Sumitomo Rubber recently announced that it has invested into TripodWorks, an IoT solutions company. This comes as the tire manufacturer looks to bring about a business that employs Sensing Core, a proprietary sensing technology based on Sumitomo Rubber’s existing technology for analyzing the speed at which a vehicle’s wheels are moving. Specifically, the aim of the investment is to leverage...
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101), Alps Alpine Co. Ltd. and Zenrin Co. Ltd. (TYO:9474) are carrying out pilot testing that uses “IoT tires” fitted with a road surface sensing system to acquire data that can then be connected up with map data. The companies have started to look into putting this to use for a new tire business. By analyzing...
Naigai Rubber Industry Co. Ltd. has started sales of a new rubber baseball loaded with nine IoT-compatible sensors. Coming as part of the i-Ball Technical Pitch series, the new ball matches medium-sized regulation balls in terms of its size, weight and surface rubber, and is priced at 27,500 yen ($253). The sensors installed in the ball allow users to measure...
Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) is working on rolling out a new tire production system that makes use of AI and IoT platforms to achieve high quality and efficiency. The company intends to introduce this to all of its tire plants and 12 domestic and overseas bases by 2025. Under the new system, facility operating data from the tire production...
Kyoto University Professor Mikihito Takenaka recently took up the mantle of president at the Society of Rubber Science and Technology, Japan (SRIJ), an organization made up of rubber researchers and experts. Coming into the job with lofty aspirations, Takenaka plans to proactively carry out personnel exchange projects with overseas partners. The SRIJ has so far signed a memorandum of understanding...
Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. (TYO:7282) and Advanced Softmaterials Inc. have concluded an exclusive licensing agreement for the use and sales of Slide-Ring Material, a key material for e-Rubber. The agreement is limited to applications of the material in dielectric actuators and dielectric sensors. Advanced Softmaterials, which was established in 2005 with the aim of commercializing the Slide-Ring Material developed at...
