Kariya, Japan
December 3, 2013
DENSO Corporation has developed an agricultural production support system that helps stabilize the growth and increase the yield of agricultural products by automatically controlling the optimal temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentration in a greenhouse, and promote photosynthesis. The system is planned to be sold in 2014.
"Currently, greenhouse environment control systems imported from overseas are used in Japan, but these are designed for relatively large greenhouses. Therefore, the commercialization of systems suitable for Japan's unique narrow croplands is required." said Masahiko Ito, executive director of DENSO. "Moreover, with oil prices soaring in recent years, the efficient use of energy in agriculture has become increasingly important."
System diagram
To solve these issues, DENSO developed an agricultural production support system tailored to the Japanese agricultural conditions by using its technologies established through the development of control systems for manufacturing.
DENSO's agricultural production support system consists of sensors to monitor external conditions such as wind direction and speed, the amount of sunlight, and rainfall, and internal conditions such as the temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentration in greenhouses. The systems also consists a controller to control the opening and closing of greenhouse roof windows and their curtains, the control of greenhouse climate control system, and the operation of mist and CO2 generators. The system controller maintains the greenhouse environment at optimum levels for the growth of crops throughout the year, in response to changing conditions in and around the greenhouse. In addition, DENSO is developing technologies to enable efficient use of fuel in air-conditioning and heating from the viewpoint of thermal management.
External appearance of DENSO test house
From January 2012, DENSO and Toyohashi Seed Co., Ltd., a company that develops, manufactures and sells agricultural products, have installed a prototype system to a testing greenhouse in Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan, and have been conducting demonstration tests to verify the effects of the system. DENSO has also constructed a test house in Toyohashi in this May to conduct demonstration tests. The data accumulated from these tests will be used to improve the system.
To contribute to a society where people can receive necessary services at the right time, DENSO will use it technologies to enter new businesses including agriculture, micro-grid, electric mobility, security, and health and medical care.
DENSO Corporation, headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, is a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems and components in the areas of thermal, powertrain control, electronics and information and safety. Its customers include all the world's major carmakers. Worldwide, the company has more than 200 subsidiaries and affiliates in 38 countries and regions (including Japan) and employs more than 130,000 people. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013, totaled US$38.1 billion. Last fiscal year, DENSO spent 9.4 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo and Nagoya stock exchanges.
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