EBARA Environmental Plant launches operation of automatic crane system equipped with AI for waste identification
The EBARA Group's Ebara Environmental Plant Co., Ltd. and Ridge-i Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Naofumi Yanagihara) have successfully completed a demonstration test of an automatic crane system equipped with a refuse identification AI that replaces the eyes of skilled operators, and have now begun operation.
The system has been successfully tested and is now in operation.
1. Background
Stabilization of combustion is important for waste incineration facilities in terms of stabilizing exhaust gas properties and waste power generation. Crane operation is required for agitation to homogenize the refuse properties in the refuse pit (hereinafter referred to as "pit"), evacuation of special refuse, etc. Therefore, the operator now visually recognizes the refuse properties and operates the crane in a timely manner to stabilize combustion. In order to promote combustion stabilization, we have been developing automation that does not depend on human operators in crane operations, believing that it is necessary to reduce differences in operator skills and human-dependent work for the future.
2. System Overview
This system automatically operates the crane by using AI to identify the status of refuse in the pit captured by cameras, including the status of refuse agitation, and using advanced control equipment to make crane operation decisions in the pit.
In developing the automation, replacing this "operator's eye" was an important issue. Therefore, we have been working with Ridge-i, a company with an established reputation for image analysis technology, to develop a trash identification AI using deep learning (deep learning). The ability of AI to identify the status of refuse has made it possible to "identify refuse suitable for combustion and feed it into the furnace" and "identify special refuse (refuse that will adversely affect equipment and combustion if fed into the furnace in large quantities) and deal with it appropriately," which was difficult with conventional automatic cranes.
3. Future developments
Future plans call for the deployment of this AI-equipped automatic crane system not only to existing and new furnaces, but also to promote the use of AI for combustion control of incinerators. Then, by utilizing AI for overall furnace operation combined with the results of input refuse identification and combustion control of the incinerator, we aim to realize automatic operation of the incinerator and create a stable, human-independent, next-generation waste incineration facility.
The EBARA Group aims to further enhance its corporate value and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in accordance with its management policy by addressing the Mid-term Management Plan and ESG material issues.
