From IT infrastructure to application technology: make, connect, use

The rapid growth of devices (smartphone, tablets, robots, wearables, etc.) and the Internet has increased the amount of information that is being produced and accessed by society. In order to better utilize the data produced from millions of devices and systems, we are conducting research and development in a wide range of fields at the interface between information technologies and human factors. Our mission is to engage and enrich the public through the research and development of intelligent systems combining computational and physical capabilities for human use. A key component of our mission is making new discoveries in the hardware and software that interacts with physical devices to sense and change the state of the real world. Our discoveries will lead to industry innovations and contribute to the advancement of society by facilitating the interaction of humans with cyber-physical systems.

New Research Results

Development of Technology for Easy 3D Shaping of Electronic Circuits

AIST has developed a thermo-projection shaping method that enables easy high-speed 3D shaping without damage to electronic circuits fabricated on a flat resin sheet. The heat applied to the sheet during shaping is partially blocked to create non-deforming areas, thus avoiding damage to the circuits.

3D shaping of an LED panel using the developed method

Development of Child Abuse Response and Decision Making Support System Employing AI

AIST has developed a system that uses AI to support child abuse response and decision making of child guidance centers. The developed system consists of the "AiCAN" tablet application, a cloud database ensuring secure data storage and sharing, and probabilistic modeling and other data analysis AI.

Screen from the AiCAN application for tablet computers

Open Innovation Laboratory

Since FY 2016, as a part of the “Open Innovation Arena concept” promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), AIST has created the concept of “open innovation laboratories” (OILs), collaborative research bases located on university campuses, and has been engaged in their provision. We are planning to establish more than ten OILs by FY 2020.

AIST will merge the basic research carried out at universities, etc. with AISTʼs goal-oriented basic research and applied technology development, and will promote bridging research and evelopment and industry by the establishment of OILs.

Cooperative Research Laboratories

In order to conduct research and development more closely related to strategies of companies, we have established collaborative research laboratories, bearing partner company names.

Partner companies provide their researchers and funding, and AIST provides research resources, such as its researchers, research facilities, and intellectual property. The loaned researchers of companies and AIST researchers jointly conduct research and development.

By setting up cooperative research laboratories, we will accelerate the commercialization of our goal-oriented basic research and application research with partner companies.