BeMap and Accton Technology, Taiwan's largest network equipment manufacturer, to jointly deploy next-generation platforms with Edge AI + Wi-Fi

Tokyo, Japan – BeMap Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Norinori Sugino; hereinafter referred to as "our company") is pleased to announce that we have decided to jointly deploy a next-generation platform combining edge AI and Wi-Fi related products for the Japanese market with Accton Technology Corporation (Hsinchu City, Taiwan; hereinafter referred to as "Accton"), a company with world-class communication hardware manufacturing capabilities.

■ Background and Objectives

Currently, the aging of skilled workers and a severe labor shortage are urgent issues in social infrastructure such as domestic railway/transportation infrastructure and manufacturing plants. Labor-intensive monitoring tasks, such as visual safety checks in vast facilities and patrol readings of countless analog meters, are reaching their limits.

On the other hand, our company has been providing Wi-Fi network construction and related services for transportation infrastructure, including railway companies nationwide. We have also been involved in promoting DX (Digital Transformation) utilizing long-distance wireless communication in facilities with large premises, such as higher education institutions and factories. By merging our accumulated Wi-Fi experience and know-how with Accton's cutting-edge edge AI products, we aim to achieve DX for the entire facility space, including a skilled monitoring system that operates 24/7.

■ Instant and Constant Judgment Enabled by Edge AI + Wi-Fi

When attempting to utilize AI with existing security camera footage and sensor information installed in stations, commercial/public facilities, or large factory premises, it has traditionally required a process of uploading the information obtained from these devices to the cloud and having the cloud AI make judgments. Therefore, it has been difficult to completely avoid the drawbacks of communication interruptions and delays, making constant monitoring and operation challenging.

This platform resolves these issues by linking edge AI terminals with Wi-Fi access points and routers, enabling instantaneous integrated processing by AI installed in the terminal (edge) before sending data to the cloud, without needing to send camera and sensor information to the cloud. It also eliminates concerns about personal information leakage during data transmission to and from the cloud.

Specifically, for the time being, we envision the following applications:

・Unmanned Meter Reading and Anomaly Detection

Edge AI will automatically and collectively monitor the movement of analog meter needles, the status of indicator lights, and minor pipe leaks from security camera footage in factories and treatment plants with high precision.

・Proactive Safety and Security Monitoring

AI will instantly detect falls, individuals experiencing health issues, or intrusions by suspicious persons from security camera footage. Alerts will be immediately sent to administrators' PCs or smart devices, and on-site responses will be automated.

■ Example of Implementation: Image of Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) Monitoring in a Factory using Edge AI + Wi-Fi

Relying on AI on remote cloud servers cannot avoid the drawbacks of communication delays or interruptions (right), but the Edge AI + Wi-Fi platform enables DX utilizing AI while maximizing the use of existing facilities such as cameras and AGVs (left).

■ Overview of Accton Technology Corporation

Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Hsinchu City, Taiwan, Accton is a global provider of data center...