JPRS ID: 10161 JAPAN REPORT

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• Collection: JPRS
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00850R000400080015-3
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• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 61
• Document Creation Date: November 1, 2016
• Sequence Number: 15
• Content Type: REPORTS

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JPRS L! 10161
~ 3 Dec~mber 1981
~ Ja an Re ort
p p
(FOUO 68/81)
FBIS FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
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JPRS L/10161
3 December 1981
JAPAN REI'ORT
(FOUO 68/81)
CONTENTS
POLITICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL
Ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Activities Updated
r (NIHON KEIZAI SHINIBUN, various dates) 1
Internal Party Maneuvering
Cabinet Reshuffle Prospects
Ttao Ways To Promote S tability
Magazine I3pdates Japan Socialist Party's Factional Dispute
(S!iUKAN SHIN(~IO, 15 Oct 81) 8
SCIENCE AND TEC~INOLOGY
New f'roduct Lines of Various Robot Manufacturers Introduced '
(Various sources, various dates) 10
Carr~er Robots
Casting Burr Removing Robots
Assemb.ly Robots
16-Bit Microcomputer Contro 1
Arc-Welding Robots
Cutting, Welding, Location-Determining Robots
Direct Numerical Control System
_ Development of Electromechanic Industry Analyzed
(SHUKAN DIAMONDO, 11 Jul 81)...~ 18
Product Developmqnt of Major Qzemical Industries Surveyed
(SHUICAN ORU TOSHI, 30 Jul 81).....~ 42
- MITI To Establish Biotechnology Promotion Committee
- (NIHON KOGYO SHIMBUN, 12 Sep 81) 54
- Concealed Ima~e Transmission Method Develo~ed
(NIKKAN KOGYO SHIMBUN, 21 Sep 81) 55
- a - [III - ASIA - 111 FOUO]
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POLITICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL
RULING LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY' S ACTIVITIES UPDATED
- Internal Party Maneuvering
Tokyo NIHON KEIZAI SHIMBUN in Japanese 3 Oct 81 p 2
[Text) Possible New 1.llI' Leaders Discussed
~Jtiile control o.f the l,iberal Democratic Party (LDP) by the three elder statesmen--
Prime rfinister Suzuki and former Prime Ministers Tanaka and Fu'~c:uda--continues amidst
r.elative harmony, vario us budding "signs" and changes are detected among the second
echelon of party leader s which could influence the future political trend.
In the Tanaka faction, Noboru Takeshita and Shin Kanemaru, who have hitherto been
_ generally regarded to b e"on their good behavior," recently resumed their activity
' on center stage. Rakus uke Tanaka (MITI minister) and Michio Watanabe (finance
minister) are intensify ing their respective po].icy study gr4up activiti.es, while
Shintaro Abe (LDP Polic y Research Council chairman) is increasing his voice within
the party and stepping up stumping ac~ivities throughout the nation. Also, the
Shukyo Seiji Kenkyukai (Religious and Political Study Society; Kazuo Tamachi, chair-
man), the base for the debate on a change of generations which had been dormant for
some time, is again act ively holding weekly general meetings.
The alignment between the three elder sCatesmen, which was consolidated with the joint
Upper and Lower House e lections in June 1980 as a backdrop, does not presently show
any signs of disintegra ting. However, the new movements mentioned are seen as likely
~ to gradually alter the party power structure in the future.
DurinF; the joint elect i ons last year, a movement arose within the party to "destroy
the '1'~inaka-Fukuda powe r alignment after the elections and to set up a new leadership,
in which Takeshita and Kanemaru would participate.
Consequently, the gene ral viea within the party was that relations between the two
men and former Prime Minister Tanaka had cooled. Meanwhile, Susumu Nikaido (LL~
General Affairs Council chairman), who is considered to be former Prime Minister
Tanaka's~~alter ego;' rose to control the real power within the party, and Gar~ri
Yamashita (Lower House Steering Committee chairman) has also loomed as one of the
likely heirs. Takeshit~a seldom attend~ the meetings held the new leaders, and
there have been rumors that "Mr Takeshita was shouted down into complete humility by
the master ot Mejiro (f ormer Prime Minister 'Tanaka)."
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E3u~ a more recent view is that "he appears to have been reinstated in Mr Tanak's favor."
'This opiiiion is based on Mr Takeshita's appoititment as chairman of the Tanaka faction
deiegation to South Korea in late August, his participation in the I3ikaido-led dele-
f;ation to China (PRC) in early September by direct order of former Prime Minister
'Canaka, and his closing address at the seminar for young members of the faction in
early September.
Sourc~s cl.ose to former Prime Minister Tanaka have publicly acknow].edged that "judging
from the makPUp of inembers at tne seminar, rumors of cooled relations concerning
Mr. Takeshita are unfounded. One could easily surmise Mr Tanaka's feelings on the
basi~ of the attendance." 'I't?ey thus imply that Mr. Tanaka's ire has subsided.
Also, on the basis of former Prime Minister Tanaka's decision, Mr. Kanemaru was
appoir~ted to the post of chairman of the Lower House Political and Financial Committee,
_ which actually controls the fate of the Suzuki cabinet.
'I'here are speculations within the LDP such as: "It probably means Mr Kanemaru has
became so powerful that Mr Tanaka could not destroy him, even if he wanted to" (a cadre
Diet member of the Tanaka faction), or "Mr Tanaka set up the Nikai.do connection and
_ the Takeshita-Kanemaru connection as trump cards to be used in the worst possible case
situation arising from rhe Lockheed scandals trial" (an LDP cadre).
"ihe St~insetai Kenkyukai (N~w Generation Study Society) led by Rokusuke Tanaka had
hitiierto been characterized as a"policy group,) but it was admonished by former LDP
Secretary General Kunikichi Saito, leading cadre of the Kochikai (Suzuki faction), that
"it is all right to l~old study meetings, but one should refrain from holding so-called
politically oriented general meetings." On 17 September, 34 of the groups' S8 members
gathered in the city of Fukuoka, Rokusuke Tanaka's home base, for a party to commemo-
rate a publication by the group. There was reportedly one Diet member among them who
= was visiting Seoul as a member of the Japan-South Korea Parliamentary League delegation,
but he hurriedly flew to Fukuoka in the middle of his Seoul tour.
E11t1~ough Rokusuke Tanaka himself denied that he "made contacts or ordered members to
attend, or that he anticipated such a large turnout," sources close to him pointed out:
"GTtienever a study meetin~ i.s held in the Tokyo office, members are temptPd to casually
`bUy a ticket to the race' and attend on the strength of appeals by Miyazawa (chief
cab.inet secretary) and Rokusuke Tanaka. On the other hand, when the study meeting was
_ t~e1d in I~ukuoka, they took the plane with a certain determination." It was thus openly
implied that attendance at the commemorative party constituted a kind of "test of loyalty."
it is reported that six Diet members have subsequently applied for membership in the
study group, attracting attention within the party in the sense that "the race f.or a
successor. to hQad the Kochikai has become quite interesting." (A non-affiliated Diet
member)
.~ccord.ing to Rokusuke T~naka, the following dialogue took place between the late Prime
Minister Ohira and himself: "Rokusuke, I intend to supply Michio Watanabe with men and
f.unds. Is that agreeable to you?" "Fine~ I have no objections."
llurinf~ the 40-day strugKle late in the year before last, Watanabe entice Kabun Muto and
- Sempacl~i Oishi of the Nakasone faction, which was confronting the Ohira-Tanaka camp, to
stipport Ohira. He was expelled from the Nakasone faction and is presently non-affiliated.
Unce a month, he gathers together young Diet members from the various factions and
conducts study meetings under ttie aegis of the Onchikai.
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1fie study group has 34 or 35 members. TEbere are many who came from the Kochikai with
the blessings of the Nakasone faction and the late Prime Minister Ohira. Beginning
in October, they will be holding breakfast meetings every week. This is seen by party
members as "a steppingstone to the formation of a Watanabe faction."
Watanabe himself believes: "It is more relaxing to be by myself. I am so busy with
administrative reform and financial reconstruction that I don't have time to think
about forming a faction." He therefore postpone3 hanging up an Onchikai nameplate
on his office door, although he had planned it for 2 days. He explained to his col-
leagues: "One cannot predict ~he future, but the important thing is to strengthen
lateral relations within the party."
Nonetheless, the Nakasone faction and the Kochikai are warily eyeing Watana~e's moves.
They are "debating whether they should warn the young members against participating"
(a Kochikai cadre).
COPYRIGHT: Nihon Keizai Shimbunsha 1981
- Cabinet Reshuffle Prospects
T~kyo NIHON KEIGAI SHI,IBUN in Japanese 13 Oct 81 p 2
[Text] :alk of Cabinet Reshuffle Stirs Up LDP Factions
~e theory of a"drastic reshuffle" has come to the fore, pointing out that "without
a drastic reshuffle, passing up the July opportunity would prove to be meaningless"
(a source close to the prime minister). The pri.me minister is said to have "already
prepared a list o� 70-80 candidates for the cabinet." (a party cadre). However, th.e
target date is next fall and a balance between the factions would be the highest
pri.ority. There is also an opinion within the party that "there is no room for the
appointment of Diet members from the intermediate factions and non-factions to the
cabinet" (a party cadre). Let us therefore take a look at the conditions within the
five main factions and LDP members of the Upper House.
Lineup of Top Three Ofricials for Reelection Is Focal Issue
[Suzuki Faction) The focal issue is how to line up Kunikichi Saito, Kiichi Miyazawa
and Rokusuke Tanaka--the top three faction leaders--as chairman of party affairs,
chairman uf "zaibatsu" (business groups) affaira and principal cabinet member. There
is a growing opinion within the faction that, with an eye toward a Suzuki reelection,
a solid foothold must be secured among the three party posts.
As far as the three party posts are concerned, the faction is not particular, except
that Chairman Nikaido of the General Afrairs Council should either remain in that
_ post or assume the post of secretary general. It is rwnored that if he should remain
in his present post, either Kunikichi Saito or Heiji dgawa would be fielded as
c_andidatz fcr secretary general.
On the premise that Nikaido would become secretary general, the faction elders are
urging the prime minister to field Miyazawa for chairman of the Policy Research Council.
However, sources close to the prime mir~ister are strongly ux~ging retention of Miyazawa
in his present post, saying: "There is no one else who is qualified as chief cabinet
secretary, and Miyazawa has proved to be a capable chief cabinet secretary."
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'I'he eLciers oC the Suzki faction are increasingly for "support Miyazawa," while the
- younger members are leaning toward support for Rokusuke Tanaka. Consequently, the
candidacy of Miyazawa and Tanaka with respect to the cabinet reshuffle is tied te the
question of a successor to the Kochikai leadership.
A Host of Can~iidates Seeking Cabinet Posts
- [Tanaka Faction] The basic strategy is to support Ct~iief of General Affairs Nikaido
for the post of s2cretary general, and to increase the allocation of cabinet posts by
one. As for the question of Nikaido as secretary general, "There aren't many candi-
dates for secretary general in either the Suzuki or Fukuda factions" (a Tanaka faction
cadre). This situation is thus regarded as providing "an excellent opportunity." As
a backdrop in the quest for an inerease in cabinet posts, there is the expansion factor
of the faction into " a host" of 104 members, many of whom are seeking cabinet nomi-
iiation. The aim is therefore to seek nominations for newcomers. The plan is to obtain
- appointments for those with six or five terms in the Diet, including Noboru Minowa,
Yukiyasu Matsuno, Ryohei Tamura, et al. It is also hoped that a post can be garnered
for one of the members who joined during the past year.
Among former cabinet members, the "man in the spotlight," Chairman Kanemaru of the
Lower House Special Pulitical and Financial Committee, is regarded as the front runner.
~_!~~'s Move and His Successor Are Keys
[Fukuda FactionJ The focal points are Shintaro Abe's move to a major cabinet post and
a successor in one of the three party posts. There are calls among the middle cadres
~ and younger members of. the faction of Abe's appointment to foreign minister or finance
minister, or in the case of the three party posts his appointment as secretary general.
In the event of Abe's appointment to the cabinet, names looming as candidates for the
three party posts include: Kichizo Hosoda, Tatsuo Tanaka and Keijiro Shoji. At
- present, their respective support groups are reportedly holding meetings and directly
or indirectly approaching for~ner Prime Minister Fukuda, who has the "power to make
recommendations" to Prirne Mini.ster Suzuki.
I~~ case a problem is faced by the faction reg3rding a successor to the three party
posts, the speculation is that "former Prime Minister Fukuda may recommend Ichiro
Nakagawa, who has been acting as a detached =orce of the Fukuda faction."
Additionally, the faction is prepared to field newcomer Ihei Shiseki, as well as
Mutsuki Kaeo, who seeks a complete comeback from his tribulations in connection with
ttie Lockheed scandal, for cabinet posts.
