided by Kaluza Japan via MMC's connected systems4. It offers customers a new EV-charging experience, as it can optimize charging in line with electricity prices. The service will be made available through subscriptions to MC Retail Energy's EV smart-charging plans for households.  Benefits to Customers:- Daily Smart ChargingSimply by connecting their Outlander PHEVs to their home charging stations and using the smartphone app to set the time they intend to next use their vehicles, customers can instruct the system to automatically control when their vehicles are charged. They do not need to purchase any special equipment or follow any complicated procedures.- Points System Based on Use of Controlled Charging (electricity discounts)Some of the cost savings realized by using this service to optimize charging via MC Retail Energy's smart-charging plans will be returned to the customer in the form of electricity-bill discounts.Benefits to Society:- Effective Use of Renewable Energies (renewables)Electricity prices fluctuate based on power generation and demand, and they tend to be lower when a lot of electricity is generated by renewables. As this system factors those prices into the timing of its controlled EV charging, it will make an indirect contribution to using renewables more effectively.- Efficient "Peak-hour" ShiftsBy controlling charging, this service will also help to shift the hours of peak electricity loads to facilitate more efficient operation of Japan's energy grid, which will lessen the burden on society when costs are incurred in upgrading or expanding that infrastructure.For more information, visit www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/pr/archive/2024/html/0000054825.html.Inquiry Recipient:Mitsubishi CorporationTelephone:+81-3-3210-2171 Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.

TOKYO, Oct 10, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Lexus brings new enhancements to the LX and introduces the LX 700h, featuring the brand's newly developed hybrid system, which was announced on October 10th. A phased rollout across various regions is scheduled to begin in late 2024.Since its founding in 1989, Lexus has consistently upheld a spirit of innovation, continually striving to provide customers with new technologies and value. With the aim of achieving a carbon-neutral society and the desire to enrich automotive lifestyles with one's car, we will continue to provide a diverse range of options to meet the needs of customers around the world.The LX is a flagship SUV based on the concept of "effortless and refined driving on any road around the world." It combines driving performance that can handle any road in the world, while still providing the signature refined comfort of a Lexus. It is now beloved by customers in over 50 countries across the globe.At the same time, it was also the only model in the Lexus lineup that did not have an electrified vehicle option.Introducing the LX 700h, Lexus has developed a new parallel hybrid system that prioritizes preserving the "reliability," "durability," and "off-road performance" that the LX series has cultivated over generations, even amidst the shift to electrification. By utilizing motor torque to achieve the signature Lexus driving experience, annual CO2 emissions across all global vehicles will be significantly reduced, further improving environmental performance.Lexus has further refined its distinctive Lexus Driving Signature by enhancing the core fundamentals, including the engine model. The "engaging driving dialogue" that reacts instantly to driver inputs has been further refined while the vehicle has been upgraded with the latest Lexus Safety System + (LSS+) for enhanced safety and peace of mind.To further meet the diverse needs of our global customers, we have added the new OVERTRAIL series. With the early launch of the GX and NX OVERTRAIL models, we will continue to expand the lineup of the LEXUS OVERTRAIL PROJECT.Takami Yokoo, Lexus International Chief EngineerIn 2021, the LX underwent a full model change based on the concept of "effortless and refined driving on any road," earning widespread acclaim from customers worldwide, for which we are sincerely grateful. However, it posed a challenge within the Lexus lineup, as it remained the only model without an electrified option―despite our commitment to achieving a carbon-neutral society. For those of us who have been deeply involved with the LX over the years, electrifying it for use in demanding global environments seemed both an immense challenge and a long-held aspiration.During development, we were determined in our commitment not to compromise the reliability, durability, and off-road performance that has defined previous LX models, even with electrification. Our goal was to ensure safe, reliable operation, allowing customers to return home safely, while preserving the true Lexus driving experience. The solution we reached, as a unified development team, was the development of a new parallel hybrid system along with upgrades to the GA-F platform.Three years after the release of the gasoline and diesel models, we have further refined the Lexus Driving Signature, while enhancing both safety and comfort features. Our extensive ongoing driving flavor refinements have been fully integrated into the HEV models, elevating the "engaging driving dialogue" with the car. With updates to the electronic platform and the latest enhancements to LSS+, we have introduced improvements that make driving even more effortless and refined. We invite you to experience the new LX, thoughtfully crafted with the passion and dedication of our development team, as we embrace the next chapter of electrification with the HEV models.For more information, visit https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/lexus/41628808.html. Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.