TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Holds a Meeting to Present Results of Joint Research with Carnegie Mellon University
On June 21, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING, Co., Ltd. (HQ：1083 Tsuneishi Numakuma-cho, Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan; President: Kenji Kawano) held a meeting to present the results of joint research in IoT (Internet of Things) and robotics undertaken with Carnegie Mellon University America (CMU), with shared visions of how next-generation factories and construction environment to take shape.
This research project, which has been undertaken continuously with CMU since 2014, aims to positively utilize robots and IoT technologies to improve productivity and work environment in factories. The following four themes were described in this report.
◇ Retrofit Sensor Network
Development of technical concepts for combining sensing technology that converts analog data to digital data and wireless data transmission technology, for analog type measuring devices widely used in ships
◇ Automatic Hull Cleaning System
Development of concepts for a submersible robot system that enables remote and automatic periodic inspection and maintenance of underwater hull sections
◇ Welding Robots for Double Bottom Blocks
Development of concepts for fully automatic welding robots that autonomously move to welding sites and perform welding operations, intended for large welding processes for double bottom blocks in narrowly restricted environments
◇ Factory Inventory System
Development of concepts for a system that enables position data tracking of materials during construction, using a combination of fixed cameras, helmet cameras, and AR markers
The CMU student researchers who made the report presentation served a month-long internship at TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING starting at the end of May this year, working in construction processes and operations and gathering information and experiences that were reflected in the results presentations. The TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING's employees who attended the meeting asked the questions about the results of experiments, how the technology works, etc. The discussions overcoming the language barrier were held regarding the results and future goals of this research.
CMU, a highly regarded research university in the US, established Computational Engineering and Robotics Laboratory (CERLAB) in 1996, and conducts research into IT and robotics technologies in various industries, in addition to working with US government organizations such as NSF, NASA, and NIH. In 2014, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING signed an agreement with CMU to incorporate advanced robotics in the shipbuilding business, and has since promoted joint research to solve various issues that beset the industry.
■ About TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd.
Marking its 100th anniversary in 2017, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING (Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan) is the anchor company of the TSUNEISHI Group, which mainly engages in shipbuilding and maritime transport. With manufacturing bases in Japan (Tsuneishi Factory, the HQ) and three overseas factories in the Philippines, China, and Paraguay, the company builds container carriers, tankers, cruise ship, 30,000-tonne to 180,000-tonne class bulk carriers, and other ships.
URL: http://www.tsuneishi.co.jp/
President: Kenji Kawano
Field of Business: Shipbuilding, ship repair
Established: July 1917
Capital: 100 million yen
Employees: 880 (as of December 2017)
Business Locations: Tsuneishi Factory (Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan)
Shipbuilding Affiliates:
TSUNEISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES (CEBU), Inc. (Cebu Island, Philippines)
http://www.thici.com/
TSUNEISHI GROUP (ZHOUSHAN) SHIPBUILDING, Inc. (Zhejiang Province, China)
http://www.tsuneishi-zs.com/
ASTILLERO TSUNEISHI PARAGUAY S.A. (Villeta, Central, Paraguay) http://www.glocal-japan.com/southamerica/
MIHO SHIPYARD CO., LTD.
http://www.mihozosen.co.jp/
TSUNEISHI IRON WORKS Co., Ltd. (Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan)
http://www.tsuneishi-iw.jp/
TSUNEISHI TRADING Co., Ltd. (Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan)
http://www.tsuneishi-trading.co.jp/
TSUNEISHI ENGINEERING Co., Ltd. (Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan)
http://www.tsune-e.com/
For further information, please contact:
Marketing & Communication Dept.,
TSUNEISHI HOLDINGS CORPORATION
+81-84-987-4915
pr@tsuneishi.com