Accommodation of Top Cadres Is Difficult
(Nakasone 1~actionl Administrative Management Agency Director Nakasone is prepared to
_ remain in his present position if asked. "Unleas I am asked to quit by the prime
minister, I will concentrate on administrative reform." In that case, the sorest point
I.s whar. to do with Secretary(~eneral Sakurauchi. He himself appears ta be expecting a
cabinet post as a matter of course for his "great contribution to the landslide victory
in the joint elections." If it turns out that way, only the top cadres would secure
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the posts they aspire to. There are some factian members who feel that "things would
be better all around if Mr Sakurauchi would resign f:.om his post. The other top cadre,
' Sadanori Yamanaka, is well qualified in view of his accomplishents as director of the
party Tax Affairs Committee. Equal treatment for him will prove to be difficult.
Newcomer Motoharu Morishita is at the top of the list of recommended candidates with a
record of six terms in the Diet. If Morishita is again passed by, the younger members
of the faction will not be pacified. Hikosaburo Okonogi, with five terms, is in the
"eye of the typhoon." He may not only pass his seniors, but he also has close
re~ations with Tanaka faction members, which causes Nakasone aides to worry that "if
he should be recommended by the Tanaka faction, it could result in a decline in
prestige for Nakasone as faction leader."
Rumors Rampant of Boss's Resignation
[Komoto Faction] Amidst his "independent statements" on administrative reform and tax
reduction, there are frequent rumors within the party concerning Komoto's resignation
as chief of the Economic Planning Agency. Komoto himself laughs the matter off as
having "merely expressed his personal thou~hts," while the prevailing vi_ew in his
faction is that "Mr Komoto's departure from the cabinet would mean a decline in his
prestige and a minus for him in the race for the post-Suzuki party presidency "(a
cadre). However, middle-level cadres and younger members admit their inner feeling
that "in view of the limited number of cabinet posts (two, including Komoto), if only
the boss would resign from his post...." Komoto's moves will thus continue to draw
aztention inside and outside his faction.
In the event Komoto remains in his present post, Soichiro Ito (party public relations
director), who has s~rved seven terms in the Diet, would be the strongest contender for
the reamining post. However, Hyosuke Niwa, who served as National Land Agency director
duriiig the "28-day cabinet" of the Tanaka regime, is said to be eager for a"return
match:" causing a dilemma among faction leaders.
Can The Three-Post Quota Be Retained?
- [Upper House] The Upper House is allocated three cabinet posts. For a while, it was
allowed two posts, but this was increased to three with the advent of the Suzuki
government, thanks to the persuasive efforts of Secretary General Fujita of the Upper
House. Although LDP members of the Upper House are confident of retaining the three
posts despite the cabinet reshuffle, one worrisome element is the dir~ction of the
Tanaka faction. The Tanaka faction is demanding more posts for Lower House members
on the basis of the expansion of the faction, and if the issue cannot be settled within
the framework of the Lower House, the Upper House would be affected. There is thus
concern that the three posts may be cut to two.
Al.though the three posts may possibly be retained, if the Tanaka faction is denied an
increase in posts for Lower House members, it is possible that the faction may demand
. that "a Tanaka faction candidate be promised one of the po~ts allocated to Upper
- House members."
COPYRIGHT: Nihom Keizai Shimbunsha 1981
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Ttao Ways To Promote Stability
Tokyo NIHON KEIZAI SHIriBUN in Japanese 19 Oct 81 p 3
[Text] Suzuki Government and Cabinet Reshuffle
Encouraged by the smooth sailin~ deliberation in the Diet on the administrative reform
fill, LDP Diet members are focusing their attention on the direction of the cabinet
reshuffle and on nominations for the three party executive posts. Visits to the prime
minister's residence by politicians who have become eligible for cabinet posts .3re
incessant. Active "encouragement meetings: by politicians ar~ increasing, and many are
viewed as seeking demonstrative effect with an eye toward the coming cabinet reshuffle.
Meanwhile, the so~called "pilgrimagP to former Prime Minister Tanaka," who has powerful
clout with regard to the political situation, continues without letup.
As far as the general public is concerned, they may entertain spectators' interest,
but it doesn't matter to them who occupies the three LDP posts, or who sits in the
principal cabinet posts. This is because the public considers that "the cabinet really
does not change, and the situation will be the same regardless of who is appointed."
Therefore, the hubbub in Nagatacho (the prime minister's residence) even appears
abnormal. Nonetheless, from the standpoint of predicting the direction of the domesti~
= political scene, there is an aspect of the November reshuffle which cannot be overlooked.
The noteworthy point in th~ upcoming cabinet reshuffle is how the stability of the
Suzuki government will change. As far as the prime minister, who is handling the re-
shuffle, is concerned, he will do his utmost to enhance the stability of thP government
and to build a readiness to cope with domestic and foreign situations. This is in line
with his strategy for reelection next fall. The question is th~ proper personnel
alignment for that purpose. Therein lies the main concern of the prime-minister`s
personnel moves.
There are two ways to increase government stability. First, to join hands with the
forces wtiich constitue an overwhelming majority within the party, and to control the
political situation as its leader. The second is to maintain a balance of power
between the various forces within the party, which is the key to ma.iutaining the
stability of the government. In building language, the former is a"hard" structure,
while the latter is a"soft" structure.
The Suzuki cabinet has the earmarks of a"soft-structure government," in view of its
inauguration after the demise of his predeceseor, and the character and political
methods of the prime minister himself. Its goverrnnental base is founded on a main-
stream factional system centering on the Suzuki, Tanaka and Fukuda factions, and its
stability depends on a balance between the Tanaka and Fukuda forces. However, during
_ the year and a half existence of the Suzuki cabinet, the conditions within the party
tiave changed drastically. The Tanaka faction has expanded to the point where it is
said: "Whoever doesn't belong to the Tanaka faction is a nobody."
Within the Tanaka faction, there are already strong demands for a larger allocation
of cabinet posts, with an eye toward the cabinet reshuffle (an increase from the pr~sent
- four to five posts), and to "field Nika:i.do, or a Diet member friendly to the Tanaka
faction, for the post of party secretary general."
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Regarding recommendations for the cabinet reshuffle, the Tanaka factzon "does not intend
_ to make any requests which would perplex the prime minister, but the prime minister is
well aware of the Tanaka facti.on's position" (a Tanaka faction cadre).
The Fi~kuda faction is s~howing signs of rejecting the wishes of the Tanaka faction.
"increasing the allocation from four to five posts would violently upset the peace
within the party" (a Fukuda faction cadre). There is deep-rooted caution against a
Tanaka faction takeover of the three party executive posts, especially the post of
secretary general.
Although Prime Minister Suzuki is reportedly seeking stability for his government based.
on a"'Canaka-Fukuda equilibrium," to what extent is it possible? A dilemma exists in
that if relations with the Tanaka faction should sour, a split would occur in the govern-
ment itse?f. On the other hand, an extreme~compromise would result in deteriorating
relations with the Fukuda faction.
In that sense, the focal issue regarding the cabinet reshuffle would again concern
appointments to the three party executive posts. The transfer of Secretary General
Sakurauchi is said to be a foregone conclusi.on, and the issue is: who will succeed
, him to the post of secretary general? As for Prime Minister Suzuki himself, he would
like to appoint someone from his own faction to one of the executive posts in order to
solidify his strategy for reelection, and the most probable solution is a combination
of candidates from the Tanaka, Fukuda, and the mainstream Suzuki factions.
In such an event, the party control would shift to a Tanaka-Suzuki government. How
w~ll the prime minister, who is solicitous of relations with the Fukuda faction, deal
with this? Inasmuch as it relates to the foundation and stability of his government,
it may turn out to be a"troublesome cabinet reshuffle for the prime minister" (a
party elder).
COPYRIGHT: Nihon Keizai Shimbunsha 1981
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CSO: 4105
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~ POLITICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL
MAGAZINE UPDA2'ES JAPAN SOCIALIST PARTY'S FACTIONAL DISPUTE
Tokyo SHUKAN SHINCHO i.n Japanese 15 Oct 81 p 24
[Text] No One Is Troubled by the Split in Tokyo Headquarters of Japan Socialist Party
At the regular general meeting, supposedly convened to reconstruct the party, by the
Tokyo headquarters (Diet Councillor Shcngo Oki, committee chairman) of the Japan
Socialist Party [JSP], which suffered severe d2feat in the July metropolitan elections
and fell to second place among the opposition parties, the Socialist Association and
the Anti-Socialist Association confronted each other and a split resulted.
Immediate Csuse of the Split Is the Question of Reduction in Party Dues
One of the Diet members of the Socialist Association pointed out that a party member
of the Japan Telecommunications Workers' Union, the su pporting organization f ran which
committee chaizman Oki emerged, was paying only 1,000 yen of the monthly party dues
of about 1,200 yen, and a supplementary resolution "that he reinstate payments retro-
active to February of this year" was put to a vote. Upon this develc~pment, chairman
Oki and the executive committee (16 members) of the Anti-Socialist Association resigned,
claiming that it was "in fact, a vote of no confidence." They boycotted the general
meeting and held a"Diet members' conference to rebuild the Tokyo party headquarters."
At this conference, a metropolitan assemblyman of the ~nti-Socialist Association was
selected as secretary-general to replace the secretary-general belonging to the
Socialist Association; he organized an executive cammittee with the incumbent chairman
and vice chairman remaining. The A~nti-Socialist Association withdrew fran the JSP
party headquarters in Hongo and established an office in the House of Councillors'
building.
For the executive committee to split over the question of only 200 yen di~count in
_ party dues is typical of JSP actions but actually this is only an outward excuse.
It is reported that tt~e strategy to oust chairman Oki, with the party dues question
as an excuse, began to be formulated a month prior to the general meeting. A veteran
party member of the Socialist Association reported this.
Two-thirds (252) of the Diet members af the s~eneral meeting are members of the party
_ faction "March Association," which is sympathetic with both the Socialist and Anti-
Socialist Associations, and the leader is Tamio Miyabe, chairman of the Federation of
biunicipal Labor Unicns. Miyabe intends to run as a candidate frcm Tokyo's four
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districts in the next Lower House elections. The retirement of Diet member Mitsu
Kaneko, who presently represents the four districts, is certain. How~ever, Miyabe
cannot get the ncmination being only the chairman of the Federation of Municipal
Labor Unions. Therefore, he saight the position of chairman of the JSP Tokyo head-
- quarters and connived to crush Oki by forcing the supplementary resolution to a vote.
Chairman Miyabe is not the only one aiming to replace Diet member Kaneko. So is
Mitsuo Tcmizuka, secretary general of the General Council of Trade Unions of Japan,
who advc~cates coalition between the JSP and the Kaneito [Celan Gavernment Party] . It
is also said that chairman Oki is also thinking of switching from the Upper House to
the Lower Heuse.
On the other hand, a member of the Anti-Socialist Association who is also a veteran
Diet member interprets the recent split in this manner:
"I had anticipated that the Socialist Association w~ould try to discredit chairman Oki
with the dues question. In short, the difference between the Socialist and the Anti-
Socialist Associations is the differEnce between the 'JSP-JCP' or 'JSP-Komeito' course
of joint struggle. The Socialist Association criticizes us for coaperation with the
Komeito, but the victory of 107 Diet seats (House of Representatives) was the result
of the 'JSP-K aneito' joint struggle. Labor unions and the Japan Teleccmmunications
Workers' Union are saying that unless a candidate belongs to the 'JSP-Komeito' faction,
he will not be recommended.
Therefore, at this time, even if the organization has to be broker. up, I want to
disassociate myself from the Socialist Association which supports the 'JSP-JCP' line.
The vote on the supplementary resolutiai was an opportune measure, but will the JSP
use th~t as an exc~!se to split? The aforementioned Socialist Association party member
states vaguely that: 'We will make our position clear and stage a demc~stration aimed
at the next general meeting. We will make chairman Oki admit that he is responsibie
for the split and isolate him locally, limiting his support to only the Japan Telecom-
munications Workers' Union. Up to that point, the strategy has been planned, but
there are no plans to split the party. Coordination with the supporting labor unions
remains to be carried out...."'
= The Anti-Socialist Association states: "There might be a difference in the policy
but the party is dependent on labor unions for building a party of a million me:.~bers,
for providing election funds and for delivering the votes. We cannot cursorily break
up the party." For the mcmPnt, we must be concerned with the election of the Tokyo
governor. He added nonchalantly that "we will probably be in trouble unless we are
unified by then."
Kaoru Ota, former chairman of the General Council of Trade Unions of Japan, made the
following comment:
"~ollowing last year's 'double' elections, if the party loses the metropolitan
assemblymen's elections, the positions of veteran labor union leaders might decrease
and no future job prospects exist. Becoming helpless, they will lean toward the side
with money and votes in order to obtain positior:s. It would be a split without any
relation to party ideology or principle. If developments have becane tha.s bad, the
situation might be cleared up if the party did split...."
