Toward Human-oriented Transportation

Volume 58 Number 4 September 2009

Authors

Toshiharu Nogi, Dr. Eng.
Hitachi Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd.

Tsutomu Yamada
Third Dept. of Systems Research, Hitachi Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd.

Yoshitaka Atarashi
Third Dept. of Systems Research, Hitachi Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd.

Kenjiro Goda
Vehicle System Dept., Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd.

Overview

Hitachi focuses on various aspects of transportation including automobiles, trains, and elevators, and undertakes research and development of human-oriented products and technologies with the aim of creating a society that is safe, secure, and comfortable. In the automotive sector, information from multiple sensors is combined to achieve a comfortable ride using highly precise torque-based engine control technology while congestion forecasting is used to guide the vehicle along the route that will reach the desired destination quickly. In the rail sector, digital ATC systems improve ride quality while reducing train intervals and train travel times, and technology for simulating rolling stock dynamics is used to estimate and evaluate carriage safety and ride quality and reduce development times. In the elevator sector, waiting times can be reduced through the use of target route control and passengers' abnormal behavior can be detected automatically by camera surveillance and relevant warnings issued.