TOKYO, Dec 2, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Honda Research Institute Japan Co., Ltd. (HRI-JP), a Honda R&D subsidiary responsible for the research of cutting-edge technologies, has officially introduced its AI-powered social robot named “Haru” at the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital (HUVR) in Seville, Spain, to enhance the well-being of children while in the hospital.At the Annual Gala against Childhood Cancer, held on November 28 local time, at Casino de la Exposicion in Seville, Spain, the HUVR introduced Haru as one of the projects HUVR is implementing to improve the lives of children with cancer, who are in the hospital for long-term treatment.AI-powered social robot, HaruHRI-JP has been developing Haru, an AI-powered social robot, as a “tangible AI system” striving to realize a society where robots coexist as partners of people and to facilitate communications that create connections among people. Haru was designed to be a social robot that makes people smile through expressive communications and forms empathetic relationships with people. As a compact desk-top robot with a total height of 30cm (12 inches), Haru can be placed on a table to engage in communications with people.Haru obtains biometric information of the user, such as facial expressions and voice tones, through its built-in camera and microphones, then analyzes the information obtained to understand the user’s current state, and interacts with each user in accordance with the result of analysis, using empathetic expressions and emotionally supportive responses. Moreover, Haru can also be linked to a wristwatch-type wearable sensor worn by the user and analyze the user’s conditions in greater detail.Furthermore, as a robot, Haru does not have any human attributes such as gender, race or nationality, and is always capable of communicating from a neutral perspective, enabling Haru to effectively facilitate communication beyond generational and cultural differences, especially in group communication.HUVR had been conducting a demonstration experiment using Haru in the pediatric oncology ward of the hospital since 2021 for the purpose of enhancing both the clinical and emotional care of young patients. Since the results of the experiment have confirmed a certain level of positive effects on children with cancer, the official decision was made to advance the project with full-fledged utilization of Haru, introducing 10 units to be used in various situations in the children’s daily lives in the pediatric oncology unit.Key results of the demonstration experiment at the HUVR1. Assisting emotional and cognitive assessmentsHaru has been assisting the hospital’s neuropsychologists in conducting emotional and cognitive assessments. Using AI technology, Haru communicates with children; analyzes their biometric information, such as facial expressions and voice tones, obtained through its built-in cameras and microphones; and assist neuropsychologists in conducting emotional and cognitive assessments.Due to the amount of time the assessment takes, there is a limit to the number of assessments the neuropsychologists can conduct each year: the number had been limited to 510 per year including follow-up consultations until now. With the introduction of Haru, the number of assessments the hospital can conduct each year is expected to increase to as many as 4,500.2. Assisting rehabilitation activitiesHaru has been supporting intellectual and physical rehabilitation programs provided to young patients at the hospital. Haru learns the rehabilitation programs and can guide the children through the process while engaging them in conversation. The demonstration experiment showed that 95% of children were more actively engaged in rehabilitation while receiving guidance from Haru, compared to conventional human guides.3. Serving as a companion in playrooms and hospital roomsYoung patients who undergo long-term hospital stays for treatment spend a lot of time alone in their rooms. By communicating with the children, Haru can offer entertainment and cognitive stimulation, and help to soothe their feeling of loneliness, contributing to the enhancement of emotional care the hospital provides.4. Offering educational supportHaru connects the hospital rooms of the children who have not been able to attend school with the classrooms of their schools online, and facilitates the communication as an intermediary. This provides children at the hospital with opportunity to receive education together with children in the classroom and to interact with each other among children.Comments by the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital in Seville (HUVR)“We have been conducting joint research with HRI-JP for several years now, and gained wonderful results. We have identified that Haru holds great potential in bringing happiness to children. Typically, technologies used in hospitals focus on medical treatments or physical well-being. However, Haru has positive psychological effect of lightening the mood of our young patients and also contributes to the well-being of the hospital as a whole. The support that Haru provides, enabling children under hospital care to feel more happiness and connection with others, is unique only to Haru and offers valuable benefits not found in traditional medical care. We believe that Haru is a groundbreaking presence that creates an environment where young patients can enjoy their time here at our hospital.”Comments by Satoshi Shigemi, Honda Research Institute Japan Co., Ltd. (HRI-JP)“Based on the founding spirit of Honda, ‘using our technology to help people’ and ‘understanding people