COPYRIGHT: by Shinchosha 1981
9134 9
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
NEW PRODUCT LINES OF VARIOUS ROBOT MANUFACTURERS INTRODUCID
Carrier Robots
Tokyo NIHON KOGYO SHIMBUN in Japanese 1~ Jun 81 p 6
[Text] iVihon Robot Industry (president, Noriaki Motoda; 1-25-1, Nishi-Shinjuku,
Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; telephone: [phone]), a manufacturer specializing in
carrier robots established by the tie-up of Toyo Terminal and Motoda Electronics
Industry, has built a 110 unit/month-scale mass production system at the Kagoshima
plant, and has started full-scale sale of the produc,t through 25 agencies. First-
year sales of 2.5 billion yen are pro~ ected. A~sa, the company has received in-
quiries concerning production tie-ups, sales tie~ups and plant exports from 25
countries. For the time being, it plans to set up bases in two areas, the United
States and Europe, and has begun to s~lect the tie-up partners. In conjunction
with the starting of this series of business activities, the capital was increased
from SO million yen to 110 million yen, which invited a new capital participation
by I~otoda Electronics Industry and Heim International, which is the parent company
of Toyo Terminal.
Nihon Robot Industry is a manufacturer specializing in carrier robots and was
- established in September 1979 by Motoda Electronics Industry which offered the
robot technology and Toyo Terminal which offereti the capital. The company has
= industrialized its robots, headed l~y "Piler" robots wit.h 125 patents including
utility model patents, and "Ampman" and "Y-man" robots. The company has already
achieved appreciable sales results with domestic automobile makers and with overseas
major industries such as Volvo of Sweden. Nihon Robot Industry is characterized
by the fact that it accommodates the nee,,ds of users by offering various machine
_ models and an ample selection of robots costing from 1.5 million to 20 million yen.
The company has been building a new plant ad~acent to the Kagoshima plant of Motoda
_ Electronics Industry (Kedoin-Machi, Satsuma-Gun, Kagoshima-Ken) since its establish-
ment, and it has recently completed and begun to operate fully a total production
line which is capable of manufacturing 10 "Piler" robot~ a month, and 100 "Ampman"
and "Y-man" robots a month. According to the company, orders have been received
from all types of industries: from the autombbile industry, to begin with, and from
_ the food industry, the cement industry, the cement secondary product indus~ry, ~ihe
metal mold industry, the storage industry and the port industry. It is evident that
the production line will not be enough to meet all the needs un~ess "automation of
- the robot plant" is promoted. The company is now rushing construction work aimed
at increasing the total production to 250 units by the end of this year--50 "Piler"
robots and 200 "Ampman" and Y-man" robots.
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The capital was increased to prepare for an jncrease in funds in associatian with
the starting of this full-scale operation, and new capital was raised to 110
million yen. Tcy~o Terminal has been the l00 percent investor (50 million yen) of
this company until recently, but Heim International and Motoda Electronics Iudustry
have made new investments of 50 million yen and 10 mi1l:Lon yen respectively.
On the other hand, the steady �low of inquirles from overseas is very encouraging--
- for instance, inquiries concerning the purchase of plants from the USSR and North
Korea. Meanwhile, inquiries from advanced nations such as the United States and
European nations have been dominated by sales partnership offers. ~n line with
the overseas strategic policy of the company to send only essential parts and to
f inish the goods at the local sites, it is willir~g to show positive interest in
tie-up proposals. The company will expedi~e the selection of business partners
focusing on production technology and sales capability. As a fizst step, it intends
to conclude tie-up negotiations with ~ne American company and one European company.
- COPYRIGHT: Nihon Kogyo Shimbunsha Tokyo Honsha 1981
Casting Burr Removing Robots
Tokyo NIKKAN KOGYO SHI:~IBUN in Japanese 31 Jul 81 p 21
[Text] Casting burr removing robots fnay be created as early as the next fiscal
- year. This means that the technological development pursued 'oy the Small Business
Promotion Corporation [SBPC), which had contracted the work for the automation of
the cast finishing (removal of lurrs), the final process in the manufacture of
castings, to Japan Industrial Robot Manufacturers' Association, Sogo Imono Center,
Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Kobe Steel, is on the threshold of a breakthrough.
The SBPC has decided to make a tr.ial model within the next fiscal year and to
present it and spread its use�. Casting burr remoners specifically for mass-
production use were developed previously. How~ver, the machine which is about to
be developed at this time is likely to become popular among smaller business enter-
prises because the robots will be equipped with a teaahing machine, a sensor and a
high degree of freedom, suitable for various smal]. quantity productions.
Castin~ burr removal is a process that followa the mold-making, melting, pouring and
mold-separating processes, and is the final process generically called cast finish-
ing. This process has become the largest bottleneck standing in the way of rational-
ization of the entire process, as the burr removal involves removal of burrs using
a grinder, which requires hard work, generates noise and dust, and produces a hazard-
ous work environment. It is difficult to secure workers for this task, and the
mechanization of the process is also problematic. In addition, lately it has been
extremely dif~icult to hire young laborers, and the aging of employees is a serious
concern. The automation of this process by the use of robots has become the issue of
industry. However, in reality, 99 percent of the 2,800 companies throughout Japan
that constitute the casting industry are classified as small businesses and lack the
ability to develop their own technology.
With this background, the SBPC decided to wrestle with the technology development
under a 6-year plan, from FY-78 to FY-83, and pushed forward research and development
of both software and hardware by contracting out the project to the Japan Industrial
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Robot Manufacturers' Assaciation, Sogo Imono Center, Kawasaki Heavy Industries
and Kobe Steel. This casting burr removing robot is composed of a teaching
machine which instructs the machine which burrs are to be cut off, a sensor which
verifies the location and size of the burrs, an oil pressure mechanism which
drives a burr removing tool along burrs and a con~rol system which controls the
total system, so it is designed to reaove burrs from various castings produced in
small numbers, Robots are expected to remove burrs of several to some tens of
casted products, such as gear boxes, pump casings, valves and motor casings,
weighing 10 kg to some hundreds of kg. Robots for smi~ller castings and robots
for larger castings are being developed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Kobe Steel,
respectively, under contract. On the other hand, software development was carried
out at the Sogo Imono Center--for example, the imp~uvement of the manufacturing
process to standardize the site and shape of the burrs. At prQSent, the develop-
ment of robots both from the software and hardware aspects will become a reality
in the near future.
- U~ to now, robots for painting have shown remaiskable progress in popularization.
As this is the first time that a robot for casting work will be made, those involved
in the manufacture of this robot are full of hope. The problem, however, is the
price. The ma~ority opinion is summed up: "It is difficult for the robot to be-
come popular among small business enterprises unless the price is below 20 million
yen." (Japan Casting Industry Association). It appears that the future spread of
these robots will depend on how much lower the prices can be set.
COPYRIGHD: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbunsha 1981
Assembly Robots
Tokyo NIKKAN KOGYO SHIMBUN in Japanese 31 Jul 81 p 10
[Text] Tqyota Machine Works is advancing into the automobile assembly robot field.
The company intends ta utilize the Lechnology accumulated through development of an
automobile assembler by the company as part of the development of a compound produc-
tion system with laser application, one of the large projects of the Agency for
Industrial Science and Technology. The plan will be embodied after 19$3, when the
project to develop the system will be completed. The company intends to practicalize
robots both for assembly of various articles produced in amall numbers and for
assembly of specialized mass-produced articles. Both types of robots will be
developed as part of the rationalization of facilities in machine work plants. As a
start, a small-scale assembly robot will be manufactured, following closely the
trend of demand. This is the first time that a Japanese tool mach~ne maken~ has
advanced into this type of robot fie?d, and ioyota's future activities in connection
with this business will be very interesting to watch.
Toyota intends to advance into the assembly robob field on the basis of the convic-
tion that the company can surely grab a large share of the robot market if it can
make its technological ability work and develop a unique product, since the automa-
tion of machine parts assembly lines is imperative but still totally unexploited.
On the other hand, one of the reasons it does not intend to go into the material
handling robot field is concern that there are too many other makers already in the
field for Toyota to be able to squeeze successfully into the market.
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'~he company began to get involved in the development of robots much earlier, about
10 _years ago. It actually manufactured modular type spot-welding robots and sold
some SO sets to automobile related makers. The company also made a product out of
material handling devices such as specialized machines and assemblers by giving
them the function of a robot.
The assembly robot which Toyota is presently ~rying to merchandise is considered an
extension of the specialized machines and machin~? woxk ~ystems s{~ch as flexible
manufacturing systems. A project team was organized to develop an asaembler for th~
compound work system with laser application, and some 1 billion yen was invested,
including a development fund from the national government, which resulted in the
completion of a prototype robot that assembl~~ gearboxes and spindle units absolute-
_ ly without human labor. Toyota is now clesigning a u~ili~y model which is scheduled
for delivery in ~983. Buoyed by thia achievement, the company is showing growing
confidence in the autamatic assembly of various fine parts: "We have established
a technology beyond the reach of other companies."
Although the manufacture of products will encounter some problems relating to the
raising of the assembly speed, size and weight reduction of the robot, miniaturi-
zation of the control system, etc, "it is possible to receive orders and produce
robots which can meet broad needs" even at the present stage of progress, the
comapny says. Nevertheless, the spread of the assembly robot entails plenty of
problems to be solved, in addition to problams related to the development of the
robot proper and the software--for instance, changing the position. of the workers.
Toyota envisages a hopeful surge in demand once these problems are solved. Assess-
ing the ri~ht time as 4 to 5 years from now, Toyota intends to merchandise the
robot in tune with the arrival of the real demand.
COPYRIGHT: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbunsha 1981
16-~it Microcomputer Control
Tokyo NIKKEI SANGYO SHIMBUN in Japanese 15 Aug 81 p 6
[Text] Industrial rabotss the ace of. energy saving machines, are now basking in
the dawn of the 16-bit microcomputer era. Kawasaki Heavy Industries, the largest
robot maker, will adopt in full scale a 16-biL- parallel processing microcomputer for
an assembly robot to be merchandised next spring, following in the footsteps of
a painting robot which has recently been offered for sale, Already, Yasukawa
Electric Manufacturing and Shin-Meiwa Industry are using this computer for welding
robots. A1so, Hj~.achi, Kobe Steel, Fu~itsu Fanuc and other prominent companies
w311 soon introduce robot models with a 16-bit microcomputer to the market one
after another. This series of actions reflects the rapidly increas~ng demand for
sophisticated robots in industry. It ~s viewed as inevitable that in the next
year the mainstream of microcomputers used for sophisticated robots will be the
16-bit model instead of the currently dominant 8-bit model.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries will use a 16-bit microcamputer for the sophisticated
"Puma" model, an assembly robot to be sold next spring. Though an 8-bit microcom-
puter will be used for inexpensii~e models, it is forecast that a 16-bit model will
be the mainstream of the robots. The company engaged in a serious salee promotion
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for spot-welding robots with an 8-bit microtxxnputer starting at the beginning of this
year, but now it seems to have determined to introduce a 16-bit model to cope with
the steadily advancing technological innovation.
Kobe Steel, the largest manufacturer of the painting robot, will soon ~ell an arc-
welding robot with a 16-bit microcomputer. The company has sold less than 20 arc-
welding robots to date, and it is anxious to exploit this field with the pendin.g
- opportunity of selling the 16-bit model for the first time.
Fujitsu Fanuc is now in the process of developing an intelligent assembly rob~t
with the cooperation of Siemens of West Germany, and the 16 bit microcomputer will
be used to all control parts of the robot. Already, currently manufactured models
partially use th e 16~b~t microcomputer, and the company believes that "a i6-bit
model will be a common sight in fu~ure robots." (President Seiuemon Inaba,
Fujitsu Fanuc) ~
Likewise, Hitachi will switch all robot control systems over to a 16-bit model from
the currently effective 8-hit models as early as this autumn. Mitsubishi Heavy
Industries, Osaka Transform~er, Tokiko and other robot manufacturers are all rushing
to adopt the 16-bit model, All the main machine models of each company, all of the
robots for welding, painting and assembling, may be converted to 16-bit models
from this year to next year.
The industrial robot pr.oduction was 19,800 units 1ast~~~ear, a 36.7-percent
increase over the previous year. Among th~n, 3,000 units are playback and numeri-
cal control model sophisticated robots which integrate a microcomputer in the brain--
a remarkable four-fold increase over the previous year. A shortage of skilled
workers in industry is becoming a serious problem, and this has spurred the steady
rise in demand for sophisticated robots which can work almost as we11 as skilled
workers. These microcomputers are curr~antly of the 8-bit type, but fi~ture robots
will be dominated by the 16-bit model, and it is predicted that the sophistication
- of robots will be furthered by the momentum.
COPYRIGHT: Nihon Keizai Shitnbunsha 1981
Arc-Welding Robots
Tokyo NIKKEI SANGYO SHIMBUN in Japanese 22 Aug 81 p 6
[Text] In September, Osaka Transformer wi11 inaugurate a system which produces
5Q arc-welding robots a month. With the completion of a new plant primarily for
robot production scheduled at the end of this month in the Settsu factory (Settsu,
Osaka Prefecture), the company deployed an aggressive formation--reinforcement of
businessmen specializing in robots, organization of 30 sales agencies and placement
of 100 full-time salesmen in each agency. With these positive strategies, the
company wants to double the arc-welding robot sales of this teYVn (April 1982 term)
compared with the previous term.
Osaka Transformer has merchandised right-angle coordinate-type arc-welding robots
since the end of 1979 to join the robot market. Additionally, in April of this
year, it started ta se1.1 multijoint type arc-welding robots and furnished "both
wheels" in terms of the makeup of the merchandise.
