Shin-Cosmos Electric Develops New AR Laser Gas Visualizer "Laser Gas Visualizer" for Visualizing Gas Leaks
Shin-Cosmos Electric, in collaboration with ENEOS Globe, Tokyo Gas Engineering Solutions, and NeoRealX, has developed the "Laser Gas Visualizer," an AR device that visualizes gas leaks in real-time. This technology integrates AR and laser gas detection to convert remote detection data into intuitive spatial information, aiming to improve the efficiency and safety of gas leak inspections for all skill levels.
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- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 20:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 15, 2026 at 12:01
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Shin-Cosmos Electric Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Yodogawa-ku, Osaka; President: Yoshinori Takahashi), which upholds the grand objective of "Eliminating gas accidents worldwide," has jointly developed the AR Laser Gas Visualizer "Laser Gas Visualizer" for visualizing gas leaks with ENEOS Globe Corporation, Tokyo Gas Engineering Solutions Co., Ltd., and NeoRealX Inc. on March 31, 2026.
(Photo is for illustrative purposes)
Background of Development
Laser Gas Detector
Various flammable gases, toxic gases, and chemical vapors used in daily life and advanced industrial settings, including city gas, LP gas, and those handled in chemical plants, are widely utilized. To prevent disasters such as explosions and poisoning, various gas detectors are employed, and in recent years, remote gas detectors using lasers have become practical.
Accurately grasping the situation of gas leaks requires estimating the diffusion of leaking gas, which changes moment by moment, from measurement data. However, until now, this has largely relied on the experience and intuition of skilled inspectors. Amidst growing social issues such as the aging of infrastructure and a shortage of skilled workers, the introduction of smart safety technologies that allow for efficient gas leak detection even by those without extensive experience is in demand. In particular, gas companies, plant operators, and infrastructure inspection businesses expect improved operational efficiency and safety.
Laser Gas Detection Technology
A technology that uses absorption spectroscopy with tunable semiconductor lasers to detect the presence of methane with high sensitivity has been commercialized, and efforts are underway to apply similar technologies to other gases. Laser gas detectors have excellent characteristics for remote gas leak detection, but their output is numerical information representing the integrated value of gas concentration along the light path, known as column density (ppm·m), and does not directly indicate a three-dimensional gas leak distribution.
Overview of Developed Technology
UI Image
The essence of this technology lies in converting the "line detection information" from lasers into "spatial information" that operators can intuitively understand.
In this project, we have developed a system that visualizes gas leaks in real-time by integrating cutting-edge AR (Augmented Reality) technology with laser gas detection technology. This system provides an inspection support system that converts the "line information" obtained from remote detection into "spatial information" that is easy for inspectors to understand. The developed system operates in the following steps:
1. The inspector wears a helmet equipped with a laser gas detector. By aligning the laser's emission direction with their gaze, inspectors can perform gas leak inspections hands-free simply by looking in the direction of the inspection target. This enables the understanding of gas leaks, which previously depended on the experience of skilled inspectors, to be done in a more intuitive and reproducible manner.
2. Based on the numerical data obtained from the laser gas detector, the distribution of the gas (gas cloud), visualized as spatial information, is superimposed on the inspector's field of view through AR glasses.
3. The worker's movements are constantly monitored by sensors in the AR glasses, and the spatial display position of the gas cloud is maintained even when the field of view changes. Therefore, inspectors can efficiently search for leakage points using the displayed gas cloud image as a clue.
System Configuration
This system is a system that "visualizes" gas leaks in real-time by linking a laser gas detector with AR glasses. The detected information is immediately processed and displayed in the worker's field of vision in a way that intuitively indicates the presence of gas. This allows for a visual understanding of leak locations, which previously relied on numerical data and experience. Furthermore, it supports safe and efficient inspections regardless of experience by providing guidance on appropriate work speed and points of caution through voice guidance and display control. It should be noted that this system is a work-support type system that assists in early detection and judgment, rather than an analytical device that reconstructs concentration distribution with high precision in three dimensions.
Future Plans
Shin-Cosmos Electric, ENEOS Globe, Tokyo Gas Engineering Solutions, and NeoRealX aim for product commercialization in 2027 after field testing. They also plan to support gas species detectable by laser gas detection, such as ammonia, in addition to methane.
Shin-Cosmos Electric will continue to cooperate with its partner companies to promote "smart safety," which simultaneously enhances the safety and efficiency of field operations, through the practical application of the AR Laser Gas Visualizer. By enabling intuitive and reproducible leak detection that does not rely on the experience of skilled personnel, we aim to prevent gas accidents and achieve prompt responses, thereby contributing to the safety and security of social infrastructure.
About Shin-Cosmos Electric
Since developing the world's first domestic gas alarm in 1964, with the aspiration "to eliminate gas accidents worldwide," we have been involved in domestic gas alarms, industrial gas detectors, and residential fire alarms. Domestic gas alarms boast the top market share in Japan, and we are now actively expanding into overseas markets. Based on our core gas sensor technology, we have developed numerous products that were previously non-existent.