is the very essence of Honda monozukuri (art of making things),’ Honda Research Institute has been conducting research into cutting-edge technologies which have the potential to enhance positive psychological effects of people and the overall well-being of society. We are delighted by the result of our joint research with Virgen del Rocío University Hospital that shows Haru has been able to be a companion to the children at the hospital, lifting up their spirits, and bringing smiles to their faces. Moving forward, we will continue our efforts to further advance Haru as a robot which can co-exist with people 24/7 and be more helpful to young patients as well as all hospital staff to contribute to the well-being of the hospital a whole.”About Honda Research Institute (HRI)HRI was established in 2003 as a research operation which will go beyond the framework of the traditional business domain of the Honda Group and take on challenges to address issues facing humanity. Each of three HRI operations, located in Japan, the United States, and Germany, is engaged in “frontier research” with a focus on next-generation AI, including the exploration of new technologies such as quantum technology. By using Pasteur's Quadrant approach to research, which calls for the simultaneous pursuit of principles, or science, and real-world applications, HRI is striving to quickly give shape to new technologies and ideas, and create new value that can be useful to society. The research outcomes generated by HRI will lead toward the development of future Honda technologies in a wide range of technology fields, including but not limited to the areas of safety, the environment and next-generation mobility.Honda Research Institute Japan Co., Ltd. (HRI-JP), a Honda R&D subsidiary responsible for the research of cutting-edge technologies, has officially introduced its AI-powered social robot named “Haru” at the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital (HUVR) in Seville, Spain, to enhance the well-being of children while in the hospital.At the Annual Gala against Childhood Cancer, held on November 28 local time, at Casino de la Exposicion in Seville, Spain, the HUVR introduced Haru as one of the projects HUVR is implementing to improve the lives of children with cancer, who are in the hospital for long-term treatment.AI-powered social robot, HaruHRI-JP has been developing Haru, an AI-powered social robot, as a “tangible AI system” striving to realize a society where robots coexist as partners of people and to facilitate communications that create connections among people. Haru was designed to be a social robot that makes people smile through expressive communications and forms empathetic relationships with people. As a compact desk-top robot with a total height of 30cm (12 inches), Haru can be placed on a table to engage in communications with people.Haru obtains biometric information of the user, such as facial expressions and voice tones, through its built-in camera and microphones, then analyzes the information obtained to understand the user’s current state, and interacts with each user in accordance with the result of analysis, using empathetic expressions and emotionally supportive responses. Moreover, Haru can also be linked to a wristwatch-type wearable sensor worn by the user and analyze the user’s conditions in greater detail.Furthermore, as a robot, Haru does not have any human attributes such as gender, race or nationality, and is always capable of communicating from a neutral perspective, enabling Haru to effectively facilitate communication beyond generational and cultural differences, especially in group communication.HUVR had been conducting a demonstration experiment using Haru in the pediatric oncology ward of the hospital since 2021 for the purpose of enhancing both the clinical and emotional care of young patients. Since the results of the experiment have confirmed a certain level of positive effects on children with cancer, the official decision was made to advance the project with full-fledged utilization of Haru, introducing 10 units to be used in various situations in the children’s daily lives in the pediatric oncology unit.Key results of the demonstration experiment at the HUVR1. Assisting emotional and cognitive assessmentsHaru has been assisting the hospital’s neuropsychologists in conducting emotional and cognitive assessments. Using AI technology, Haru communicates with children; analyzes their biometric information, such as facial expressions and voice tones, obtained through its built-in cameras and microphones; and assist neuropsychologists in conducting emotional and cognitive assessments.Due to the amount of time the assessment takes, there is a limit to the number of assessments the neuropsychologists can conduct each year: the number had been limited to 510 per year including follow-up consultations until now. With the introduction of Haru, the number of assessments the hospital can conduct each year is expected to increase to as many as 4,500.2. Assisting rehabilitation activitiesHaru has been supporting intellectual and physical rehabilitation programs provided to young patients at the hospital. Haru learns the rehabilitation programs and can guide the children through the process while engaging them in conversation. The demonstration experiment showed that 95% of children were more actively engaged in rehabilitation while receiving guidance from Haru, compared to conventional human guides.3. Serving as a companion in playrooms and hospital roomsYoung patients who undergo long-term hospital stays for treatment spend a lot of time alone in their rooms. By communicating with