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In consideration of the improving demand from automobile and machine manufacturers,
the company decided to strengthen its production capacity. Once the new plant
being constructed in the Settsu factory is completed, the~major product of the
plant will be robots, and a SO robot/month system a~ill be established.
_ In conjunction with this, the company has turnished a robot sales system. The
core of the system is the "Robot Center" established previously in the main office
for the management of sales and orders received, information retrieval and education
of sales agencies. At this time, the number of businessmen specializing in robots
has been increased to over 30 men. Also, in line with the policq of increasing
robot sales agencies, 30 agencies were, as a first step, brought under one system,
and 100 full-time robot salesmen have been positioned to facilitate the sales at
each sales agency.
The robot sales of Osaka Transformer in the previous term (April 1981 term) were
valued at approximately 1 billion yen, whereas in this term the company aims for
the first time to reach 2 billion yen, double the previous term's sales as a
start, in accordance with its vision to raise the robot sector to become the future
backbone of the company by realizing an annual sales' increase of 1 billion yen
_ from now on.
COPYRIGHT: Nihon Keizai Shimbunsha 1981
Cutting, Welding, Location-Det~rmining Robots
Tokyo NIKKEI SANGYO SHIMBUN in Japanese 22 Aug 81 p 6
[Text] As a link in the chain of robot model expansion, Shin-Meiwa Industry has
seriously begun to pursue the development of "cutting robots" and the cultivation
of the demand for them. The ccmpany h3s succeeded in merchandising the plasma-
- cutting robot, the first product of which has been just delivered to Toyota Motor,
~ a gas-welding robot and an automatic shearing sygtem with a location-determining
- robot as its core--two robot models and one system in+the past year. It is planning
to press positively for the standardization and generalization of these products.
Shin-Meiwa began to develop a robot which can effectively cut solid objects with a
complex contour the year before last, and last year it succeeded in merchandising
a gas-walding robot as the first of the many to come. One robot each was delivered
to Hitachi and Fuji Electric, dnd currently another robot is being ma.nufactured.
_ Also, this s~ring the company developed an "automatic shearing system" and sold it
to Ishikawa~ima Kenki (main office: Tokyo; president: Yoichiro Doko; capital:
2.4 billion yen). This system is totally automatic and can shear steel plate out
into any shape other than rectangles. Other components of the system besides the
location-determining i~obot are a feeder (steel plate supplier), a turntable, a
_ shearing device and various conveyers, and the total process is controlled by a
minicomputer.
The plasma-cutting robot delivered to Toyota Motor is the first machine model pro-
duced in the robot industry which handles solid work with speed, and a standard
model is scheduled to be merchandised very shortly.
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Encouraged by the fact that the company could seeure ordexs from types of business-
es and cor.porations which had nothing to do with the manufacture of robots such as
Toyota Motor as a new source of demand, Shin-Meiwa Industry hb~pes to exploit the
field of demand from automobile manuf~~turers and fiome electric appliance manu-
- facturers with a series of cutting robot .
COPYRIGHT: Nihon Keizai Shimbunsa 1981
Direct Ntunerical Control System
Tokyo NIKKEI SANGYU SHIlKBIJN in Japanese 25 Aug 81 p~.
[Text] Nippon Electric Company has developed a DNC (direct numerical control)
system for computer group management of NC (n~erieal control) machines using an
- optical fiber circuit. Since various data xe exchanged between the computer and the
group of machines by way of optical fiber circuits, la~ge volumes of data ~an be
transmitted without interruption from electric nmise. The system has already been
introduced in its own company plant in Kawasatci, Kanagawa. As this trial use con-
firms that the system has an extremely wide range of application as a FMS (flexible
manufacturing system) which automatically and efficiet~.tly produces small quantities
oE various articles, the company finally decided to merchandiae the system. ~
The DNC system developed by Nippon Electric is characterized by the use of an
optical fiber circuit data transmission ~system. The optical fiber lines are the
same thickness as wires used for home electric appliances and can transmit a large
- volume of data. The circuit can be easily installed in a machine factory. Further-
more, the transmission circuit can complet~ly block noise induced by powerlines and
sparks, reducing the concern for erroneous operation. Processes to produce various
ar~icles in small quantities require a contrAl of gross data, and the use of
electric wires has comaentionally limitied the spread of large-capacity circuits in
the premises of a factory.
The company has alread3~ introduced a DNC system with an optical f iber circuit to the
Tamagawa shop in Kawasaki, Kanagawa.
This system is utilized to procdss metal plates used for carriers to be installed
in telephone exchange stat:ions, A group of eight machines, including a turret~.
punch press for making a hole and a shearing machine for cutting, are controlled
by one microcomputer. The mont hly metal plate production is approximately 150,000
pieces, but this is truly an example of a production linz which manufactures various
_ articles in sma~l quantities, producing nearly 10,000 different plates. The a.verage
production lot number for manufactured plates is 15 pieces at a time, but this
system can even produce one manufactured plate almost without human hands on the
command of the microcomputer. With this benefit, the previous 40 workers in charge
of the production line before the introduction of the system have now been reduced
to only 5 inspectors.
At one time, plates were processed in thia factory by the play~.ng of an NC tape
for the NC machines, but this has bec~me obsolete with the introduction of the DNC.
The photoelectric converter used for optical transmission has been put to practical
use in the form of a general model. If this converter is adopted for the convent~on-
al NC machines, it is so designed tha t~the DNC system of an optical fiber circuit
can be used immediately.
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In addition, at this production site, a CAD (computer aided design) system has been
introduced which is connected directly to a large ACOS 900 computer at the computer
center of the Tamagawa shop. In this system, not only graphic data of over 300,000
types, but also production teehnology data such as process designs and management
y data such as production plans, are~centralized and processed. Presentiy, a
microcomputer and a large comp~.~ter for DNC are used imdsr an offline operation.
However, in the future, they will be operated under an online system so as to estab-
lish a comprehensive production system.
For the time being, the compafiy will stiek to the policy of limiting the acceptance
of orders for the DNC system without getting into the comprehensive production
system which integrates the CAD system. Sooner or later, the system presented
at this time will be promoted,to an FMS sqsteei which efficiently produces small
quantities of various goods, and will be sold, according to the strateg;y, ~s a
resaurceful large system which incorporatea an industrial robot besides the CAD.
COPYRIGHT: Nihon Keizai Shimbunsa 1981
8940
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMEIvT OF ELECTROMECHAIvIC INDUSTRY ANALYZED
Tokyo SHUKAN DIAMONDO in Japanese 11 Jul 81 pp 12-23
[Text] Promote Exports
Would it be overstating the case to say that mechatronics rescued the Japanese econ-
omy from the oil crisis? According to the statistics released recently on the na-
tional income, the real economic growth during FY-80 was 5 percent (3.8 percent by
the new standard), which is a rather higt? rate of growth in view of the second oil
crisis. The United States showed a-0.1 percent growth, the United Kingdom -3 per-
cent, and West Germany 1.8 percent, which places the Wastern countries in a position
of low growth, and Japan's growth rate js causing some consternation ii~ some of the
countries. The economy did not suffer any more than a slight recession.
The growth has been sustained by exports and investment in facilities by industry.
The breakdown of this S percent growth rate shows that 3.8 percent is attributable
to increased exports and 1 percent to increased investment in facilities. The prime
moving force behind this increase in exports and investment in facilities has been
the machine, in other words mechanics, and the electronics area where IC and LSI are
continuing their rapid advances, to comFrise the area of inechatronics, which has be-
come a spectacular field.
First of all, let us look at exports. The FY-80 exports topped the previous year's
level by 29 percent (dollar base), and what is eye catching here is the 36 percent
(same base) in machinery equipment, which contributed 75 percent of ti~e increase in
the nation's total exports. It was the mechatronics product group.which led this
e;tport of machine equipment.
As shown in Table 1, new inechatronics products, headed by the automobile which is
becoming more and more electronified, NC fabrication machinery, ir.dustrial use robots,
reproduction equipment, typewriters, cash registers, automatic data processing equip-
ment, quartz watches, medical equipment, and air compressors, are showing great ex-
pansion as export goods.
What is increasingly becoming the center of attention is office automation equipment,
which is a systematized combination of personal communication, word processors, fac-
simile, and reproduction equipment, and this is expected to be the large growth ex-
port product of the future.
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ECR (clectronic cash register) is a good example of a product which when compared
to the machanical cash register af the past possesses far more performance and capa-
- bility (such as business management capability, sales information cullection capa-
_ bility), is seeing advances in miniaturization, cost cutting, and reduced power con-
- sumption, and has been reborn into an entirely new product. Mechatronics not only
is responsible for producing office automation equipment, medical equipment, and
robot type new equipment but is also behind the promotion of tool machines, other
machines, cash registers, and shipUuildin~ type industries, which had come to the
brink of decadence because of the catchup efforts of the developing nations.
' This 5 percent rate of
growth is from a macroeconomic viewpoint, now is a time of
unprecendented boom for electrical and machtne industries, which are now entering
into a new stage of gro~ath.
Positive Development With Restoration of the Oil Crisis
"T h e term 'push out eYports' has been applied to Japanese exports in the past, but
the present situation is o:1e of 'suck in exports' on the part of thP importing coun-
tries," said Yuichi Moriya, head of the Domestic Survey Department, Plans Agency.
Automobile exports to the United States were forced into a self-imposed restriction,
and this was because Japanese cars outsold American-made cars to the extent that the
American car makers were in trouble. To be sure, this sharp increase in the export
of inechatronic products wi11 often encounter such roadblocks.
Particularly since the oil shock, Japan's industry has been trying to get back on
its feet, s~arting of� with conservation of energy, rationalization, and conserva-
tion of power and branching out to rekindling of domestic demand by the development
of new products and the results of this all-out effort are now being seen.
NC fabrication machiner~ and industrial robots were born out of the need for improved
power conservation and productivity, while car electronics and microcomputer-attached
air-conditioners were developed to affect fuel economy in line with the needs of the
energy conservation age. The electronification of inachinery has recently advanced
into the areas of continuous casting facilities in steel mills, heavy electrical ma-
chinery, and shipbuilding, which are the a~reas of giant machinery.
Investment i.n facilities on the part of industry was expected to remain stagnant for
a while directly after the oil crisis, based on established theory. On the other
hand, this emergency of inechatronics has had a large impact on the will to invest in
facilities on the part of industry, and investment in plant facilities which had tem-
porarily become dormant directly after the first oil crisis began to experience a
real push starting about 1978. The investment in plant facilities by industry in
FY-79 showed an increase of 21 p~rcent over the previous year, followed by a 25-per-
cent increase in FY-d0, and a 13-percent increase is expected for FY-81.
The big gainers in this field are construction machinery, communications equipment
parts, electronic parts, automobile-related electrical material, precision machinery,
office equipment, and ceramic type members of the mechatronics-related industries.
"NC construction equipment has made spectacular improvements in performance with
the emergence of IC and LSI. hot only has efficiency been improved, but highly pre-
cise finishing is now possible without the need for very experienced workers. There
has been sudden broad use starting along about 1978." This was stated by Kojun Shi-
mizu, head of the Planning Department of Ikegai Steel Works.
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The volume of the related industries participating in facilities investment is ex-
ertin~ a very large effect on demand which is spreading over the entire econom}.
This recovery in facilities investment will entually result in increased demand,
which will support the Japanese economy.
These investments in faci?ities and export increases whi.ch have supported the emer~
gence of inechatronics may be said to have rescued the Japanese economy fram the
depths it had plunged into following the oil crisis. On the other hand, this is
still not all as far as the actual situation is concerned.
Take Up 18 Inclustries of the Top With Best Industrial Growth
"Mechatronics is not a technological innovat3.on which has developed in a planned man-
ner based on the interpretation of new scientific principles. It is a so-called ap-
plied technology which has upgraded and made more complex technology already on hand.
This is an area in which the Japanese are most adept. Products such as industrial-
use robots, electronic cash registersy electronics proliferation in automobiles,
microcomputer-attached machines, quartz watches, and self-ogerating cameras all
first became practical in the United States or Europe. But it was Japan which was
able to raass produce and use them as growth products.
Although nn~chatronics is not a planned technological innovation, it is true that it
has made for more complexity and brought new values. The ma�rket expansion of inecha-
tronics has only just started, and it is only from this point that this industry
will become numerically larger. Roughly speaking, the present situation is expected
to continue ir~to the latCer half of the 1980's be it in demand or in exports. For
- example, the robot industry is as yet very small numerically speaking. Even so it
has no competitor worldwide, and it is a product of whic:h much can be expected in
the future," said Yutaka Matsushita, director of the Nomura Combined Laboratory.
As shown in Figure l, the expansion of the steel industry production index between
1975 and 1980 averaged 1.43 times overall, so a ranking was made of the expansion in
almost 100 industries, and this ranking showed the top 20 places to be occupied al-
most exc.lusi_vely by mechatronics-related industries. Placing applied electronic
equipment, witlt a 21.64-fold expansion, at the top, the next is watches at 5.4 timesy
follocaed by office machines at 4.06 times, fifth-ranked photosensitive material and
14th-ranked medical products are the only outsiders to break into this near monopoly.
