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Social Good Innovators

Energy-Harvesting Smart Buoys

In recent years, with increasing focus on issues such as rising seawater temperatures and microplastics,
there is a growing need for a wide range of oceanographic data.
However, the lack of a reliable method for ensuring a stable power supply at sea makes data collection quite challenging.
To tackle this issue, researchers are developing smart buoys that can produce electricity
from tidal currents while also transmitting data.
The goal is to spur new innovations by "visualizing the sea" through the use of smart buoys.

  • Tomoaki Nakamura / Business Development Section, DX Business Development Division, Corporate Management Promotion Group

    After working in the development department of mobile communication equipment, he is currently leading this project. Nakamura is responsible for the development of smart buoys and the establishment of sales channels.

  • Yasuhiro Abe / Technology Development Section, DX Business Development Division, Corporate Management Promotion Group

    After gaining experience in a department dealing with advanced telecommunications technology, Abe moved to the DX Business Development Division of the Corporate Management Promotion Group. He oversees technical development and engineering supervision of this project.

INTRODUCTION

Visualizing the sea to
solve social issues.

Nakamura:

The project originated from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in around 2019. During a brainstorming session within the department, we decided to focus on ocean-related IoT due to concerns about rising sea temperatures and microplastics. The goal was to understand the state of the oceans, essentially visualizing their conditions. Around this time, Kyocera's new development base was completed in Nagasaki, where we met a team at Nagasaki University. This team was working on developing a tidal current power generation system to harness energy from the sea.

This led us to consider combining Nagasaki University's tidal current power generation technology with Kyocera's IoT-related technology, resulting in the concept of an 'energy-harvesting smart buoy.’ This buoy would not only gather data on the ocean but also generate power at sea. The smart buoy is now in practical use with the objective of addressing social issues through the "visualization of the sea."

SOLUTION

Initiatives beneficial to the fishing
industry and the environment
on a global scale.

Nakamura:
Stable data acquisition, even at sea, is made possible through tidal power generation. If we can visualize the sea in this way, it will lead to innovations in many fields. For instance, this approach will contribute to the development of the fishing industry by collecting useful information for fisheries, predicting the occurrence of red tides that negatively impact marine life, and leading to a variety of other benefits. We believe that this project is relevant not only to industries, but also to the improvement of the marine environment and the future of the planet, such as helping to solve the microplastics problem.

Abe:
Tidal power generation has been in existence for over 40 years, and Nagasaki University has been conducting research on its practical application. The breakthrough that helped us achieve our goal of obtaining ocean data more efficiently was the communication and IoT-related technologies that Kyocera has developed over the years. We have developed a new system for efficiently gathering a large amount of data in a short period of time and are continually improving it to achieve the "visualization of the sea."

TECHNOLOGY

Developing new technologies that
engage with the sea and nature.

Abe:
The smart buoy includes a tidal current power generation system that is unaffected by weather conditions, as well as a system that ensures stable transmission of data collected at sea. We began by creating a special control board for low power consumption and ocean use, then optimized the system by incorporating existing products and technologies, including embedded software and cloud platforms.

Nakamura:
While working with maritime and natural elements, we faced numerous unexpected challenges. These included addressing communication technology, implementing strategies to prevent leaks, verifying buoy shapes, and dealing with issues related to mooring equipment. We made gradual improvements through a process of trial and error and discussions with experts. Finally, after overcoming these obstacles, we are able to see the finished product.

Abe:
The smart buoy won the runner-up prize in the carbon-neutral category at CEATEC 2021, one of the largest exhibitions in Japan. Additionally, there is a department within Kyocera that is researching LEDs to stimulate the growth of farmed fish. We expect to collaborate with that research, as well as with other teams inside and outside the company, in the future.

Fortunes such as great teams and products are found beyond honing a skill.

Abe:
I would be happy if this development helps to improve the global environment. For instance, the use of buoys not just for data collection but also for cultivating seaweed beds is believed to contribute to a decrease in CO2 levels. Ocean data is highly valuable, and I hope that it will be effectively utilized to enhance the global environment in the long run. Addressing a significant social issue alone may appear challenging. Yet, I am confident that if we collectively take on the challenge, we will be able to resolve the problem.

Nakamura:
It is crucial to focus on mass production and practical application of buoys, while also adding value and delving deeper into their potential uses. Just as we assist fishermen in predicting red tides, we aim to identify various issues and opportunities and develop specialized buoys for them. Ultimately, our goal is to deploy buoys throughout Japan not only for observing sea conditions and enhancing the fishing industry's efficiency, but also for advancing energy-related ventures like offshore wind power generation to create innovations that benefit society.

*The content of this article is current at the time of the interview (as of October 2024).

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