The Future of Automobiles from the Perspective of the Semiconductor: What’s Happening on the Front Line

Semiconductors—you may never have seen one, but they’re most definitely a part of your life, integral as they are to everything from smartphones, tablets, and computers, to digital appliances like TVs and air conditioners. What you may not be aware of, however, is their growing prevalence in things other than mobile devices and electrical appliances, particularly automobiles, in the form…

The Science Behind Nanofiber Electrospinning Technology

Nanofiber electrospinning is one of the complex technologies today and is expected to be applied to Toshiba’s SCiB™ lithium-ion rechargeable battery.　How are ultrafine fibers created? Ikuo Uematsu, responsible for the development of electrospinning technology,　shares the basics of nanofibers, electrospinning technology used to fabricate them and its appealing features. Ikuo Uematsu, Process Technology Research Department, Corporate Manufacturing Engineering Center, Research &…

What is VPP? Invisible Power Plant in Action

Virtual is a word we’ve come to hear more frequently in recent years. There’s virtual reality, which simulates interactive environments, and there are virtual currencies, like Bitcoin, unregulated digital money. Now virtual is reaching into the world of energy, and we are seeing the development of virtual power plants, VPP as they are known. And they are attracting a lot…

Looking for a Ride Home? Why not try Mobility-as-a-Service

As vehicle ownership falls and ride hailing and ride sharing services find increasing popularity, powerful forces are making themselves felt in commuter transport. However, recent developments are just a taste of things to come. Spurred by advances in digital know-how, there is growing interest in realizing Mobility-as-a-Service, MaaS. The ideal of MaaS is the ability to leave home, be picked…

Power Devices: The Tiny, Eco-Friendly Key to Our Low-Carbon Society Dreams?

Nowadays, semiconductors are everywhere, hidden within the electronic devices that support our everyday lives. Of particular interest, however, are power devices—a type of discrete components. Demand for these is expected to increase in the coming years, in the automobile and industrial machinery sectors, amongst others. This interest is a result of the world’s heightened awareness of environmental conservation. Reducing power…

AI-Based Security Cameras: Where Are You, and Where Have You Been?

Walking around in a train station or an airport, on public transport, shopping, or just popping into a store for a sandwich? Rest assured, you’re being watched. Security cameras are becoming ubiquitous in modern cities, with technologies that are becoming increasingly more refined. And due to their prevalence, law enforcement officials are relying on them more than ever to prevent…