JTW, Weekend April 6-7

Author

Eldar Syzdykov
April 07, 2024

Yamaha's "Music:AI" Revolutionizes In-Vehicle Acoustics with AI-Powered Optimization

Yamaha has developed a groundbreaking new technology called "Music:AI" that uses advanced artificial intelligence to optimize the acoustic experience within vehicle cabins. This innovative system will be integrated into a high-end amplifier set to launch in 2025, with plans to offer it to domestic and international automakers.

The "Music:AI" technology consists of three key components:

1. "Music:AI for Cabin" Leverages Yamaha's expertise in hall acoustics to create an optimal sound environment tailored to each vehicle model's physical characteristics.

2. "Music:AI for Music" Applies Yamaha's emotional tuning know-how to adjust acoustic parameters and enhance the listening experience for a wide range of musical content.

3. "Music:AI for Person" Utilizes Yamaha's sensitivity evaluation expertise to personalize the acoustic space according to individual listener preferences, helping customers discover new sound experiences.

This AI-driven approach aims to transform the vehicle cabin into a "second living room" for immersive audio entertainment, addressing the growing demand for advanced sound systems and personalization in modern cars. Yamaha believes "Music:AI" will deliver an unprecedented musical experience by combining its extensive acoustic engineering knowledge with the power of artificial intelligence.

Osaka University Revolutionizes Textile Recycling with Breakthrough Microwave-Based Separation Technology

Researchers at Osaka University have developed a groundbreaking new technology that can separate cotton and polyester blend fibers in just a few minutes, a significant advancement in textile recycling. Led by Professor Hiroshi Uyama, the research team's innovation leverages microwave technology, similar to a microwave oven, to efficiently extract and recover the cotton material while converting the polyester into a high-purity precursor that can be reused as a raw material for plastic products.

This development is particularly crucial as cotton-polyester blends account for roughly half of the large volume of apparel waste generated globally. The current limitations of conventional recycling methods have made it challenging to effectively recycle these mixed-fiber textiles, leading to a high rate of incineration or landfilling over 95% in Japan according to the Ministry of the Environment.

The new microwave-based separation technique offers a practical and efficient solution to this long-standing problem, paving the way for a more sustainable future in the apparel industry. Professor Uyama believes that with further process optimization through industry-academia collaboration, this technology can be readily implemented to revolutionize textile recycling and reduce the environmental impact of clothing waste.

NTT's Breakthrough Optimization Algorithm Boosts Efficiency in Generative AI and Similarity Search

NTT has developed a novel method for quickly calculating optimization problems, which can be highly beneficial for applications such as generative AI and similarity search across various data types, including images, audio, and text.

The key innovation lies in the algorithm's ability to identify "cyclic symmetry" within the data, allowing it to reduce the computational complexity of the underlying "optimal transportation problem" significantly. In benchmark tests, NTT found that by leveraging 50th-order cyclic symmetry in 1000-dimensional data, the calculation load could be reduced by approximately 100 times compared to conventional methods.

This efficiency boost can have a substantial impact on generative AI systems, where the new algorithm can dramatically lower the computational costs associated with comparing generated outputs against original data during the training process. Additionally, the improved optimization capabilities can enhance the accuracy and performance of similarity search applications that require finding highly similar patterns between data samples.

NTT is actively collaborating with its in-house generative AI development team and aims to commercialize this breakthrough optimization technology within the next one to two years, potentially transforming a wide range of data-intensive applications across industries.

AI-Powered Damage Assessment Accelerates Disaster Relief in Tokyo

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has developed a new tool that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to detect and assess damage to houses in the event of a large-scale disaster. This innovative system aims to address the challenges associated with manually inspecting and classifying the degree of damage, which is a prerequisite for issuing disaster victim certificates.

The AI-based tool can analyze images of houses and automatically identify the presence or absence of damage, as well as categorize the extent of damage into five distinct levels. This automation is expected to significantly reduce the burden on field personnel and speed up the overall damage recognition process, which is crucial for providing timely support to disaster victims.

With concerns about potential staffing shortages due to earthquakes directly impacting the Tokyo metropolitan area, the development of this AI-powered damage assessment tool is a timely and important step. Although the current accuracy of the system is still an area for improvement, the Tokyo government is dedicated to further enhancing the technology and moving forward with practical implementation.

Disaster victim certificates are essential for disaster victims to access various forms of support, such as tax reductions or exemptions, and access to temporary housing. By leveraging AI to streamline the damage assessment process, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government aims to improve the efficiency and responsiveness of disaster relief efforts, ensuring that affected communities can receive the assistance they need in a more timely and effective manner.

Hamamatsu City Emerges as Hub for Laser-Driven Nuclear Fusion Energy Research

Hamamatsu City has become the location of a new research base focused on developing and commercializing nuclear fusion power generation using laser technology. This cutting-edge facility was established by a startup company in collaboration with Osaka University, with the goal of advancing this next-generation energy solution.

The research base, which recently opened to the press, is equipped with large experimental equipment and is currently demonstrating the use of a powerful green laser within the fusion reactor. This laser-driven nuclear fusion approach extracts deuterium and other substances from seawater to use as fuel, aiming to continuously generate energy in a sustainable manner.

Hamamatsu City was chosen as the site for this research hub due to the presence of leading Japanese companies in the optical industry, with the intention of fostering collaborations with the surrounding businesses in the future. The startup's CEO, Kazuki Matsuo, expressed optimism about the potential of this technology, stating that if perfected, it could provide an inexhaustible domestic energy source, particularly beneficial for resource-limited countries like Japan.

This research facility represents a significant step towards the commercialization of laser-based nuclear fusion power, which could revolutionize global energy production and contribute to a more sustainable future. The advancements made at this Hamamatsu City research base will be closely watched by the scientific community and energy industry as they work towards realizing this transformative technology.

Roidz Tech Unveils Versatile Electric Three-Wheel Mobility Vehicle "Raptor"

Roidz Tech, a robot venture founded by Chiba Institute of Technology and RDS, has announced the upcoming release of its electric three-wheeled mobility vehicle, "Raptor," by the end of 2024. The Raptor is designed to be a versatile transportation solution for a wide range of users, from young people to the elderly, as it can be operated with a motorized bicycle driver's license on public roads.

The key features of the Raptor include:

Interchangeable design and functional modules The upper design unit can be replaced by the user, allowing the vehicle to be used not only for transporting people but also for goods transportation.

Compact size Measuring 1190 mm in length, 510 mm in width, and 880 mm in height.

Maximum speed of 40 km/h The front two wheels are tilted, making it easier to maneuver in tight corners.

Safety features Sensors and cameras are mounted on the front, and AI is used to automatically limit speed and ensure safe driving.

Roidz Tech aims to sell 100 units of the Raptor within the first three years and is open to collaborating with external designers to expand the vehicle's use cases. This innovative electric three-wheeler represents a new approach to sustainable and versatile mobility, catering to the diverse transportation needs of modern urban and suburban environments.

Mazda Unveils "Meta-Mazda" Its First Digital Art Collection Merging Subculture and Japanese Aesthetics

Mazda has launched its first digital art collection called "Meta-Mazda." The collection is a collaboration with the winning team of Mazda's 2023 web3 Global Hackathon and is described as a fusion of subculture and Japanese beauty, with a focus on Mazda's popular Roadster model. 

The "Meta-Mazda" artworks will be available for a limited time through the "Yoki Origins" launch campaign on the Astar Network's Ethereum Layer 2 platform. This marks Mazda's initial foray into the digital realm as the automaker aims to explore new creative avenues and engage with emerging web3 technologies.