Konoike Transport Establishes Collaborative Course with the University of Tokyo
Konoike Transport and the University of Tokyo have launched a collaborative course starting in April. This initiative aims to build the foundation for automated logistics warehouses where people and technology work in harmony, and to foster next-generation IT talent through industry-academia research. It addresses the urgent need for human resources in logistics due to Japan's declining working population.
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Konoike Transport Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Osaka; Representative Director, Chairman & President: Tadahiko Konoike; hereinafter "Konoike Transport") has jointly established a collaborative course*1 with the Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo (Location: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; Dean: Kohei Tsumoto; hereinafter "The University of Tokyo") starting in April. Through this course, the companies aim to build a foundation for automated logistics warehouses where people and technology work in harmony and operate stably, and to foster next-generation IT talent through industry-academia research.
*1 The University of Tokyo Collaborative Course:
https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ja/research/orgs-projects/d04_07.html
■ Background of Establishment
Amidst the urgent need to secure human resources in logistics sites due to Japan's declining working population, strengthening supply chains and flexibly responding to shippers' demands are crucial in B2B logistics (business-to-business logistics). Furthermore, logistics warehouses face numerous challenges such as improving safety and productivity of in-warehouse operations using the latest IT technologies and robots, managing and optimizing warehouses through data collection and utilization, and automating work processes. However, the individual technological elements required to achieve these are complexly intertwined, making the construction of foundational technologies to horizontally connect, integrate, and manage different technologies indispensable.
■ Purpose of Establishment
This course is an industry-academia collaboration initiative with the "Konoike Technology Research Institute Innovation Center"*2 (hereinafter "Giken IC"), KONOIKE Group's open innovation-type research and development hub, and the University of Tokyo serving as research bases.
For many years, Giken IC has promoted the realization of sustainable workplaces through a "hybrid of people and technology," integrating on-site expertise cultivated in logistics, manufacturing, and service industries with cutting-edge technologies such as robotics and DX. On the other hand, the University of Tokyo has been engaged in engineering approaches to research themes applicable to logistics warehouses, such as building digital twins of warehouse environments using 3D scanning and camera image processing, and optimal work-sharing strategies between people and machines.
In this course, by applying the research insights of four laboratories*3 at the University of Tokyo to the practical data and know-how of KONOIKE Group's logistics sites, and repeatedly conducting verification experiments utilizing Giken IC's assets, the aim is to create a technical foundation for automated logistics warehouses where people and technology work in harmony and operate stably.
*2 Related Press Release:
March 3, 2021 https://www.konoike.net/news/news_file/file/2021030300.pdf
*3 Ota Lab: https://otalab.race.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/
Otake Lab: http://www.den.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/research-wp/
Nishino Lab: https://www.css.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/
Zhao Lab: https://www.dragon.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ja/
■ Future Outlook
Through this course, we aim to establish a model case for logistics warehouses that can operate more stably and flexibly through a "hybrid of people and technology," thereby solving challenges in the logistics industry such as labor shortages, strengthening supply chains, and flexibly responding to shippers. We will also contribute to fostering next-generation IT talent through exchanges with young researchers and students. Research results will be announced sequentially at academic conferences and open forums.
The KONOIKE Group's 2030 vision states the message, "With technology, people aim for greater heights." By combining cutting-edge technology with the skills of craftsmen cultivated on-site, and evolving the "way of the workplace," we will create new service value.
■ Comment from Shigetoshi Noritake, Executive Officer, General Manager of Technology Innovation Headquarters, General Manager of Technology Control Department, and Head of Technology Strategy, Konoike Transport
The KONOIKE Group prioritizes people and pursues a high level of balance between quality, safety, and productivity. In this course, we will combine our long-cultivated on-site expertise with the advanced technologies and insights of the University of Tokyo to challenge the construction of a foundation for next-generation logistics warehouses where people and technology work in harmony and operate stably. In particular, we expect the technologies possessed by the professors at the University of Tokyo, such as 3D data analysis, spatial measurement, optimization, robot control, and mechanism design, to be a great force in materializing the future vision of logistics warehouses. Based on the research results of this course, we will contribute to establishing foundational technologies that support the transformation of logistics sites and creating high-value-added logistics services.
