TOPICS-Economic (Business) Performance

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TOPICS - Economic (Business) Performance

TOPICS - Economic (Business) Performance

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TOPICS1
Participating in field tests for Driving Safety Support Systems

In February of 2009, Omron took part in large-scale demonstration tests of Driving Safety Support Systems (DSSS), which were performed in the Rinkai Fukutoshin (new Tokyo waterfront subcenter) area. This field experiment was sponsored by the Universal Traffic Management Society of Japan. DSSS is a system designed to transmit information from various roadside sensors to in-vehicle units via wireless vehicle-to-infrastructure communications technology. In-vehicle units alert drivers to the potential for traffic accidents.

Conventional road traffic sensors usually target four-wheeled vehicles. However, accidents involving pedestrians or bicycles/motorcycles in fact account for a significant percentage of traffic accidents. Omron developed pedestrian and bicycle sensors employing a space-time MRF (Markov Random Field) technology developed jointly with the University of Tokyo’ s Institute of Industrial Science. In the experiment, these sensors were deployed in a support system that detects pedestrians crossing the road and alerts the driver, and a system which protects bicycles/motorcycles when cars are making left turns. The effectiveness of these newly developed systems was verified through recent field tests. Omron plans to continue participating in fields tests so as to accelerate practical use of systems that can contribute to reduced traffic accidents

Cars used for demonstration tests

TOPICS2
Offering original solutions for computer problems

PCs today are indispensable in all areas of industry. But highly reliable industrial-use PCs are faced with problems. With the standardization of industrial-use PCs, the use of commercial PCs has increased. On the other hand, increasingly complex, multi-layer structures as well as the adoption of high-precision processes and parts have led to the growth of “black boxes.” This has resulted in more and more cases of insufficient assessment or analysis of risk factors as well as inability to maintain stable quality.

To cope with these challenges, Omron, with long years of experience in producing control devices, industrial components and social systems, offers RAS (reliability, availability and serviceability) solutions using embedded PC modules that can handle everything from the usual monitoring of conditions to automatic restoration and failure prediction. The goal is to build PCs that do not break and do not stop.

Embedded PC module

TOPICS3
Supporting safety in next-generation electric vehicles

The diversity of energy sources has increased with the movement to avoid petroleum dependency and promote resource conservation. In response to this trend, and to curb global warming and environmental pollution, auto makers are promoting various initiatives. For auto makers’ electric vehicle projects, Omron provides sensors that detect leakage of battery packs, as well as DC power relays capable of interrupting high-current loads when a battery abnormality is detected.

Omron products are used in next-generation electric vehicles that combine a high-performance lithium-ion battery system and a compact and lightweight motor, subject to repeated tests for commercialization. The lithium-ion battery is the core technology for electric vehicles and is anticipated to be a front-runner battery system for future vehicles. Omron is committed to driving safety by monitoring the battery system at the heart of nextgeneration electric vehicles.

Leakage sensor