The Japanese economy is presently entering a new gr~wth stage due to mechatronics,
- through the so-called merging of inechanics and electronics, whi.ch has resulted in a
growtti and high level of the economy through the "mechatronic:~" revolution that is
proving to be a powerful propellant for growth.
Prof 'isune~~ Iida of Nagoya University in his book "Compo~ition of an Active Japanese
Society" states: "What will probably spearhead Japan's economy through the 1980's
will be the combination of the machine industry and the rC industry in the form of
emergin~ 'mechatronics'. The development of such a combination-type technological
innovation is made to order for an area where the high level of education and ex-
perienced onside training are superior, as in Japan. The possibility that Japan
will lead the world is concealed in this present situation" (abstract).
~
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The development of inechatronics has not only promoted increased exports and private
investment in facilities, it has enhanced the efficiency of the Japanese economy
through improvements in productivity in industry, energy conservation measures, and
the higher level structuring of industry and has speeded up Japan's release from
the oil crisis.
, One example is the cantribution to price stabilization. The rate of increase in
wholesale prices averaged 32 percent in the 5 years between 1975 and 1980, but dur-
ing this period there was a decrease of 29 percent in the grice of desk calculators,
26 percent in cash registers, 17 percent in electric ranges, and 13 percent in cam-
eras, and mechatronics-related goods all showed a similar reduction in price (see
Figure 2). If the price of permanent consumer goods and capital costs had gone up,
the effect of the oil shock on prices wouln have been amplified, and this probably
would have been followed by a serious aftereffect.
The same applies to the international balance of trade. The rapid improvement in
the international balance of trade picture is due to this increase in exports, but
the fact that imports have not increased as much despite the high price of crude
oil is also a large factor. In fact, the trend during the past few years has been
for imports to run below the preceding year's total. What lies behind this situa-
tion is the establishment of an economic growth not tied in with the use of energy.
At the time of the first oil crisis in 1973, oil consumption per 100 million yen
GNP was 346 kiloliters, this decreased to about two-thirds, to 224 kiloliters, in
1980. Whiie the roles of energy conservation (there is a contribution of inecha-
tronics here) and substitute energy policies have major roles here, this result
basically is the change from steel, cement, and chemical type high oil-consuming
industries to machine equipment production industry in which the concentration of
technology and the introduction of higher levels in the production structure are
- promoted.
The fact that mechatronics is lowering costs and improving the international balance
of trade is an aspect that should not be forgotten.
The 1980's Also Will Be Japan's Age
West Germany traditionally has been known as the ruling country in the field of ma-
~ chines, but at present, it lacks the powec to compete on equal terms with Japan and
is inviting collapse in its overall economy.
As sh~wn in Figure 3, the portion of the export structure occupied by machine equip-
ment in West Germany is ~nJ.y 40 percent, compared to Japan's 60 percent, and this
figure has recently been slipping. This lack of growth is tied in with the high
value of the mark, but what must not be ovexlooked here is that this country has
;allen behind in the trend to mechatronics which is worldwide.
"There is the difference that Japan's machines are general use machines through
mass production, while the German products are special use and massive machines pro-
duced by the accumulated and traditional mechanical technology. Their meister sys-
tem is making difficu~.t any introduction of elECtronics"--this statement is attri-
- buted to Yoshitomi Ishimaru of Tomen Sanyo. Hiroshi Takeuchi, head of the Research
Depar.tment, Nagasaki Bank said: "Germany has relegated its dirty work to foreign-
ers. Japan is considering the use of robots for :.-uch work, and that has brought
forth the rapid development in mechatronics today."
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The most important aspect is that Japan's government an~ industry have zeroed in on
electronics, including computers and semiconductors, as the item for the future
and are making all-out efforts to provide training and forward moving investments,
and this has led to the position of inechatronics today. In West Germany, this goal
is ~ccupied by the nuclear power industry and aircraft industry. Its electronics
industry has fallen behind i.n growth, and it is presently buying computers and IC
from the United States and Japan.
In another direction, the United States is the home ground nf electronics, and it is
ahead in the areas of large computers and military industries. Its weapon is the
model mechatronics, but the present picture is that the transfer of this technology
to private use equipment and setting it on a commercial basis cannot be readily re-
alized.
"Comparing the situation to mountain climbing, mechatronics is just at the stage
that it has come up to the third seam. The products from here on will be large ma-
chines which will be v.se~ in all kinds of plants, and Japan's market will probably
grow both internally and externally," according to Matsushita of Nomura Laboratory.
During the caurse of the next 5-b years, mechatronics will bring Japan's industrial
structure and export structure to eve.r. higher levels, the technological concentra-
tion and high add-on value to an unprecedented rapid tempo, and will lead to econo-
mic growth. Japan, which relies on foreign sources for crude oil and most other re-
sources must rely on exports as its lifeline. Mechatronics produces products with
various capabilities, and the past trade frictions arising from patterns centered on
a single item will decrease. The 1980's will see the "mechatronics revolution," and
i.t may be possible to say once more that it is Japan's day.
How Will Mechatronics Alter Industry? Power Co Promote "Japanese Products as Number 1"
The central actor in this shift to mechatronics is electronics, and this is where
serve (control) technology is a vital adjunct. Just how far has mechatronics ad-
vanced at the present time and what does the future hold?
The 5hadowy Area of Mechatronics
There is not only light but some shadowy areas regarding mechatronics which will have
to be overcome in the future. The following are some of the major problems.
First, functions which wer.e previously performed by man are now being perfornied by
electronics, and there is naturally a shouldering ~effect appearing. It is presently
a broad process, and the problems a~re still few, but there is the possibility that
- a limit will be faced sooner. or later. How will we face such a situation?
Secondly, there is the possibility that the self-reexpansiun and developmc:nt of
technology will occur, and how do we handle this? As a result of replacing func-
tions performed by man by functions performed by electronics, there will be no high-
ly skilled men, and a high level of inechatronics introduction may become untenable.
_ Once mechatronics takes over and skilled men are no longer around, there is the
danger that the technique may stop right there.
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Third, tt~ere is the question of the establishment of a reasonable production price.
It is not the micon attached to machinery that is the main factor, but the software
that is put in it that accounts for its true value. There is as yet no rule for
re~,sonably evaluating the cost. Too high a price will result in sales resistance,
and too low a price ~aill muddle the economics. It is difficult to draw the deciding
line.
Related to this is the situation that software is an intel.ligent judge of good or
bad, and just as there are changes in models, newer models appear one after another
to replace former models and cut down on the life cycles, giving rise to business in-
stability, even though this may be hazardous to the business.
rourth, there is the relationship of the machine maker to the electronics makere As
mechatronics develops more and more, there is a correspanding decline in mechanics,
and the add-on value of machine makers who had been ordering their electr~nic parts
elsewhere declines with the chance t~at they will become simply assembly houses.
Fifth there is a technological problem in that future development will leave behind
many arPas that have room for technological development encampassing peripheral tech-
nology such as sensors and new materials. At ~ust what tempo can such developments
advance?
To be sure, every maker has had his own resolve to meet these problems in his own
way .
Intelligent Robots; Rising Figures in the Unmanned Plant Trend; Their Costs Can Be
Recovered in a Year
The industrial robot is already attracting worldwide attention as the framework of
Japan's mechatronics.
_ The number of Japanese makers, the production figures, and the number of units in
operation are far greater than in the countries of the Western world.
Only the high-performance units with a capability beyond the p].ayback type used for
welding in Japan are called robots in the Westerr~ countries. In Japan the so-called
fixed-sequence type low-performance robots account for 70-80 percent of the total
number in operatian, so that comparisons on the same level are not possible, but
there is no question that Japan's robot industry has seen sudden growth as one of
t}te tools of inechatronics.
_ At present, the preduction of high-performance robots is at a fever pitch and grow-
ing. It is estimated that these high-performance units will account for close to
half the tatal production in 3-4 years.
Behind this 5harp ri5e are the increased demands for conservation of power, conserva-
tion of. energy, and lower cost from the industrial world.
For example, accordinF to material furnished by the Japan Industr.ial Use Robot Indus-
try Associatiun, the value of the cost of a single robot divided by the labor cost
ot a single worker decreased from 10.5 times to 3.4 ti~es between 1971 and 1979 as
the result of rising labor costs.
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If we use this calculation for a single robot-to-worker relationship and project
its application to an all-night unmanned operation, then the cost of a robot will
be retired after a year.
There is also the added effect that monotonous work and work in a messy environmen~
can be performed in an automated manner, and product quality can be made consistent
and even improved.
For example, the monotonous portion of material handling accounts for an average of
30-40 percent of the finishing cost, 80--95 percent of the ~aorktime, and 85 percent
of the industrial accidents, and the effect of robot use in such an area can be great.
= A company such as the Nissan Automobile Company already has about 500 robots in oper-
ation and is already performing 100 percent of its welding operations by this mear~s.
- It is now focusing attention on the use of r~bots for painting, and this is in keep-
ing with what the other makers are doing.
The use of robots is also increasing among the electrical makers, and it is reaching
_ high levels. Matsushita Elect ric Industry has introduced machines to insert parts
on to a printed board to produce television sets at an 80-percent automated rate.
= The various industries aze eye ing the use of high-performance industrial robats for
use in all-night unmanned plants.
The rujitsu Fanac attempt is we 11 known, but it is not only these top ranking compan-
ies but the medium ranking comp anies which should also see some expansion in the use
of robots.
The influential tool steel maker Yamazaki Steel Company, with its main base in Aichi
Prefecture, has put up close to 3 billion yen with production expected to start iip
this fall on a r_ompletely automated plant where everything--supply, working, and
tr.ansport of products--will be automated. Where a plant required 250 workers in the
past, the first shift will need 8 men, the seco:.~:d shift 5 men, and the midnight to
8 am shift will be eutiYely unmanned in this system.
Department head Michiharu Tanimoto of the Robot Business Department of Kawasaki Heavy
_ in~3ustr;es Pn~_nrs ni4~: "ThQre ar~ as ye~t nnly a f~w inc3tls~ri_es thar arP oger~tzn~
in the black using robots. A h igh-performance robot suitable for large variety small
_ lot production requires the development of sensors to give it sight, feel and audi-
tory power." Yet despite these problems, the demand has been increasing at the rate
of 50 percent over the previous year duting the past few years. It is expected that
production will increase to 500 billion yen by 1985 (78.4 billion yen in 1980).
The su~sidiary in Japan of the American Texas Instruments Company, which is the
world's largest semiconductor maker, at the start of this year became a formal mem-
ber. of the Japan Industrial Use Robot Maker Industry Asaociation. This is the first
- foreign company to enter thi.s association, and it is said that its aim is to collect
information from Japan's robot makers.
NC (numerical control) construction machines made th~ir appearance in 1954, and
- Jagan is still the "world's supply base" for these machines. "Tt~e Japan-American
relationship in NC construction closely resembles that of the automobile. In 2 or
3 years the United States aill c~me out with a"J car punching NC machine" is a pre-
diction by a certain member of the industrial world.
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Crossing Point From Starting to Post-NC Fabrication Machines
One of the reasons export of NC fabrication machines is expanding is that the lead-
ing country, the United States, has been completely engrossed in large machines,
while Japan has specialized in junior machines. In other words, this should be re-
garded as a marketing victory.
If we liken the technological level of NC construction machines (ordinate) and its
market (abscissa) to Mt Fuji, then "the United States accounts for the first three
sections while Japan takes over betwQen the third and seventh section" (Hitachi Seiki).
The reason Japan leads in the area of ~unior machines is largely due to the CNC (com-
puter numerical control) device developed by Fu~itsu Fanac. "The reason ,Tapan has
- such a strong competitive strength is the Fujitsu Fanac CNC" .is one view.
The story of CNC will be left to the interview with President Inaba of Fuji.tsu Fanac,
but there is also the element of the demand of the ti:nes behind this NC construction
equipment boom.
There is a shortage of inechanics. "Mechanics were once stars of blue-collar workers,
but no one wants to be one any more." (related party).
In the midst of shouts for a reduction of business has L~een the need for conserva-
tion of power and energy, and this is also thought to have accelerated the boom.
While it may be partly grasping at straws, "the situation now is not that only Fu-
jitsu Fanac has the high-level technology to produce CNC devices; it is the compara-
tively high cost," said a related party recently.
CNC devices are not the sole domain of Fujitsu Fanac: Yasukawa Electric and Mitsu-
- bishi Electric are entries in this field.
The ultimate target of NC construction machines is an unmanned plant. This is a
common awareness shared by Fujitsu Fanac and the other construction machine makers.
In the meantime, it is necessary to clarify problems associated with automation
assembly of a single produc~ production and automation of automation production
process.
- Even at tt~e Fujitsu plant of t}te leader Fujitsu Fanac, automation of assembly is
still at the beginning stage.
"Lo~king at the present orders situation, we can confidently expect good export of
NC construction machines for the next 2-3 years. From then on it may be a question
~ of w}iether the construction machine maker will become a production process planner,
which will decide the outcome (related party), and Japan's makers have started in
tl~e direction of pc~st-NC construction machines" (same party).
