Information Technology and Electronics

[ Overview ]

We study intelligent system technologies that are defined as technologies in the fields of intelligent information processing, robotics, and mechatronic systems that support intellectual activities and physical operations performed by humans, or perform these activities for humans. We are conducting research and development of basic principles, elemental technologies, and system architecture in this field. The targets of our research include safety technologies for life-support robots, basic life-support robot technologies to improve quality of life, robot technologies to increase efficiency and save labor in the service and manufacturing industries, technologies to improve the energy efficiency of transportation systems, and basic humanoid technologies.

[ Overview ]

We are engaged in promoting IT innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing technologies through research and development. Specific initiatives include infrastructural technologies such as high-performance, high-reliability, green cloud data centers; the realization of robust and secure yet flexible data integration and network management systems; interactive information utilization technologies for voice, images and other data; communication platforms that distribute sensing data; multilingual processing; and technologies for the utilization of geographical information. We seek to share research outcomes with society at large, not only in the form of technical contribution but also through supplying industry with easy-to-use middleware.

[ Overview ]

We are developing nano-device and integrated-circuit technologies for the realization of low-power-consumption, high-speed, and multifunctional information devices. Specifically, we are developing a ultra-miniaturized CMOS integrated circuit technology, nonvolatile electronics technologies using ferroelectric or chalcogenide materials, hybrid device technologies combining different semiconductors. In addition, we are working to develop innovative semiconductor fabrication machines leading to the creation of new semiconductor markets.

[ Overview ]

We pursue innovative possibility of electronic technologies and photonic technologies in addition to improving information and communication technologies to achieve safe and sustainable society. Concretely, we are developing new technologies used of both electron and light, such as photonic interconnection and the living body information sensing. We are also conducting the research and development of theories, materials, and devices concerning a quantum information processing, a strong correlated electron system, superconducting, and organic material. Moreover, we are promoting innovations of laser induced processing technology based on the laser fundamental research, and of optical or electronic observation and analysis systems.

[ Overview ]

An advanced communications infrastructure that permits large volumes of information to be transmitted with low power consumption is important in achieving a safe, secure, comfortable, and intelligent life. Our goal is to develop an optical path network that can handle large volumes of information while consuming very low amounts of energy. We are conducting research and development of alloptical switches aiming at ultra-high-speed optical processing, optical switches to route optical signals, and technologies to automatically and dynamically control dispersion of the transmission path, all of which are required to achieve our goal. We are also developing an ultrafast all-optical switch with an operating speed of 160 Gb/s using the intersubband transition of semiconductor quantum wells, an optical routing switch incorporating silicon nanowires and glass waveguides, and a dispersion control method employing the optical parametric effect.

[ Overview ]

Our scope is to establish a healthy, safe, and sustainable society through provisions of products and services to individuals. Understanding the changes of human factors and behaviors with the intervention of products and services is required. We are researching technologies to represent human functions on the computer. These are digital human technologies that enable observing human factors (body shapes, movements, sensations) and modeling them, as well as monitoring behavior through real services and providing information based on behavioral models. We are developing designs for products and services that support the quality of life for individuals, and designs for communications that motivate individuals to take action with an understanding of society's requirements.

[ Overview ]

The rapid development of IT society is accompanied with a large increase in the power consumption of electronic devices. To reduce the total power consumption of IT appliances, power consumed during input “standby time” has to be significantly reduced. To achieve this, it is essential to develop nonvolatile memory, which retains data even after the power is turned off. We are developing high-capacity, high-speed, and highly-reliable nonvolatile memory based on spintronics and nanotechnology. Based on these technologies we are also developing basic technologies for a normally-off computer, which is the ultimate green IT solution with no power consumption during the standby time.

[ Overview ]

The service industry accounts for 70% of Japan's economy and is expected to serve as an engine of economic growth along with the manufacturing industry. At AIST, with the progress of research in this field, we have an increasing number of research themes whose envisaged outcome is the creation of new services. To address these developments, AIST established the Center for Service Research on April 1, 2008. Here, we are developing a methodology for “service innovation” that increases added value for service recipients and efficiency for service providers though the following steps: (1) making a shift from “experience and intuitionbased” to “scientific and engineering approach-based” services through research and development; (2) repeating the phases of observation, analysis, design, and application in services; and (3) coordinating the needs and behavioral patterns of recipients with the contents of services and methods for providing them.

[ Overview ]

We are developing thin, light and flexible devices with the purpose of improvement of the usability and saving energy of telecommunication interface devices such as displays, sensors and so on. Moreover, we are developing the fabrication techniques of these flexible devices making good use of the print method from the point of view of energy conservation, the saving resource, and the high throughput. It aims wide distribution of information terminal devices into society, and promotion of a green innovation through these technological developments.

[ Overview ]

Innovation Center for Advanced Nanodevices (ICAN) consolidates and upgrades technological knowledge in the state-of-the-art and world-leading research infrastructures. ICAN constructs "Innovative Cooperation Platform (Under One Roof)" as the base of the innovation that promotes prompt and efficient industrialization by industrial-government-academic cooperation, interdisciplinary research collaboration and the research personnel communication. ICAN contributes to accelerate the development and the industrialization of nanodevices by the systematization, application and dissemination of knowledge invented on the Platform. In addition, ICAN aims to become an international education base where the next generation is borne one after another by practicing human resources development integrated with the research and development.