PLASTIC RELAY

PLASTIC RELAY

Nippon Sport Science University’s “Synchronized Walking (Shudan Kodo)” never fails to amaze.
Their dynamic movements are only possible when each person takes part.
The everyday society Mitsubishi Electric supports is sustained
only when people and technology all play their part—without either, it won’t work.
We’ve molded this harmony of ideas and movement into a single tangible shape.

Mitsubishi Electric has been working on developing technologies to circulate used plastics as new resources.

In this "PLASTIC RELAY" project, members of Nippon Sport Science University's Synchronized Walking (Shudan Kodo) team wore shirts in three different colors to represent different types of plastics.

The synchronized performance symbolized a relay, illustrating a future in which discarded plastics are accurately sorted by type through the use of AI, reborn into new products, and then, after being used again, transformed once more into further new products. This continuous cycle of recycling was expressed through their coordinated movements.

INTERVIEW

"Smart Electrostatic Separation" powered by AI combines multiple sensing technologies with AI to automatically optimize sorting conditions based on the input material. It requires no specialized know-how and delivers consistently high purity and recovery rates.
What sparked the creation of this "Smart Electrostatic Separation" technology? And where is it heading next? 
Three members of the development team share their passionate thoughts on the future of plastic recycling that Mitsubishi Electric should pursue.

INTERVIEW 1

Next-generation separation technology driven by AI

Kuroda Shinji

Head Researcher
Ecomaterials & Material Analysis Dept.
Advanced Technology R&D Center
Corporate Research and Development Group

INTERVIEW 2

New business opportunities enabled by smart electrostatic separation

Kitsukawa Tomohiko

Technical Marketing Manager
Sustainability Innovation Group
Recycle Co-Creation Center

INTERVIEW 3

An ideal plastic recycling future

Fujimoto Natsuro

Senior Manager
Recycle Co-Creation Center
Sustainability Innovation Group

High-quality recycling by AI-Powered "Smart Electrostatic Separation"

PLASTIC RECYCLING
Mixed plastics
Single-material plastics

Making Movie

A collaboration of human skill and advanced technology. How was “Synchronized Walking (Shudan Kodo)” an expression of smart electrostatic separation driven by AI by Nippon Sport Science University, brought to life? Discover the making-of movie capturing the students’ dedication and hard work—now released.

Making-of 1

Making-of 2

Making-of 3

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