Docking of Power LJork and Brain; Komatsu Which Leads Caterpillar
There is the image of power work in the construction industry, and electronics may
- be considered a world completely apart, but there are also construction machines
which carry micons.
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- Komatsu Limited displayed 12 raodels of ifis machines at "Conexpo '81" (held 25-30
January), amor.g which its bulldozer, dump truck, and power shovels were equipped
with micons.
"We are the first in the world to put micons in construction machinery" (ElectroniC
Equipment Center of Komatsu).
It was about 15 years ago when Komatsu started to introduce electronics. When the
first microprocessor 'Intel 8080' was marketed, this company immediately jumped into
the picture. "At that time, a single chip cost 150,000 yen" (same source).
Simplicity of operation and energy conservation are the selling points of micon-
- equipped construction machinery. Where a bulldozer is concerned, the operator must
move a lot of dirt rapidly. The "volume of earth moved" and "number of lever opera-
tions" are the yardsticks for determining operator qualifications.
A micon-equipped bt~lldozEr can move 10 percent more earth than an ordinary operator,
. and the number of operati4ns is reduced to one-tenth. 3ust this reduction in the
number of operations is tied in with energy conservation.
The bul.ldozer can slip on earth. When it slips, the operator will increase the speed
in order to increase the volume moved, but it cannot be done. A micon is used to
- catch the load un the blade (earth mover) and control the dozer at the optimum speed.
The wear-resistant specifications for IC used on construction equipment include tem-
perature of -30 to -80�C, vibration impact level of 100 G, and humidity of 100 per-
cent. The vibration impact value for IC used on automobiles is about 10 G.
homatsu's rival, Caterpillar Tractor, began to strengthen its electronic capabilities
about 2 years ago.
"Komatsu is leading Caterpillar where the change to mechatronics is concerned," is
not very explanatory, Uut to say that "there is a vast difference between 15 years'
and 2 years' experience" has more meaning.
Not only a large company such as Komatsu, with annual business of 504.9 billion yen,
but even a smal~ c~mpany such as Sanwa Kizai, with annual busir.pss of 6 billion yen,
is developing mechatronics construction machinery.
Micon Horizonger is one such product. As the trade name implies, this is an excava-
ting machine which cuts through earth in a horizontal direction, and this is an in-
dispensible item for sewer construction.
The basic concept of. this product development is that many sewer construction work-
ers are of advanced age, and automation is necessary both from the staudpoint of
safety and conservation of energy, according to the general talk.
Where small-bore pipe is involved, the sewer line is placed in a horizontal position
undergroutid, and the water flows by natural slope by so-called blind reckoning such
that previously it was possible only to dig no more than 50 meters at a given stretch.
This :is why for every kilometer of line, it was necessary to dig vertical holes at
21 sites. It requires tYiree or four times the labor to dig vertical holes that it
does to dig horizontally.
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When a Micon Horizonger is used, a combination of a laser beam, receiver, and micon
are employed, and a horizontal excavation of 100 meters is possible, while the point
of advance cun be established from aboveground, thereby eliminating any right-left
or up-down deviation.
Digging operations in the past required one operator, one observer, and 3 workers,
but the introduction of the Micon Horizonger "eliminates 1.5-2 men" (Technology De-
velopment Department of the company).
It should be evident that Japan is leading the world in the matter of introduction
of inechatronics to construction machinery.
To Computer Control of Engines
The wave of inechatronics is also beating against the shipbuilding industry. The Kin-
kazan Maru, which was built in 1461 for ferry service, is one such example.
Since that time the automation of ships has been expanded and the MO (Marshinari
zero) makes possible elimination of night engine room watch: the Japan Magnolia
(mineral oil and general use ship, 94,465-ton weight) was built in 1969, the Seiko
rtaru (tanker, 138,370-ton weight) was built in 1970, and the Samposan Maru (tanker,
227,756-ton weight) was built in 1971.
Automation was introduced in the engine room and the cargo oil loading, where comput-
er controls were used.
As a result, a 10,000-ton cargo vessel which formerly needed a crew ot some 60 men
cau use as few as 20 men. �
The ability to cut a large fraction of the manpower costs, which account for a large
slice of the roughly 300 million yen required to operate a ship per year, is a great
plus for the introduction of automation.
- At present, Nippon Yusen, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Osaka Shosen, Mitsui Senpaku,
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Mitsui Shipbuilding and Engineering are laying con-
crete plans for 18 men crew container vessels and container-liver [phonetic] ships.
.Toint research by the Mi_nistry of Tr.ansportation and the shipbuilding industry is
targeting I1-12 men ~rew container bulk carriers and tankers as its technological
- goal.
T he re is also pursuit of superautomation in which the crew will be reduced to less
than 10 and the international maritime satellite will be utilized to conduct unmanned
navigation through remote control devices.
- In 1981 a start was made on technological development of computer control of the en-
gine to improve fuel consumption.
Mechatronics is a powerful weapon to guard Japan's position as riiling shipping coun-
try against the catchup eff orts of late-developing countries such as Holland and
Italy.
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'fhe introduc.tion oC n~echatranics to automobiles started with the use oP thermistors ~
:~s temperature gaufies to monitor cooling water for the internal combustion engine.
This was Eo.llowed by its introdur.tion to the regulator (voltage adjuster) and igniter
(ignition device) type parts around the engine.
A micon placed on a vehicle to serve as an electronic control fuel injection device
made its appearance in 1979, in this a fuel injection valve replaces the carburetor
and the flow of fuel is controlled by an electronic circuit to improve combustion
efficiency and reduce the CO content in the exhaust gas.
Exhaust gas control and improvement of fuel consumption efficiency may seem to be
opposing each other, but the introduction of electronics has made possible an 8-per-
cent incre,zse in fuel consumption compared to what was experienced in the past,
It is said that several years ago there were 25-70 IC units used on an automobile,
but the advent of the micoti-equipped car has resulted in the use of several hundred
IC and transistors per automobile.
"The cost of the electronics in a high-cl.ass car is about 2-3 percent of the total
value of the car. In the future the cost of the electronics on a passenger car will
probably be 10 percent of the total cost. This is what is quoted, but I believe
- t~at this will be closer to 7-8 percent," said Vice President Hiroshi Takahashi of
Nissan.
"The value of electrical equipment including semiconductors is presently about 5
percent, and this is sure to triple Co about 15 percent in the future," said Direc-
tor Masao Murayama of Nippon Denso.
Among the ca.r electronics recently installed, digital displays and sound alarm de-
vice-type accessory units stand out, but it will become technologically possible
along about 1980 [sic] to install microprocessors (CPU) as central information pro-
cessing devices for an automo~ile, it was indicated.
Development of car electronics is being conducted in joint development by combina-
tions such as Toyota Motor-Nippon Denso-Toshiba, Nissan Automobile-Hitachi-Nippon
Electric, and Mitsubishi Automobile-Mitsubishi Electric-Nippon Electric.
Nippon Denso, whicli is a member of the 'royota group, has its own IC plant and has
produced 3 million IC units per month for test research, Nissan is also reinforcing
its self-development image.
"The automobile makers should have the semiconductor makers take over the introduc-
tion of electronics into automobiles and should also possess the software technology
for the system" seems to be the ~oint outlook on the part of both parties.
LSI Pursues Mechatronics Parts Computer Incorporating Camera
The electronification of cameras is generally seen in automatic exposure EE cameras,
and a totally automated camera which has a CPU installed is a representative example
of inechatronics.
The electrouic circuit is placed in modular form within a single flexible base plate
where computation and display of exposure, record of exposure, shutter speed, and
even adjustment of lens opening are determined.
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- The use of an active element such as a transistor to contral exposure was initiated
in 1963 by the Polaroid automatic 100 camera which appeared on the market that year.
This marked the appearance of the electronic shutter operated through an electronic
circuit and magnet.
Since then the electronification of exposure control can be divided into three per-
iods, according to improvements based on IC and LSI.
First of all, the period between 1963 and 1970 was the comparator age. This was
used in the Yashica Electro 35y the comparator refers to a voltage comparator by
which ON or OFF is determined according to the high and low input voltage.
The perio~ from 1970 to 1974 was the time for the analog data treatment system using
a monolithic IC. The Asahi Pentax ES (1971) and Nikomat EL (1972) are representa-
tive units.
The camera using a logic IC circuit to handle digital data made its appearance in
the period after 1974. The Fujica ST 901 is such a camera.
The area of electronic adjustment of exposure has developed technology for applica-
tion in photography sequence (order), electronic control, and automatic focusing.
Electronic control of a photography sequence is designed, for example, to control a
series of operations from the time the shutter button is depressed until the end ot
the pictu:e taking, or from ihe time the film is wound up until preparations for the
next picture are completed. The Polaroid SX-70 (1972) and Canon AE-1 (1976) are
representative of ttiis technology.
The I:onica 35A F(1977) was the first camera to appear on the market with an automa-
tic focusing device using the Visitronics module made by the Honeywell Company of
the United StatFS. This was followed by the ultrasunic type Polaroid SX-70 Sonar
Autofocus (1978) and the infrared type as represented by the Canon A F 35M (1979).
Electronic control of motor drives and strobe lights has also been introduced.
With all the different functions coming under electronic control, the camera has be-
come an instrument wtiich is much more simple to use.
New funccions c�~ith el.ertrnniC r.ontrol have appeared one after the other, but the
price has been held down despite all these developments. It also should not be over-
looked that all th~se improvements have been incorporated without increasing the
size and weight of the camera. Arbitrarily setting a value of 100 for 1975, the
retail pri.ce index for 1965 was 65.5 and for 1980 was 96.2.
"When a camera is electronically controlled, there is a trend to miniaturize the
electronics to assure space for the circuits and the power supply batteries. This
fracti.on has made possible improvements in the mechanical parts, and miniaturization
has been aided" (Nippon Kogaku).
Mechat:ronics technology stands behind Japan's position as the top in the world with
respect to camera quality and quantity.
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Number of Parts Down b}� 50 Percent or More
In contrast to the camera in which electronic control introduced new capabilities in
an "add-on type electronification," an el.ectronic watch is a case in which the mech-
- anical parts of clocks have been completely replaced by electronic circuits in a so-
called "substitution type electronification."
The crystal wristwatch generally called a quartz watch j.ncludes the digital type
watch which has no gears or springs. The only parts are the battery, the crystal
vibrating element, and the MOS�LSI.
The MOS�LSI contains a frequency divider circuit which converts the pulse signals of
vibration current emitted by the crystal oscillator and divides the signal ir~tto sec-
onds, minutes, hours, days, and months as well as a display command circuit.
Japan and Switzerland first displayed test-produced quartz watches at the 1967 Gen-
eva Observatory Concours, and 2 years later Seiko came out with the world's first
quartz watch on the market with an analog (needle type) display.
Crystal oscillators, LSI, and liquid crystals are all suitable for mass production,
as a resiilt of which the assembly processes of a labor-intensive nature previously
characteristic of this precision instrument business no Ionger exist.
Where the nu~ber of parts is concerned, in an analog watch the number of parts de-
creases to 70 percent and in digital watches down to 40 percent, and the relative
importance of the assembly process has also decreased.
At the Tamu plant of Citizens Watch, the conservation of power and automation have
advanced to the stage that the day wnen a fully automated assembly line will be re-
alized may not be very far off.
One of the problems facing the quartz watch is how to come up with a watch which can
match the mechanical watch in size.
The single greatest item which limits size is the battery. Initially, a large cur-
rent was required, which naturally required a large battery, but this size has now
decreased to the stage that 1 cm diameter batteries are now being used.
As a result of the development of low power consumption C-MOS�IC and the development
of high-efficiency pulse motors, quartz watches of 0.09 millimeter thickness are
presently being marketed.
Mec}~atronics Will Determine Destiny of Household Electrical Equipment
The introduction of inechatror?ics is also taking place in the�area of household elec-
trical equipment. In the case of the washing machine, the mechanical timer used in
- the past was associated with many malfunetions, and the electronic-controlled or
micon-controlled electronic washing machine has made its appearance.
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Sequence (order of operating steps) control, automatic adjustment r~f imbalance at
the time of the drainin,~ operation, and automatic control of waste water disposal
are functions which are controlled in line with the volume and dirtiness of the
wash load.
_ The electric range is an example in which the capabilities of the micon can be under-
stood by anyone. Since micon remembers the 40 or so preparation patterns of inenus
which are used i.n daily fare, the cooking preparations can be initiated simply by
pressing a button, as a result of which the micon stops the cooking by exercising
temperature and humidity control and completely shuts off the heat when the cooking
is completed.
An air conditioner is turned off when the entire room is adequately cooled, and the
unit is restarted when the room temperature rises by 1 degree. This alone accounts
for a roughly 10-percent saving in power cost. Meanwhile, a humidity count circuit
operates to guard against a rise in temperature anci cui~s off the room fan when the
thermostat is OFF and effects even more energy saving.
A micon jar beverage container "first applies a weak fJ.ame" followed by "popping"
heat and then a temperature-maintaining effect by which a beverage is held at the
proper drinking temperature.
"The pursuit of ease of use, miniaturization, and lower power consumption in house-
hold electrical appliances is similar to attempting to preserve their destiny. Me-
chatronics is a natural component in this direction" (Matsushita Industry and others)
seems to be the consensus of the industry.