■ Comment from Professor Yutaka Otake, The University of Tokyo
To ensure the safety and security of workers in logistics warehouses and maximize productivity, four laboratories from the Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, will collaborate on research and development. Specifically, we will build a logistics warehouse system dynamically integrated with the real environment, and under this system, reduce the burden on workers.
*1 The University of Tokyo Collaborative Course:
https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ja/research/orgs-projects/d04_07.html
■ Background of Establishment
Amidst the urgent need to secure human resources in logistics sites due to Japan's declining working population, strengthening supply chains and flexibly responding to shippers' demands are crucial in B2B logistics (business-to-business logistics). Furthermore, logistics warehouses face numerous challenges such as improving safety and productivity of in-warehouse operations using the latest IT technologies and robots, managing and optimizing warehouses through data collection and utilization, and automating work processes. However, the individual technological elements required to achieve these are complexly intertwined, making the construction of foundational technologies to horizontally connect, integrate, and manage different technologies indispensable.
■ Purpose of Establishment
This course is an industry-academia collaboration initiative with the "Konoike Technology Research Institute Innovation Center"*2 (hereinafter "Giken IC"), KONOIKE Group's open innovation-type research and development hub, and the University of Tokyo serving as research bases.
For many years, Giken IC has promoted the realization of sustainable workplaces through a "hybrid of people and technology," integrating on-site expertise cultivated in logistics, manufacturing, and service industries with cutting-edge technologies such as robotics and DX. On the other hand, the University of Tokyo has been engaged in engineering approaches to research themes applicable to logistics warehouses, such as building digital twins of warehouse environments using 3D scanning and camera image processing, and optimal work-sharing strategies between people and machines.
In this course, by applying the research insights of four laboratories*3 at the University of Tokyo to the practical data and know-how of KONOIKE Group's logistics sites, and repeatedly conducting verification experiments utilizing Giken IC's assets, the aim is to create a technical foundation for automated logistics warehouses where people and technology work in harmony and operate stably.
*2 Related Press Release:
March 3, 2021 https://www.konoike.net/news/news_file/file/2021030300.pdf
*3 Ota Lab: https://otalab.race.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/
Otake Lab: http://www.den.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/research-wp/
Nishino Lab: https://www.css.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/
Zhao Lab: https://www.dragon.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ja/
■ Future Outlook
Through this course, we aim to establish a model case for logistics warehouses that can operate more stably and flexibly through a "hybrid of people and technology," thereby solving challenges in the logistics industry such as labor shortages, strengthening supply chains, and flexibly responding to shippers. We will also contribute to fostering next-generation IT talent through exchanges with young researchers and students. Research results will be announced sequentially at academic conferences and open forums.
The KONOIKE Group's 2030 vision states the message, "With technology, people aim for greater heights." By combining cutting-edge technology with the skills of craftsmen cultivated on-site, and evolving the "way of the workplace," we will create new service value.
■ Comment from Shigetoshi Noritake, Executive Officer, General Manager of Technology Innovation Headquarters, General Manager of Technology Control Department, and Head of Technology Strategy, Konoike Transport
The KONOIKE Group prioritizes people and pursues a high level of balance between quality, safety, and productivity. In this course, we will combine our long-cultivated on-site expertise with the advanced technologies and insights of the University of Tokyo to challenge the construction of a foundation for next-generation logistics warehouses where people and technology work in harmony and operate stably. In particular, we expect the technologies possessed by the professors at the University of Tokyo, such as 3D data analysis, spatial measurement, optimization, robot control, and mechanism design, to be a great force in materializing the future vision of logistics warehouses. Based on the research results of this course, we will contribute to establishing foundational technologies that support the transformation of logistics sites and creating high-value-added logistics services.
■ Comment from Professor Yutaka Otake, The University of Tokyo
To ensure the safety and security of workers in logistics warehouses and maximize productivity, four laboratories from the Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, will collaborate on research and development. Specifically, we will build a logistics warehouse system dynamically integrated with the real environment, and under this system, reduce the burden on workers.