Cosmos Sensor Center: World's largest gas sensor R&D and manufacturing facility.
■ Company Overview
Company Name: Shin-Cosmos Electric Co., Ltd.
Location: Mitsuya Naka 2-5-4, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka
Representative: Yoshinori Takahashi, President and Representative Director
Established: 1960
Business Activities: Development, manufacturing, sales, and maintenance of domestic gas alarms, industrial gas detectors, residential fire alarms, etc.
URL: https://www.new-cosmos.co.jp/
(Photo is for illustrative purposes)
Background of Development
Laser Gas Detector
Various flammable gases, toxic gases, and chemical vapors used in daily life and advanced industrial settings, including city gas, LP gas, and those handled in chemical plants, are widely utilized. To prevent disasters such as explosions and poisoning, various gas detectors are employed, and in recent years, remote gas detectors using lasers have become practical.
Accurately grasping the situation of gas leaks requires estimating the diffusion of leaking gas, which changes moment by moment, from measurement data. However, until now, this has largely relied on the experience and intuition of skilled inspectors. Amidst growing social issues such as the aging of infrastructure and a shortage of skilled workers, the introduction of smart safety technologies that allow for efficient gas leak detection even by those without extensive experience is in demand. In particular, gas companies, plant operators, and infrastructure inspection businesses expect improved operational efficiency and safety.
Laser Gas Detection Technology
A technology that uses absorption spectroscopy with tunable semiconductor lasers to detect the presence of methane with high sensitivity has been commercialized, and efforts are underway to apply similar technologies to other gases. Laser gas detectors have excellent characteristics for remote gas leak detection, but their output is numerical information representing the integrated value of gas concentration along the light path, known as column density (ppm·m), and does not directly indicate a three-dimensional gas leak distribution.
Overview of Developed Technology
UI Image
The essence of this technology lies in converting the "line detection information" from lasers into "spatial information" that operators can intuitively understand.
In this project, we have developed a system that visualizes gas leaks in real-time by integrating cutting-edge AR (Augmented Reality) technology with laser gas detection technology. This system provides an inspection support system that converts the "line information" obtained from remote detection into "spatial information" that is easy for inspectors to understand. The developed system operates in the following steps:
1. The inspector wears a helmet equipped with a laser gas detector. By aligning the laser's emission direction with their gaze, inspectors can perform gas leak inspections hands-free simply by looking in the direction of the inspection target. This enables the understanding of gas leaks, which previously depended on the experience of skilled inspectors, to be done in a more intuitive and reproducible manner.
2. Based on the numerical data obtained from the laser gas detector, the distribution of the gas (gas cloud), visualized as spatial information, is superimposed on the inspector's field of view through AR glasses.
3. The worker's movements are constantly monitored by sensors in the AR glasses, and the spatial display position of the gas cloud is maintained even when the field of view changes. Therefore, inspectors can efficiently search for leakage points using the displayed gas cloud image as a clue.
System Configuration
This system is a system that "visualizes" gas leaks in real-time by linking a laser gas detector with AR glasses. The detected information is immediately processed and displayed in the worker's field of vision in a way that intuitively indicates the presence of gas. This allows for a visual understanding of leak locations, which previously relied on numerical data and experience. Furthermore, it supports safe and efficient inspections regardless of experience by providing guidance on appropriate work speed and points of caution through voice guidance and display control. It should be noted that this system is a work-support type system that assists in early detection and judgment, rather than an analytical device that reconstructs concentration distribution with high precision in three dimensions.
Future Plans
Shin-Cosmos Electric, ENEOS Globe, Tokyo Gas Engineering Solutions, and NeoRealX aim for product commercialization in 2027 after field testing. They also plan to support gas species detectable by laser gas detection, such as ammonia, in addition to methane.
Shin-Cosmos Electric will continue to cooperate with its partner companies to promote "smart safety," which simultaneously enhances the safety and efficiency of field operations, through the practical application of the AR Laser Gas Visualizer. By enabling intuitive and reproducible leak detection that does not rely on the experience of skilled personnel, we aim to prevent gas accidents and achieve prompt responses, thereby contributing to the safety and security of social infrastructure.
About Shin-Cosmos Electric
Since developing the world's first domestic gas alarm in 1964, with the aspiration "to eliminate gas accidents worldwide," we have been involved in domestic gas alarms, industrial gas detectors, and residential fire alarms. Domestic gas alarms boast the top market share in Japan, and we are now actively expanding into overseas markets. Based on our core gas sensor technology, we have developed numerous products that were previously non-existent.
Cosmos Sensor Center: World's largest gas sensor R&D and manufacturing facility.
■ Company Overview
Company Name: Shin-Cosmos Electric Co., Ltd.
Location: Mitsuya Naka 2-5-4, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka
Representative: Yoshinori Takahashi, President and Representative Director
Established: 1960
Business Activities: Development, manufacturing, sales, and maintenance of domestic gas alarms, industrial gas detectors, residential fire alarms, etc.
URL: https://www.new-cosmos.co.jp/