the children, Haru can offer entertainment and cognitive stimulation, and help to soothe their feeling of loneliness, contributing to the enhancement of emotional care the hospital provides.4. Offering educational supportHaru connects the hospital rooms of the children who have not been able to attend school with the classrooms of their schools online, and facilitates the communication as an intermediary. This provides children at the hospital with opportunity to receive education together with children in the classroom and to interact with each other among children.Comments by the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital in Seville (HUVR)“We have been conducting joint research with HRI-JP for several years now, and gained wonderful results. We have identified that Haru holds great potential in bringing happiness to children. Typically, technologies used in hospitals focus on medical treatments or physical well-being. However, Haru has positive psychological effect of lightening the mood of our young patients and also contributes to the well-being of the hospital as a whole. The support that Haru provides, enabling children under hospital care to feel more happiness and connection with others, is unique only to Haru and offers valuable benefits not found in traditional medical care. We believe that Haru is a groundbreaking presence that creates an environment where young patients can enjoy their time here at our hospital.”Comments by Satoshi Shigemi, Honda Research Institute Japan Co., Ltd. (HRI-JP)“Based on the founding spirit of Honda, ‘using our technology to help people’ and ‘understanding people is the very essence of Honda monozukuri (art of making things),’ Honda Research Institute has been conducting research into cutting-edge technologies which have the potential to enhance positive psychological effects of people and the overall well-being of society. We are delighted by the result of our joint research with Virgen del Rocío University Hospital that shows Haru has been able to be a companion to the children at the hospital, lifting up their spirits, and bringing smiles to their faces. Moving forward, we will continue our efforts to further advance Haru as a robot which can co-exist with people 24/7 and be more helpful to young patients as well as all hospital staff to contribute to the well-being of the hospital a whole.”About Honda Research Institute (HRI)HRI was established in 2003 as a research operation which will go beyond the framework of the traditional business domain of the Honda Group and take on challenges to address issues facing humanity. Each of three HRI operations, located in Japan, the United States, and Germany, is engaged in “frontier research” with a focus on next-generation AI, including the exploration of new technologies such as quantum technology. By using Pasteur's Quadrant approach to research, which calls for the simultaneous pursuit of principles, or science, and real-world applications, HRI is striving to quickly give shape to new technologies and ideas, and create new value that can be useful to society. The research outcomes generated by HRI will lead toward the development of future Honda technologies in a wide range of technology fields, including but not limited to the areas of safety, the environment and next-generation mobility.HRI-JP has been developing Haru, an AI-powered social robot, as a “tangible AI system” striving to realize a society where robots coexist as partners of people and to facilitate communications that create connections among people. Haru was designed to be a social robot that makes people smile through expressive communications and forms empathetic relationships with people. As a compact desk-top robot with a total height of 30cm (12 inches), Haru can be placed on a table to engage in communications with people.Haru obtains biometric information of the user, such as facial expressions and voice tones, through its built-in camera and microphones, then analyzes the information obtained to understand the user’s current state, and interacts with each user in accordance with the result of analysis, using empathetic expressions and emotionally supportive responses. Moreover, Haru can also be linked to a wristwatch-type wearable sensor worn by the user and analyze the user’s conditions in greater detail.Furthermore, as a robot, Haru does not have any human attributes such as gender, race or nationality, and is always capable of communicating from a neutral perspective, enabling Haru to effectively facilitate communication beyond generational and cultural differences, especially in group communication.HUVR had been conducting a demonstration experiment using Haru in the pediatric oncology ward of the hospital since 2021 for the purpose of enhancing both the clinical and emotional care of young patients. Since the results of the experiment have confirmed a certain level of positive effects on children with cancer, the official decision was made to advance the project with full-fledged utilization of Haru, introducing 10 units to be used in various situations in the children’s daily lives in the pediatric oncology unit.Key results of the demonstration experiment at the HUVR1. Assisting emotional and cognitive assessmentsHaru has been assisting the hospital’s neuropsychologists in conducting emotional and cognitive assessments. Using AI technology, Haru communicates with children; analyzes their biometric information, such as facial expressions and voice tones, obtained through its built-in cameras and microphones; and assist neuropsychologists in conducting emotional and cognitive assessments.Due to the amount of time the