MHI Wins Best 100 Prize at Good Design Award 2022 for EX ROVR “ASCENT” Explosion-Proof Plant Patrol Inspection Robot JCN Newswire

MHI Wins Best 100 Prize at Good Design Award 2022 for EX ROVR “ASCENT” Explosion-Proof Plant Patrol Inspection Robot

October 7, 2022
TOKYO, Oct 7, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - EX ROVR "ASCENT," the second-generation explosion-proof(1) plant patrol inspection robot produced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), has won the "Good Design Best 100" award in the "Good Design Award 2022"(2) hosted by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion. EX ROVR "ASCENT" is a robust and reliable partner to achieve a safe working environment, protecting workers and assets by autonomously inspecting plants that process oil, gas, and chemicals. In scenes of accidents, EX ROVR "ASCENT" can be used to report the status even in areas where humans cannot access."ASCENT" second-generation EX ROVRGood Design Best 100 winners are selected as the top 100 entries among the Good Design Award 2022 winners, based on overall judgement of aesthetics, concept, and potential. The development of the EX ROVR series started after gas leakage accident in tunnels occurred in which on-site rescuers were unable to perform activities due to the existence of flammable gases. In winning this award, EX ROVR "ASCENT" was commended for its technology and design that packs many features in a compact body to achieve safety of workers and efficient asset management, the advanced fusion of IoT and robotics, while being Zone 1 explosion-proof.Key features of EX ROVR "ASCENT" include superior mobility achieved by its tracked driving mechanism, long reach provided by its 6 degree-of-freedom wire-actuated manipulator, and domestic and overseas explosion-proof certification such as IECEx(3) and ATEX.(4) The robot can easily navigate staircases up to 46 degrees, steps of up to 20cm, and drive through rough terrains. The manipulator can be extended to a height of 1.5 meters, which allows close-up and front-facing inspection of pressure gauges, pipes, and other inspection targets.Spurred on by this award, MHI will further improve EX ROVR "ASCENT" in terms of both hardware and software, and continue to offer solutions based on explosion-proof robot technology to realize safety and security in diverse environments such as refineries and industrial plants.(1) Explosion-proof devices are defined as being equipped with features that collectively limit the danger of the device igniting an explosion or fire from its own electric sparks or heat in environments filled with inflammable gas. Devices for use in industrial plants, etc. should be certified as explosion-proof.(2) As successor of the Good Design Product Selection System founded in 1957, the Good Design Award represents Japan's activities in design evaluation and promotion, with the "G mark" award symbol widely acclaimed as a mark of superior design. More details can be found at www.g-mark.org/(3) IECEx certificates are issued by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and attest to the suitability of using the device in explosive atmospheres. IECEx certification, which is widely adopted internationally, is based on quality assessment standards set by the IEC.(4) ATEX (ATmospheres EXplosibles) certification refers to two directives based on IECEx relating to explosive atmospheres and stipulate the health and safety requirements and conformity assessment procedures that must be met to bring devices or protective systems for use in explosive atmospheres to the EU market. As the ATEX directives and IECEx follow the same standards, there is fundamentally no difference in their technical details.Please visit the [EX ROVR plant patrol inspection robot] product page at www.mhi.com/products/energy/ex_rovr.html.About MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
More
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Looks Forward to Another Returning Classic JCN Newswire

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Looks Forward to Another Returning Classic

