Japan leads pilotless helicopter project The prefectural government in Hiroshima, Japan will collaborate with local companies to build a remote-controlled helicopter to search and demolish landmines in Cambodia. The project is part of an initiative to help rebuild countries and regions devastated by civil wars to mark the 60th anniversary of the United States atomic bombing of the city in 1945. 'We would like to offer help as Hiroshima prefecture appears to have [de-mining] technology,' Hiroshima's governor Yuzan Fujita said. Sensors developed by local companies will be mounted on a helicopter made by Fuchu-based model chopper manufacturer Hirobo.
Remote-controlled customer service Japanese computer giant NEC will begin a free online support service next month in which technicians take remote control of the customer's computer to iron out glitches. The company said having technicians solve problems directly rather than via verbal directions over the phone would cut the average time to fix computers by 70 per cent. NEC receives 2.4 million calls per year from its Japanese users.
Green buses stick together for environment Toyota Motors showed off its next generation Intelligent Multimode Transit System (IMTS) buses ahead of the Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan. Up to five environmentally friendly buses are coupled together electronically to run on a dedicated single-lane corridor. The buses run on liquefied natural gas and can be uncoupled quickly to run on regular roads. System developers hope the transport will carry a capacity of 5,000 passengers an hour. IMTS technology uses high frequency radar to maintain a fixed distance between the buses and to detect obstructions. As the system requires neither rails nor electric power lines, Toyota claims that construction and maintenance costs are much lower than conventional railway-based or other new transport systems.
Starter kit for RFID systems in mainland Efforts to expedite the adoption of radio frequency identification (RFID) systems in China's manufacturing sector could receive a boost with the release of a 'starter kit' designed for retail goods suppliers.
Privately held United States technology firms Xterprise and Apriso said they were working with several undisclosed partners in the mainland to develop a market for their Wal-Mart RFID Starter Kit.
'RFID doesn't have to be a supply chain overhaul and it does not require huge consulting fees, re-engineering and multiple millions of dollars,' said Dean Frew, president at Dallas-based RFID specialist Xterprise.
'We recently helped one Wal-Mart supplier develop RFID compliance within five months, start to finish, at three sites. We are in discussions with a number of clients that might move the compliance preparation overseas.'