assessment takes, there is a limit to the number of assessments the neuropsychologists can conduct each year: the number had been limited to 510 per year including follow-up consultations until now. With the introduction of Haru, the number of assessments the hospital can conduct each year is expected to increase to as many as 4,500.2. Assisting rehabilitation activitiesHaru has been supporting intellectual and physical rehabilitation programs provided to young patients at the hospital. Haru learns the rehabilitation programs and can guide the children through the process while engaging them in conversation. The demonstration experiment showed that 95% of children were more actively engaged in rehabilitation while receiving guidance from Haru, compared to conventional human guides.3. Serving as a companion in playrooms and hospital roomsYoung patients who undergo long-term hospital stays for treatment spend a lot of time alone in their rooms. By communicating with the children, Haru can offer entertainment and cognitive stimulation, and help to soothe their feeling of loneliness, contributing to the enhancement of emotional care the hospital provides.4. Offering educational supportHaru connects the hospital rooms of the children who have not been able to attend school with the classrooms of their schools online, and facilitates the communication as an intermediary. This provides children at the hospital with opportunity to receive education together with children in the classroom and to interact with each other among children.Comments by the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital in Seville (HUVR)“We have been conducting joint research with HRI-JP for several years now, and gained wonderful results. We have identified that Haru holds great potential in bringing happiness to children. Typically, technologies used in hospitals focus on medical treatments or physical well-being. However, Haru has positive psychological effect of lightening the mood of our young patients and also contributes to the well-being of the hospital as a whole. The support that Haru provides, enabling children under hospital care to feel more happiness and connection with others, is unique only to Haru and offers valuable benefits not found in traditional medical care. We believe that Haru is a groundbreaking presence that creates an environment where young patients can enjoy their time here at our hospital.”Comments by Satoshi Shigemi, Honda Research Institute Japan Co., Ltd. (HRI-JP)“Based on the founding spirit of Honda, ‘using our technology to help people’ and ‘understanding people is the very essence of Honda monozukuri (art of making things),’ Honda Research Institute has been conducting research into cutting-edge technologies which have the potential to enhance positive psychological effects of people and the overall well-being of society. We are delighted by the result of our joint research with Virgen del Rocío University Hospital that shows Haru has been able to be a companion to the children at the hospital, lifting up their spirits, and bringing smiles to their faces. Moving forward, we will continue our efforts to further advance Haru as a robot which can co-exist with people 24/7 and be more helpful to young patients as well as all hospital staff to contribute to the well-being of the hospital a whole.”About Honda Research Institute (HRI)HRI was established in 2003 as a research operation which will go beyond the framework of the traditional business domain of the Honda Group and take on challenges to address issues facing humanity. Each of three HRI operations, located in Japan, the United States, and Germany, is engaged in “frontier research” with a focus on next-generation AI, including the exploration of new technologies such as quantum technology. By using Pasteur's Quadrant approach to research, which calls for the simultaneous pursuit of principles, or science, and real-world applications, HRI is striving to quickly give shape to new technologies and ideas, and create new value that can be useful to society. The research outcomes generated by HRI will lead toward the development of future Honda technologies in a wide range of technology fields, including but not limited to the areas of safety, the environment and next-generation mobility. Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.

TOKYO, Dec 2, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has received an order from Shikoku Electric Power Co. Inc. (Shikoku) to supply 24 MOX(1) fuel assemblies for Unit 3 of the Ikata Nuclear Power Station, subsequent to the order received in October from Kyushu Electric Power Co. Inc. for Unit 3 of the Genkai Nuclear Power Station. Under this contract, MHI will perform design of MOX fuel, and have components such as cladding tubes manufactured by Mitsubishi Nuclear Fuel Co., Ltd. (MHI Group) provided to Orano, who will fabricate MOX fuel assemblies at its MELOX plant in France.MHI has previously supplied 57 MOX fuel assemblies to Japanese utilities, and will supply high-quality MOX fuel by leveraging its past experience and technical capability. MOX fuel will enable Shikoku to utilize plutonium extracted by reprocessing spent fuel, and MHI will contribute to steady promotion of Shikoku's "Plu-Thermal" plan(2) through the supply of MOX fuel.(1) MOX (Mixed Oxide Fuel) is nuclear fuel made of plutonium extracted by reprocessing of spent fuel, and uranium.(2) The "Plu-Thermal" plan is to utilize MOX fuel in light water reactors.Tags: nuclear power generation,MOX fuel assemblyAbout MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com. Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.

