Question:
Would you tell me about the activities at the MIT Intelligent Transportation Research Center?

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I think there are two key factors for success for the ITS business, as a forerunner of a "super infrastructure" business. First is to consider each system in the context of a large flow of the whole world. For example, in selecting a method of sensing, it is important to consider the possibilities to utilize the same method for various other applications, not limiting it's application, while at the same time considering the prediction of changes after 10 years. Second, core technology development and system design should proceed in parallel. System design is restricted by the limitation of useable core technologies. Therefore, a high level of core technology development is required for successful system design. This is the way we approach ITS at the MIT ITRC. We put emphasis on the study of sensing and networks while closely linking core technology and system design. For example, looking at some of our current projects: A brightness adaptive TV camera; a smart camera; a three-dimensional vision system; image data compression; a digital sensor network, and others. At the ITRC we carry on research with good cooperation between researchers in electronics, artificial intelligence, civil, and environmental engineering, through visiting researchers, joint study projects and workshops.

Question:
Last year you established a company named SMaL Camera Technologies (SCT), in which Yokogawa Electric Corp. invested. How is it progressing now? What is the objective of this company?

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Last year you established a company named SMaL Camera Technologies (SCT), in which Yokogawa Electric Corp. invested. How is it progressing now? What is the objective of this company?

As you know, I and 2 other MIT professors and an MIT graduate established SCT to develop a business around a brightness adaptive TV camera which was developed at MIT. Thanks to the capital participation of Yokogawa, and with Mr. Sanagi as a director, our business is getting off the ground smoothly.
Existing TV cameras in the market provide insufficient performance for application to ITS. For example, it is difficult to acquire clear images of two cars when one is under bright sunlight and the other is in a shadow because the brightness ratio (between the bright part and the dark part, achievable in one display), is not sufficient in existing TV cameras. The SCT camera offers a much wider brightness ratio (dynamic range) that adapts according to the environment, so it can acquire suitable images in the bright and shaded parts at the same time. This greatly improves the reliability of image recognition for the purpose of traffic control, roadway management or security. We would like to make it a key sensor in the "super infrastructure" in the future.

I get a strong impression that what you are describing is not only a transition from the 20th century to the 21st century, but also a major shift in social and industrial structure for the post-Industrial Revolution era.
Since April of this year, I have been in charge of the Yokogawa Test & Measurement Division with its major products being measuring instruments. Measuring instruments always require higher technologies than their measuring objectives. As a result, we always keep our eyes open for marketing world trends as we research and develop leading edge technologies.
Thank you very much for your time today.