Index
Vol. 80, No. 5, September 2025
150th Anniversary Commemorative Series
KIYOKUNI Toshihisa
BABA Kenji
Special Reports
Continuously Advancing Measurement and Control Technologies in Era of DX
TAKAYANAGI Yoichi
ANAN Kazuhiro / GUAN Zhengzheng / MOMOTAKE Hiroyuki
Recently, there has been a trend toward accelerating digital transformation (DX) in measurement and control systems by utilizing data that results from the convergence of operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT). To meet the needs of the times, including immediately responding to changing circumstances and contributing to achieving a sustainable society, technologies that combine OT and IT are advancing to the next stage known as software-defined automation, which is capable of flexibly adapting system configurations by means of software-defined functional elements while incorporating innovative technologies including generative artificial intelligence (AI). OT cybersecurity is also becoming an essential countermeasure against growing security risks.
The Toshiba Group is committed to providing not only OT components to promote the convergence of OT and IT, but also measurement and control systems that evolve through the use of our OT components with the aim of supporting technological innovations in the manufacturing industry and social infrastructure systems.
SATA Kuniaki / SAKATA Shinichiro / ISHII Ken / KUSAKABE Takashi
To further improve work environment management at outdoor worksites, various issues need to be addressed, such as the increasing number of workers taken to hospital by ambulance due to heatstroke, and falling from high places, which is the most common accident.
With this in mind, the Toshiba Group has developed the following MULiSiTEN series wristband-type wearable sensors focusing on heat and falling as key parameters in ensuring a safe work environment. The MS100 is capable of displaying and reporting a worker’s quantitative heat stress level, and the new MS200 is capable of displaying and reporting falls from high places in addition to the MS100 functions.
KAGAWA Takeshi / WATANABE Keisuke / YAMADA Yuta
With the aim of improving productivity, manufacturing industries are making efforts to promote the digitalization of on-site equipment to analyze various data collected from manufacturing sites in real time to streamline manufacturing process monitoring and control.
Toshiba Corporation develops and provides thickness gauges for measuring the thickness of metal sheets manufactured in rolling lines at steel plants online. We have developed a new application interface library that facilitates connecting the thickness gauge and control equipment via the TC-net 100 information and control network capable of high-speed real-time data transmission. This library makes it possible to digitalize thickness measurement values while maintaining real-time performance, contributing to the progress of digital transformation (DX) in steel rolling lines.
HAYASHIDA Akihiro / HAGIWARA Tsuyoshi / MURAKAMI Shoichi / ICHIKAWA Mariko
To enhance labor productivity, data collected by equipment is being effectively used in the manufacturing industry and at a variety of facilities.
The Toshiba Group promotes the development of components capable of linking data through the collaboration of operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) systems to achieve smart manufacturing. We have developed technology that can securely collect, analyze, and control site data in real time by implementing the control functions of industrial controllers on public cloud systems, achieving artificial intelligence (AI) linkage, remote access, and asset-light manufacturing systems. We have also expanded our lineup of industrial controllers and simulators capable of improving productivity by solely using edge systems. These simulators make it possible to support the development of advanced systems including cyber-physical systems (CPS) in upstream processes before completing components in downstream processes such as training without using actual components. Industrial computers, which are key to collecting, storing, and analyzing OT data on-site, are also being used more frequently.
KUBOTA Kei / ANDOH Kazuma
Autonomous systems to detect abnormalities in manufacturing processes applying artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are being introduced at production facilities as a replacement for manual operations to address recent labor shortages. Furthermore, attention is being focused on sharing abnormality information by linking digital data in real time to streamline control system operations.
With this in mind, TMEIC Corporation has developed an abnormality detection system applying AI with a proprietary algorithm specialized for manufacturing systems, improving abnormality factor analysis accuracy and expanding the range of applications. We are also developing a real-time data linkage system using an integrated control system developed by Toshiba Corporation, which incorporates a controller with computer functions and a server system capable of providing easy access to abnormality information data.
Feature Articles
HAYASHI Kazuhiro / Dinesh KUMAR / TANAKA Akira
Growing cybersecurity threats in recent years have been accompanied by the rapid increase in cyberattacks targeting vulnerabilities in industrial automation and control systems (IACS). To ensure IACS security, IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) 62443-4, which is part of a series of standards that define security requirements for equipment and components used in IACS, has been specified.
Toshiba Corporation is making efforts to further enhance the cybersecurity of Skelios, a Linux® distribution developed as an operating system (OS) for Toshiba Group’s products to prepare it for IEC 62443-4. We have obtained third-party verification of conformance with the IEC 62443-4-1 standard by introducing specific technologies and processes to enhance the security of embedded devices in collaboration with the open-source community.
KOBAYASHI Kazuya / AKAGI Yuichiro / MATSUDA Masaki
The use of digital isolators, which are essential for the stable operation of various devices with communication and control functions while maintaining electrical insulation between high-voltage components, is expanding in various industrial and in-vehicle electronic systems. In recent years, demand for reducing digital isolator power consumption has increased, an area which is closely related to the total energy efficiency of such systems, as part of the movement to achieve carbon neutrality.
Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation develops low power consumption digital isolators for a broad array of applications from consumer products to industrial and in-vehicle electronic systems. We developed a new compact, low power consumption quad-channel digital isolator by applying a new circuit, confirming its low power consumption with a data transfer rate of 0.165 mA at 1 Mbit/s and 2.6 mA at 25 Mbit/s.
YAMASHITA Kyohei / KIHARA Yohei / TAKAMATA Hikaru
Polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) systems have been put to practical use in various applications. Recently, demand has grown for application to heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) such as trucks, buses, etc., which require relatively high output power and durability.
Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation has developed a highly durable, proprietary internally humidified stack and applied it to stationary PEFC systems. With the goal of expanding application to HDVs, we are working to increase the output power density and reduce the cost of next-generation PEFC systems while developing technology using 1D simulations to predict internally humidified stack performance based on the physical properties of cell materials. We have conducted 1D simulation tests using candidate cell material data, confirming that the current density of cells using new materials has nearly quadrupled compared to conventional products.
WADA Takahisa / OZAWA Yuta
Frequent hailfall damage in recent years due to climate change has made developing hailfall prediction technologies an urgent matter worldwide. Conventional methods often suffer from false alarms, such as instances where hailfall is predicted but does not occur, highlighting the need for improved reliability. Furthermore, there is difficulty with prediction accuracy evaluations due to a lack of data necessary for observing short-term and localized weather phenomena.
To address these challenges, the Toshiba Group has developed hailfall prediction technology that minimizes false alarms by identifying precipitation particle types in three-dimensional space using a Gaussian Mixture Model. Additionally, we have proposed new evaluation metrics (prediction success rates and overprediction rates) based on commonly-used social media posts and applied them to the development of the technology. We have confirmed a prediction success rate of 98% and an overprediction rate of 12% through demonstration experiments.
Frontiers of Research & Development
Technology to Instantly Estimate Lifetime of Printed Circuit Boards Using Deep-Learning-Based Surrogate Models
*Company, product, and service names appearing in each paper include those that are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.