Development of Sensing Technology for Detecting Extremely Weak Signals to Realize an IoT Society

Due to a declining population, falling birthrates, and energy/resource limitations, various social issues have arisen in Japan, including increases in medical and long-term care costs, regional labor shortages, increases in the number of mobility-impaired persons, and increasing burdens for infrastructure operations and maintenance. Therefore, the achievement of innovative sensing technology that achieves a high degree of fusion between cyberspace (virtual spaces) and physical spaces (real spaces) is expected to help with utilizing a wealth of actual data obtained from people and various objects that will allow for visualizing issues in detail and thereby realize both the quick resolution of social issues and the creation of new value.

The goal of this project is to work toward the resolution of various social issues in Japan by using the country's state-of-the-art nanotechnology and biotechnology—two of its strengths—as a starting point for innovation to develop cutting-edge technology that enables consistent detection of ultra-small amounts measured in the range of ppt, fmol/L, μV, with small, lightweight, energy-saving, low-cost devices. Such detection is currently only possible by using large, expensive ultra-high precision measurement and analysis instruments that require considerable power and time to make measurements.

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  Project Overview

Development of Innovative Sensing Technology

• [1] Research and development of a virus gatekeeper of detecting infection risk in one minute
• NEDO will focus on three viral infections novel COVID-19, Influenza virus, and Norovirus, and develop a virus gatekeeper to prevent people who may be carrying viruses from entering elderly care facilities and food factories.

Figure 1 High sensitivity, high speed, and simple virus sensing system

• [2] Research and development of IMS breath analysis system using atmospheric electron emission ionization
• NEDO will develop a new IMS (Ion Mobility Spectrometry) to measure gas mobility using an innovative device that ionizes gases in the atmosphere.
  Because of its small size and real-time multi-component analysis capability, NEDO aims to apply IMS to animal breath analysis and implement IoT to provide data analysis services such as early detection of diseases.

Figure 2 IMS Breath Analyzer

Development of Innovative Basic Sensing Technology

In collaboration with R&D themes related to innovative sensing technology, NEDO will develop evaluation technology and reference materials and construct an evaluation environment to accurately and precisely measure the level at which the sensing element of the device responds and the signals obtained, such as measurement technology for minute sound pressure, trace concentration, etc.
In addition to the development of high-precision ultra-low noise evaluation techniques, NEDO also develops general-purpose ultra-low noise evaluation instruments and systems that can be used by a wide range of developers and users.

• Research evaluation committee "Development of innovative sensing technology to realize an IoT society" (Interim evaluation) Subcommittee (Available only in Japanese)
  Holding of results report meeting about "Development of next-generation artificial intelligence, sensing, and core technology to realize an IoT society"