The merit of IC lies in the reduction in the power consumed and in the number of
parts. Take the example of a color television set. According to Matsushita's ex-
planation, the 20-inch color television T H 8800 D which was marketed in 1971 and
which was provided with one or two units of special-use LSI consumed 150 watts/hour
and consisted of 750 parts.
- In contrast, the 20-inch T H 2O-A2 (about five LSI units) color television set mar-
keted in 1976 consumed 88 watts/hour and reduced the number of parts te about 500.
The 1981 color television set T H 2C-B21 (five-seven LSI units) consumes 99 watts/
hour and has increased the number of parts to 650, but this is because a new capabil-
ity of sound and voice are incorporated.
It was the American Motorola Company which first announced to the world the use of
IC in color television sets (1966), but Hitachi was the first to put the first model
with IC on the market (1969). By the following year, all of Japan's household elec-
tric appliance makers had turned to the use of IC.
Whetl~cr it was the introduction of IC to color television or VTR, the basic dewelop-
ment took place in other countries, but it was the Japanese makers which succeeded
in commercializing the development.
The Fuji plant of Pujitsu Fanac has been called the plant where "robots make robots";
it is a place where a representative NC machine for tool machines used in Japan can
be seen. It is already "Japan's NC tool machine showplace." In addition, there are
many who sense the presence of feet in the movements of the transporting robot.
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I~ Is said that there are 300-400 visitors per week at this plant, which indicates
the interest shown.
The foreign visitors who come by special bus a17. take a souvenir photograph of the
plnnt, with the imposing outline of Mt Fuji looming in the background.
While there may also be a presentation by Fujitsu Fanac entitled "NC machine show-
place" there is a feeling that this plant, which has collected the various aspects
of inechatronics technology, displays the status of Japan's present economy.
Install Video on Robots; Top Strategy of Fujitsu Fanac for the 1980's--Interview
with President Kiyozaemon Inaba of Fujitsu Fanac
Fujitsu Fanac is the world's largest CNC device maker. This company
~layed the role of igniting the mechatronics boom. It is presently
- directing its major effort to the development of an intelligent ro-
bot. This company, which is dubbed "little giant" by the rest of the
industry, is headed by the man who founded the company, and he spoke
enthusiastically of the past, present, and future.
Female Deity of Fate
riore than 20 years ago, in 1956, a group of several technologists in electricity and
machines began research and development on control systems in a small laboratory on
the grounds of Fujitsu. The term control covers a broad field, and the situation
~ then was that one could try anything. I had been delegated to be ;.n charge of this
development, and I tried to conceive a system based on a mechanical technology which
exploited my specialty.
- This operation was extremely successful, but 3 years previously the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States had developed a new control sys-
tem for construction machines at the request of the air force, and this system was
called a numerical control (NC) system by MIT.
The famous "MIT report" which covers this development is still interesting reading
both from the classical standpoint as well as for the magnificent text.
About the same time, Prof Yasuto Takahashi oi the University of Tokyo, who at that
time was teaching at ttie University of California (Berkeley), introduced this report
to a small control engineering meeting.
- Upon hearing this report, we thought this would be the most suitable system for us,
and we immediately took up research and development.
It may be said that this was the time when an element of Fujitsu entered the mecha-
tronics area. The bonding of electronics and mechanics, including motors and fabri-
cation machinery, and the struggle to bYing this technology to fruition had begun.
The Ministry of International Trade and Industry was very interested in this research
- and development and granted this program financial aid a number of times over a 10-
year span. There was a time when despite the very promising future of this technol-
ogy, the marker was not yet ready for it, and the subsidy funds from this ministry
were exeremely valuable to the industry. Such funds turned out to be the trigger
which set off new product development.
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During this period, it may be said that we had no reason for existing as an industry.
But as the 1965 decade was approaching, there was a sudden expansion in the NC mar-
ket. It seems as though the deity of fate had smiled on us. To this day, I believe
that deity sympathized with our unbending philosophy in the midst of a world of neg-
ativeness.
We took this technology and jumped into the market. In 1972 we branched off and be-
cane known independently as Fujitsu Fanac. Since then we have been able to grab a
good share of. the CNC market. At present we account for about half of the world
- market and about 75 percent of the Japanese market.
From Automation to Unmanned Operation
During the 1965 decade, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry came forth
with the Kidenho (machines and electricity law) ordinance and adopted a policy of
encouragement toward machines and electronics. We set our sights on development of
even higher degree control systems and laid plans by which an entire plant would be
placed in the hands of a large computer, to which all the fabrication machinery
would be Uound and thereby enable automated operation of the entire plant. This
was the entirely new group control system concept which we took up.
This system was completed in 3 years, and we believe that this system has been very
- ir:~trumental in the automation of the Japanese machine industry at the present time.
As the 1975 decade was entered, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry
came forth with a new ordinance entitled Kijoho (machine information law) which en-
couraged automation by the integration of machines and electronics on a much greater
scale and also the development of completely unmanned systems. The large project
based on this concept is presently centered at the Tsukuba Machine Technology Re-
search Laboratory in which 16 companies are participating, and the target of these
efforts is the unmanned operation of a plant called the Laser Application Multiple
Production System. I believe that there is no other such system in operation else-
where in the world.
Among the uni.ts which make up the unmanned system, the unit which is now coming under
the greatest scrutiny is the robot.
In order to make practical this new concept, Fujitsu Fanac constructed a very modern
_ marhine p?ant among the rice paddies around Lake Yamanaka. There are onl_y 100 work-
ers including the plant manager. The machine fabrication plant is completely unman-
ned. It is thought that simple machine parts ar.d assembZy of machine units will be
~ possible tltrough the use of intelligent robots by the end of the 198~'s.
Robots with Sensors
Previously, complete assembly performed by a robot was achieved before September of
this year at this company's Servo Motor Plant in Hino. Unfo~tunately, this robot can-
not he classed as an intelligent robot. Since it is not equipped with sensors, it
is incaPable of jud~;ment discriminations despite the high capabilities the micro-
proce~sors have. It may be thought of as a blind robot with a good mind.
This is why the next robots must be provided with senses associated with the eye an
hand. Should a robot equipped with such senses be developed, the automated assembly
oE complex machine units will be possible.
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The development of sensors is treated as an industrial secret by each company. On
the other hand, there is the accumulation of high technology in a variety of areas
in Japan, and there is no need to start from zero. What we have set our sights on
_ ie something which has already been partially completed. The answer is found in the
~ item which is enjoying the greatest expansion in the area of home electrical appli-
ances and is the greatest menace to camera mechanization. In other words, it is
video.
We will miniaturize video and then couple it with our microprocessor. This will
serve as the eyes of the robot. This explanation alone should make it possible for
- one to realize what mechatronics of the future will be like.
The development af new technology is not conducted only at the one Fanac site. We
have obtained the cooperation of a number of friendly companies. The development of
sensors is being promoted jointly by the Fujitsu Laboratory and the Semiconductor
Industry Department of Hitachi Limited. We want to use the highest technology that
can be found in Japan and in the world.
What will be the future of NC? We incorporated into NC as quickly as possible the
bubble memory that was developed for communications use in electronic exchanges, and
we were able to greatly improve the reliability of the NC.
' The next generation NC naturally will use bubble memory, but the use ~f optical fi~
bers also comes to mind. Here again, the first ones used will probably be in the
communications area.
When I inquired about optical fibers from Director Ishigaki of the Agency for Indus-
- trial Science and Technology, I learned that optical fibers can even transmit energy,
and this was a tremendous shock to me. Ti11 then I had thought that optical fibers
could be used only in data communications. If energy can be transmitted as well,
then the level of power required in NC fabrication machines should be transmittable.
We are resolved to put every effort into th~ application and introduction af optical
fibers.
Dividing Line Between Victory and Defeat
It is thought that snme 1,0 years are required before a single product can be marketed
seen from an idealized viewpoint. A product made ready in short order has shallow
roots and will readily be subject to improvements by other companies. On the other
hand, too much time in development will delay its appearance on the market. Here is
where the problem lies: just how much absolute research time should be allowed?
This is a major problem.
The ideas that man comes up with will always have something resembling some other
idea. This is why success or failure is determined by just how fast the product can
be marketed or whether this product has a basic nature which other companies cannot
readi l.y match.
To this end, the first step is to settle on a price which will be difficult for any
of the world's other. malcers to meet. Next, the unit cost of production must be estab-
lished. This is followed by a sales price which allows an absolute profit. Product
development is assigned the condition of a S-year minimum life.
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Product development is conducted along the lines of _a. singular policy. The slogan
- for this basic policy is summarized in "Weiniger Teil" which is written in a strange
German dialect. This can be summarized as meaning: "make a design involving the
minimum of parts." This means the development of products with maximum performance
using a minimum number of parts.
The production system at the plant is also another important aspect in the practical
application of the developmental~results. I believe that the most effective system
is one which is a combination of NC fabrication machines, robots, and computers of a
versatile nature--in other words the FMS (flexible manufacturing system).
We hope to come up with an ideal I~'MS by the end of the 1980's. This is why we need
to push developmenr of the intelligent robot which is the nucleus of this project.
There are about 200 robot makers in Japan alone, and they are probably in the fray
gritting ttieir teeth; and it is not yet the time to criticize any one company's
share. I would like to know what Fujitsu Fanac's share wi11 be 2-3 years in the
future.
_ The variety and areas of application of robots are very wide. Every maker should
- succeed as long as it does not err in selection. One can fail if he embarks into an
area requiring vast investment. I believe the key lies in putting all effort into a
simple and specialized area. This selective capability is one which a robot maker
president should have.
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Tablc l. Rankings of Principal Machine Exports (1980)
lxlltf 3t~4T1 ~l~t h=1t
1 [~I~1 zf~Nu�f~
%o
~tI1~P~� h~�.7 58.780 62
4' ;t~ i~~ t:~E ~k 18.419 28
s M; t 4~t 10.165 28
~ V T R f~ 9,142 52
7 it:"r~f~E1~i�~i/~ 8.971 22
Ai '~G: 1~ i~"a 7.066 29
`~i ~ft kh Itk 5.736 26 ~
1 ~~i fi~ I!i ~SE t~t 4,355 35
1~ i i~ 4$ ~111 1: Nt t~ 3, 950 12
i~�'t ut 9, 905 40
isI'~q'~IN'd:%ih.'~h;. 2.993 46
1'~ ~P,;'t � iai:lll kltMdt 2, 476 34
15 t~r ix }~t ~dt 2.965 42
1 e r 7~ 4t~, }~i 2, 080 9
1 ~;~ti ~p: y,k 1, 653 24
_ 18 S'k ;u ~n iai t. 545 36
19 I,; 1~ ftlt i~s I,125 36
?~,;t Jlil k! it"a 1.078 12
z 1 : i i i, 055 18
2 2 1~11 It9 ft~! Ndi 418 68
2:~ ~'1~ 4~ 194 58
a i~! $ th 162,189 35 �
z ~ (!i~ ;E; Kfil 293,825 30
Key: 1. Export value, 100 million yen 2. Ratio vs previous year, %
3. Passenger cars, trucks 4. Communication equipment
S. Shipping 6. VTR, etc
7. Optical equipment, cameras 8. Heavy electric equipment
9. Prime movers 10. Business equipment
11. Metal forking machines 12. Watches
13. Household electric units 14. Construction, mining equipment
15. Loadin~ equipment 16. Agricultural equipment
17. Fibermaking machines 18. Railroad v~hicles
19. Medical equipment 20. Measuring equipment
21. Machines 22. Printing machines
23. Packaging machines 24. Total machines
25. (Total cxport value)
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Figure 1. Best 20 Expansion Rates According to
Different Industries (1975-1980, Mining and
Manufacturing Production Index of 97 Industries)
ti,.
~ 1 �r~
~ ~
s'~ ~
- [m ~ l ~~R~1~~1~U'~^~ F20
(~~f150~ -55~ � ~r=~~~~(~1[ � 97~11~ )
_ i:: 5 2
~ ~
.
~~o
p'
4
j~ ' ~ ` ~ . ~A~AG
~ r
~y~
, ~
1~'~ ~ ~0 ~ 3
~ ~ / ~ ~ ti.
' ,
A ~y
~ ~hti~ti ti. t:.
Ci:
. \ e ~O O`~1,~
� - A~' ~n' �j ~ . 'L 2
.1 ~ ~ . ~ �
~h 1b ~1b~~ : 1:;! c
r , " c! � ` " ;~i: ~i (i;~ fii
- x . ~ t:~i
, E:::: :
' O :`t~ :t: 't; ~:4: .r::
~ : ~
i: �
I i E ~ ` E ~ > E.~> ~ 4`' ?
� ~ .