TOKYO, Dec 2, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has received an order from Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation to install new equipment and modify existing equipment for the expansion of the existing maintenance shop at Taiwan High Speed Rail's (THSR) Zuoying depot in southern Taiwan. MHI will design, supply and install trackwork, overhead catenary system, power supply system, and signaling system.THSR plays a key role in Taiwan's transportation infrastructure. Its annual ridership has increased from around 15 million passengers during its inaugural year in 2007, to nearly 73 million in 2023, with the cumulative ridership to date now exceeding 800 million. To better serve this increasing demand, THSR is boosting its capacity by adding 12-car train sets and expanding the associated inspection and maintenance facilities which MHI will undertake. These upgrades will enable an increase in train car operations, which will further enhance transportation convenience across Taiwan and support its economic growth.The THSR project was initially awarded to a consortium of seven Japanese companies, including MHI, in 2000. Operations were inaugurated in January 2007. MHI's involvement continued with the Nangang Extension Project(Note) and subsequent system upgrade work, and the latest contract was awarded to MHI in recognition of these and other ongoing contributions to THSR's development.Going forward, MHI will continue contributing to the THSR's development through its expertise in transportation systems and project management capabilities, further enhancing Taiwan's transportation infrastructure.For details concerning the Nangang Extension Project, refer to the following news release: www.mhi.com/news/130624en.htmlAbout MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com. Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.

Chigasaki, Japan, Dec 2, 2024 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - ULVAC, Inc. (HQ: Chigasaki, Kanagawa) has started accepting orders for the ENTRON-EXX, a new multi-chamber deposition system for semiconductor applications. The ENTRON-EXX builds on the proven productivity and flexibility of its predecessor, the ENTRON-EX W300, while offering enhanced data intelligence and expandability.After building on the proven productivity and flexibility of the widely adopted predecessor model that was first released in 2005, we developed the ENTRON-EXX. The ENTRON-EXX is a cutting-edge platform designed to meet the evolving needs of increasingly advanced and complex semiconductor manufacturing processes. This next-generation system takes performance to new heights. With its flexibility, enhanced data collection and analysis capabilities and a highly scalable design, the ENTRON-EXX empowers the future of semiconductor innovation.Key Features of ENTRON-EXX:1. Maximizing Factory Space Efficiency:Maximizing factory space efficiency is the key to boosting productivity, and flexibility is the solution. The ENTRON-EXX offers two versatile platform options, Single and Tandem[1], enabling customers to select the best platform to fit their factory spaces, thereby achieving maximum productivity per unit of space.2. Enhanced Data Collection and Analysis Capabilities:To meet the demands of increasingly complex semiconductor manufacturing, the ENTRON-EXX significantly enhances its data collection and analysis capabilities. With real-time processing of large data volumes, it empowers customers to improve yields, optimize preventative maintenance, and enhance overall operational efficiency.3. Highly Expandable System Design:The ENTRON-EXX features a highly expandable design, enabling quick module additions and swapping. This system can seamlessly adapt to evolving needs, providing customers with an optimized environment for both development and mass production.ULVAC, as a "Field of Potentiality for the Future[2],” is committed to pioneering advances in the semiconductor industry through its innovative application of vacuum technology.[1] A Single platform features a single transfer chamber (Core), offering a simple and space-efficient design. A Tandem platform features two transfer chambers (Cores) arranged in sequence, selected for complex process requiring higher productivity.[2] Field of Potentiality for the futureULVAC formulated its "Vision 2032", envisaging an ideal configuration of the ULVAC Group in 2032, while continuing to be a "Field of Potentiality" for the future. This concept is inspired by the physical potentiality that occurs in a vacuum field: changes in energy and matter. It is also the potentiality of change in the individual, which can lead to the potential to change in the spirit animating society. The ULVAC Group is committed to advancing core vacuum and peripheral technologies and understanding the needs of its customers while addressing social challenges, and continuously creating valuable products and technologies.About ULVAC, Inc. Since its founding in 1952, ULVAC, Inc. has been a comprehensive vacuum equipment manufacturer, providing manufacturing equipment, components, analytical instruments, materials, and services based on its core technology - vacuum technology. Working with customers across a wide range of industries, including semiconductors, electronic components, displays, automotive, and pharmaceuticals, ULVAC is committed to driving cutting-edge innovation and creating new value. For the fiscal year ending June 2024, the ULVAC Group recorded consolidated sales of 261.1 billion yen and has approximately 6,200 employees. For more information, please visit our official website at https://www.ulvac.co.jp/en/For more information:ULVAC, Inc. Strategic Planning DepartmentTEL: +81-467-89-2023Inquiry Form: https://www.ulvac.co.jp/en/contact/general.html Copyright 2024 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.