When I became a member of society, I got a job at a company with a core electronic measuring instrument business, so there was a lot of terms related to measurement within the company. I was in a slightly minor business computer department myself, but for some reason I used the BASIC language to process data from instruments and accumulate them in files, and I’ve created programs that output the analysis results to plotters. Nearly 40 years ago, when exchanging measurement data, it seems that engineers did not trust each other unless they used data from a specific vendor. We thought it was necessary to ensure part compatibility.
In fact, the equipment industry and machinery industry, which is the growth area of edge computing, have a long history of industrial measurement. For one thing, process industry measurement performed in equipment industries such as steelmaking, chemical, petroleum refining, and electric power. In addition, it is a machine industry measurement mainly for processing and assembly such as the machinery industry, precision machinery industry, electronic equipment industry, etc. Industrial measurement has developed with the aim of enabling rational management of quality, resource energy, etc., and mass production by automating the manufacturing process.
The act of measuring and quantifying is now not limited to the field of industrial measurement, but also greatly expands. The reason for the spread is due to the development of sensor technology. As smart sensors become cheaper, they are often used in various devices, and the frequency of use for health management technologies such as human pulse and body temperature, as well as construction and transportation, is increasing. Some of my acquaintances also use smartwatches. We manage sleep such as sleep time, sleep efficiency, and sleepiness, and measure and manage heart rate, blood oxygen, steps and calories burned during exercise.
Remote sensing is often used as a sensing technology for measuring data at remote locations and remotely controlling devices in remote locations, and is used in fields where human positional relationships such as space and aviation are extremely far away. However, remote sensing is also used in areas where positional relationships are a little closer. For example, use in agriculture is an example. It is also used in the fields of renewable energy, which will spread at an increasing rate in the future, such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass. Recently, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) proposed revisions to the Basic Energy Plan. In order to achieve the government’s goal of virtually eliminating greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, it seems that japan has stated that it will make a “top priority” for the expansion of renewable energy for the first time. The 2030 outlook for the power supply configuration was also shown, and the current plan seems to have significantly increased the renewable energy of 22 to 24% to 36-38%.
When you think about it this way, I feel that the use of edge computers is expanding more and more, and the market is promised to grow. Simply put, there is a demand for edge computers in areas where the data measured by the development of sensing technology is important. Of course, it is assumed that the form of an edge computer will be varied. Edge computers that are close to sensors for health and sleep management may be in the shape of a mobile phone. Edge computers in space, aviation, and automobiles may be particularly durable against shocks, temperature changes, and so on. Edge computers for managing renewable energy require that availability and maintainability levels be close to the level and time axis of generator sets.
Our design philosophy of edge computers is to be simple, robust, and autonomous. It also implements virtualization technologies. Until now, it was often used around traditional industrial measurements, and I had the impression that the product itself was a little too far ahead of market demands. However, when smart sensing and remote sensing become more commonly used, this design philosophy and basic technology will go further. I think that is not the future, but tomorrow.