.Sr ~1~.3T~~ t ~ ~t~~c~t$~m~i~~c~fir'~
S th ~ 4~ ~ ~ v ~A9 ~ I ~ 711 ~ tA ~
~ ~ '~1~ ~ ~ A) Q46~ ~~g ,~~j i~ S. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 4t ~
~ p ; h ~ _ ~ ~ ~ �f' 41 3 ~ ~f ~,y,~ 'N~ 4!~ ~ ~ ~
?'t A3 1 7~ e 11 In � 3
i~~ 1 3 H!t ~ i s B'7 ~
1~ ~ ,
Key: 1. 21.64 times 2. Five-fold (or 500
3. Applied electronic devices 4. Watches
5. Office equipnent 6. CoIInnunication, electronic parts
7, Photosensitive material 8. Cryostatic equipment
9. Electronic computers 10. Metal fabrication machines
11. Motorcycles 12. Optical equipment, parts
13. Production vehicles 14. Measurement instruments
_ 15. Radio, TV, audio equipment 16. Medical equipm~nt
1.7. Electric measurement units 18. Other general use machines
19. Special production machines 20. Passenger cars, trucks, bus
21. F.].ectric motors 22. Generators
23. Average mining and manufacturing
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Figure 2. 20 Products Which ~Jere Lower in Price in Last 5 years.
(Wholesale Price, 1975 Price = 100 oc 1980 Level)
7o~1~~F~i~~)?n Q~ -
I c~~z) ~i~r5~re
(~n~~~,t~ � ~~n5o~= ioo~~ t,t_ss~m~c~)
~ 12 34 s ~ ~esuo ~c
~ I ~~5~~~1~~~TT~~~~7j1~~I~~~lf
~ -f-I~E~C~~~~ I I ~~T~itb~~l h~i~
'i ~ R ~ 1~ li ~1~. 7' y~:i~ li ~ 7~t ~E 7 rn~E
tgSS~~-~i V~: ~7'9#5:
~ t fl7t V~ ~ ~��r ' 3 s i~ J'~, ~
~ . e . . q~~'31 :li}: ~1~1~~: $1
I
( 29
i
60
73 79
63 88 87 87 87 88 BB BB 89 89
~ 9+ 9197 99 99
Key: 1. Electronic desk ca].culators 2. Integrated circuits
3. Money counters 4. Color TV sets
- 5. Semiconductor elements 6. Electronic ranges
i. Reproduction equipment 8. Tape recarders
9. Tape decks 10. Electron tubes
11. Electric washing machines 12. Stereos
14. Memory watches 15. Radios
16. Cameras 17. Wrist watches
18. Small passenger cars 19. Light trucks
_ 20. Electric refrigerators 21. Ordinary passenger cars
Figure 3. Machine Exports Which Sustain Japan's Exports
(Changes in ~xport Structures of Japan, United States, West Germany)
(t~J 3 ~ - ~ ~~~v" ~ x 7~. 3 #~~`c~1 tL
- ( p � ~E � @�~l~o)iMtt1t94i~"�1r)
i~ ~ 27~9~ 3@SF~f%
i~~+8o � -ioo-
g;
_ ti JfF.#.K~~
- r. -80-
7 - ;;;;::;;;;:;:~:':"~i~:::>~::::
it~ ; ~ -eo- `r:~'`'""wi:;:.::
:{h~r.
�}Jr,i � f
~ ?~Y:x
:
}i:,'v,{i'i,}:C~: ' {iT,:2�
~7~~ j:.:.J. .'l.�: ':~' ' l,fi
1 y{.'~
~ n ~ ~ ~x r* . ~--~r F (~9)
(9) I~ ~,~__~;~~~~�~~r_r f %%s r'(~~. (20)
Key:
1. Fin~ Chemicals 4. Electronics Materials
2. Silicon Resin 5. Semiconductor silicon
3. [Metoroae Synthetic Perfumes 6. Rare-earth substances, GGG
[Key continued on following pag~J
. $2~
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7. Magnet, synthetic quartz 14. Sodium Hydroxide
8. Shin-Etsu Semiconductor 15. Metnanol
9. Indicates major subsidiary com- y 16. Shin-Etsu Vinyl Acetate
pany in charge of production 17. Shintec
10. Shin-Etsu Polymer 18. Nisshin G`hemical
11. Shin-Etsu Chesnical lg. Fe~tilizer, Carbi.de
12, General-Use Products 20. Shin-Etsu Kasei
13. Vinyl Chloride
- COPYRIGHT: Shukan Oru Toshi 1981
9710
CSO: 4105/261
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
MITI TO ESTABLISH BIOTECHNOLOGY PROMOTION COMMITTEE
Tokqo NIHON KOGYO SHIMBUN in Japanese 12 Sep 81 p 2
[Text] Major Effort by MITI To Promote Biotechnology Industry; Committee To Be
Established Next Year; Representatives of Chemical Industry To Formulate Basic Long-
Term Policy
MITI plans to establish a"Biotechnology Promotion Measures Committee" (tentative
name) in FY-82 to pro~acte bioindustry. Although bioindustry is expected to make
great progress in the future, Japan is behind in investigation of the direction
of future progress and safety measures in this field. Therefore, a committee com-
posed of representatives of the chemical industry, persons of knowledge and experience,
and related government officials will be established to create basic long-term policy.
For initial research expenses for 1982, 5 million yen will be appropriated.
Bioindustry is an industrial field in which biological functions and reactions,
_ especially of microorganisms, will be used on a large scale for industrial purposes.
Thisindustry is still in an initial stage; throughout the world, it has only appeared
in parts of the medical and pharmaceutical products industry. However, it is ex-
pected to expand a great deal from thelate 1980's into the 1990's in such wide-
ranging fields as 1) fine chemicals, 2) basic chemical products, 3) resources and
energy, 4) food products, and 5) the environment.
In the United States there are already plans for large-scale application of bio-
technologyin technological development. For example, there is a plan to change
the method ~f manufacturing ethylene oxide, a raw material for synthetic fibers,
by an ethylene heat oxidation reaction to a manufacturing method using micro-
organisms as a catalyst in 3 years' time. If this U.S. development is successful,
= it will. be possible to manufacture ethylene oxide at nor.mal pressure, and this will
be a great contribution to energy conservation. In Japan as well, an aggressive
app~oach to these developments is required, so the present plan to organize a commit-
tee of specialists was conceivedto study future trend^.
Also, because microorganisms are used in bioindustry, it is essential in developing
this field to institute safety measures to prevent leakage from laboratories and re-
search centers and to protect human beings and the environment. MITI plans to
have the committee study these problems as well.
COPYRIGHT: Nihon Kogyo Shimbunsha Tokyo Honsha 1981
9651
CSO: 4106/8 54
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CONCEAI,ED IMAGE TRANSMISSION METHOD AEVELOPED
Tokyo NIKKAN KOGYO SHIl~BUN in Japanese 21 Sep 81 p 3
[TextJ New Secure Communication Method Developed by Professor Tominaga et al of
Waseda University; Industrial Espionage Throws Up Hands
In the field of facsimile, which is one of the three "divine abjects" of OA (office
autamation), a new method of communication developed for the purpose of "keeping
- things secret" has been the topic of conversation recently. As the amount of in-
formation in society increases, many problems are expected to crop up. That is,
there is urgent need for transmission of confidential documents by means of
- facsimile transmission, for measures to counter the theft of documents and "eaves-
dropping" on microwave millimeter wa~~e transmission, and for protection of images
(doc~ents) transmitted which are of value to a third party. A new concealed
image transmission method has been developed by a research group headed by Professor
- Hideyoshi Tominaga, Aepartment of Electronic Cammunication, Faculty of Science and
- Technology, Waseda University. The "concealed image transmission method" developed
by this group uses a format that may be called a"hidden image" conversion method.
Secrets can be kept and certification (confirmation of document exchange) can be
accomplished conveniently by this new method. It has caught the attention of many,
because development of such software enables the canfidential management of various
"documents" according to their importance even after the OA document management has
entered the paperless age.
Documents and Images Protected, Jumbled Transmission, Sharp Reception
Facsimile transmission is a method of transmitting images such as documents by
electronic means over a distance to a rECeiver. The original document that is to
be transmitted is scanned with a light, and the black and white density of the
image is converted inta electric signals. At the receiving end, the electric
signals are converted back into the corresponding image. However, facsimile equip-
ment used in an of�ice is shared by many for economic reasons and is used for
transmitting various types of documents including both confidential documents and
- open let~'ers. Under such circumstances, if a document that must be kept secret can
be transmitted with ~umbled signals which. can only be decoded by the rightful re-
ceiver with a certain key into a clear image (document), then the confidentiality
of the document can be maintained.
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There are many applications of this method. For example, it can be programmed to
detect whether the seal of electro:~ic mail has been broken by a third party or not,
or only a portion of the document such as the sigriature may be concealed by the
jumbled signals so that only the rightful receiver is able to reproduce the
signature. Thus, the transmission of doeuments which could be of value to a third
party, such as tickets, entrance tickets, and checks, can also be carried out, and
"many other new uses may crop up," eays Professor Tominaga.
The basic principle of the method is as follows: the arrangement of the image
(letter) point and the arrangement of black and white are mixed up so that the re-
arranged signals have the appearance of a~amming signal. The change in arrange-
ment can be accamplished by changing the order of scan lines according to a randam
number generator and repeating this pattern periodically. In an actual machine,
this becomes part of the logic inside the shift register before codification.
The r,lecoding key used by the receiver for reproduction of the image consists of the
same random number generator. With this key, a regiater logic which is the reverse
of the transmitter is created so that the scan lines are restored to their original
arrangement.
There are infinite variations of this rearrangement scheme, and if the period of
random number generation is increased, the process required to decode it also in-
creases proportionately. However, the standard proposed by the CCITT (Consultative
Committee for International Telephone and Telegraph) is centered around a technol-
ogy which is aimed at shortening the fascimile codification of the image information
in order to imrpove the circuit e�ficiency. A technology in which the random number
generation is made more complex runs counter to the effort to make codification more
efficient. Therefore, the problean is how to reconcile these two. That is, the
algorism for arrangement change must be decided by the codification efficiency and
the content af the doc~nent.
The method for arrang~nent change may be varied according to the degree of secrecy
. desired. One of the methods is called shuffling. The original manuscript (Figure
A) is shuffled into randam order by a single scan line as in shuffli;ig a deck of
cards (Figure B); or points may be rearranged on the same scan line (Figure C);
or points may be rearranged between different scan lines (Figure D); or blocks may
be rearranged as a unit. [Figures not reproducedl, This process of randomly chang-
ing the arrangement is called scrambling. The scrambled signals appear to a third
party as nothing but noise.
Concealed image transmission is a method of transmission of a more advanced degree
than the scrambled signals. The signals transmitted by this method consist of the
' scrambled signals of a confidential document superimposed on the normal signals
of an ordinary document. ilnless one knows the decoding key, the signals appear
to him as an ordinary tranamission with garbles. "As the algorith for removal of
garbled information in order to improve the image becomea more commonplace in the
- future, the unsuspecting third party will throw away a large quantity of concealed
images disguished as garbles," says Professor Tominaga.
- Reproduction of this concealed image is achieved by turning it over so to speak,
that is, by interchanging the position of an apparent image on the front with the
56
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3}~'~~~-�,~
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' [Drawing] To transmit a manuscript (1) by means
of concealed transmission, (2) is superimposed
on (1) and transmitted; the output of this
transmission is shown in (3).
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hidden image on the b.ack. ihus, by reversing the arrangement order of ~he front
and the back, the im.age on the front becomes scrambled while the image on the back
becomes unscrambled. The concealed image may consist of a superposition of several
sheets of images or ~ust a single sheet. In the case of a single sh~eet of image,
the key section of the document such as the signature may be scrambled and scatte~ed
in the form of garbles samewhere in the doc~ent.
Certification may be cited as another effective applicati'on of the concealed image
transmission method. Certification is a process of cenfirming receipt of a docu-
ment by the receiver. An additional scrambled image is superimposed onto the
scrambled signals of the document cahich is being transmitted. After the rightful
receiver has decoded the scrambled aignals with an appropriate key, the reproduced
additional image is then sent back to the original sender. Thus, certification can
be carried out smoothly if the sender and the receiver make arrangements beforehand.
The high speed facsimile machines used today are standardized by the CCITT as G-III
(Group_III). The next generation of G-IV facsimile machines reportedly will be
facsimile machines with an internal memory. The purpose of having a memory is to
increase the eff ective utilization of the circuit and to transmit a larger volume
= at a higher speed. With the memory function available, the technique of superimpos-
ing several images which is essential fn the concealed image method can be intro-
duced easily and the application of so�tware for confidential transmission can be
accomplished. Furthermore, in the future, when all documents and information are
stored in the computer memory and the so-called "paperless office" is a reality,
the equipment itself can be shared by everyone, with the confidential and non-
confidential documents inte~ixed. In such circumstancea, the document management
can be easily carried out by takint apprapriate secret protection measures in ac-
cordance with the degree of confidentiality. Meanwhile, communication by such
means as micrawave and millimeter wave is expected to grow in the future because
~f the low equipment cost per circuit. Aside from military secret communications,
other users of communications via electronic waves are beginning to attach impor-
tance to the concealed communicatian technique.
Finally, this group plan to present a paper describing their results at the "Inter-
national Symposium on Image and Document Communicarions" in Paris in November.
COPYRIGHT: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbunsha, 1981
9113
CSO: 4106/11 ~ND
58
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