September 23, 2022
TOKYO, Sep 23, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team makes its first trip to Rally New Zealand determined to compete for the top positions when the event's popular gravel roads return to the world stage for round 11 of the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship on September 29-October 2.2022 GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRIDKeen to look forward after a disappointing weekend on the rough and rocky roads of Acropolis Rally Greece, the team heads to New Zealand with a lead of 63 points in the manufacturers' championship while Kalle Rovanpera leads the drivers' championship by 53 points and has his best opportunity yet to clinch his first title if he can add eight more points to his advantage.Joining Rovanpera and Elfyn Evans - who make their Rally New Zealand debuts - will be reigning world champion Sebastien Ogier, who finished a close second on his previous visit to New Zealand in 2010 and returns to the team's line-up for the final three rounds of the season. Takamoto Katsuta will be another New Zealand first-timer in his TGR WRT Next Generation entry.Back on the WRC calendar after 10 years away, Rally New Zealand is famed for fast and flowing stages that wind their way through the stunning scenery of the country's North Island. The smooth gravel roads are characterised by their pronounced camber which drivers can use to carry more speed through corners.The rally is based in New Zealand's largest city Auckland, with the service park located on its waterfront and the opening stage to take place in the Pukekawa Auckland Domain park on Thursday evening. Friday then features more than half of the rally's competitive distance with 158.56 kilometres to be driven across two loops of classic stages to the south around Raglan, starting with the iconic Whaanga Coast which is followed by two stages around Te Akau. A tyre fitting zone in Raglan separates the two loops, rather than a full service. Saturday takes place to the north of Auckland with two more loops of three stages run either side of service, while Sunday is made up of two repeated stages on the city's eastern side, with the second pass of the purpose-built Jack's Ridge as the rally-ending Power Stage.Quotes:Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)"Personally I am really looking forward to going back to New Zealand and I think it's a rally that our team can look forward to as well. Greece was of course disappointing for us and there are lessons we can take from there to be stronger on similar rallies in the future. But Rally New Zealand is a very different gravel rally. The surface is smoother, the roads are fast and flowing, and the camber makes it feel like you are dancing with the car. The roads are amazing and you don't find them anywhere else in the WRC. I had the pleasure to win there myself in 2010, actually in a very close finish with Sebastien. For the rest of our drivers it will be a new challenge but I think they will all enjoy those roads and I'm confident we can be fighting for the victory once again."Sebastien Ogier (Driver car 1)"After a nice break it's exciting to be getting back in my GR YARIS for these three events to end the season. Rally New Zealand is one of the rallies I really wanted to do this year. I was there once before in 2010 and I have mostly good memories; it was a very close fight until the final corners when a spin handed the win to Jari-Matti. At the time it was hard to take but thankfully I could score my first WRC win just a few weeks later. The rally itself is beautiful with some of the best roads in the world. After this break it won't be easy to get back in the rhythm right away, but like always I will try to compete for the victory and help the team to the best possible result."Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)"It's going to be exciting to finally have the chance to compete in New Zealand for the first time. I've heard many great things about the event and especially about the roads and how rewarding they are to drive. So if what everybody says is true then I'm sure we're going to have a lot of fun there and hopefully we can have a good rally. It's never easy to prepare for a new event like this, particularly because we're not able to test outside of Europe, but within the team we do at least have some previous experience from New Zealand, not least from Jari-Matti and Seb. We've also been having a look through the archives for old videos of the stages just to get an idea of what we're likely to face."Kalle Rovanpera (Driver car 69)"It will be really interesting to go to Rally New Zealand. I have only heard good things about the country and the rally and how nice the roads are. To prepare we have been watching whatever videos we can to get an overview of how the stages are and to understand what we might need from the car before we get there. Recent rallies have not been ideal for us but we know what we need to improve and we are working hard to have more pace and be more comfortable. Again we will be opening the road in New Zealand but hopefully we can have good speed, enjoy the event and finish with a good result."Please visit www.wrc.com for the latest. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
More
Mitsubishi Motors’ All-New Outlander Wins 2022 Australian Good Design Award JCN Newswire

Mitsubishi Motors’ All-New Outlander Wins 2022 Australian Good Design Award

September 20, 2022
TOKYO, Sep 20, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (hereafter, Mitsubishi Motors) announced that the all-new Outlander won the 2022 Australian Good Design Award in the Product Design -- Automotive and Transport segment.Outlander PHEV model Organized by Good Design Australia, the Australian Good Design Awards has been promoting excellence in design and innovation since 1958 and is recognized by the World Design Organization (WDO) as Australia's peak international design endorsement program. This year, design projects from around the world were evaluated against criteria for excellence, innovation and impact in design by a jury of more than 70 international design experts. The Good Design Awards Jury commented: "The SUV bodystyle has surpassed the conventional sedan in popularity, mostly because of functionality. The Mitsubishi Outlander is an example of good use of space combined with stylish execution. The Interior delivers a family sized, seven seat accommodation and contemporary styling. The Exterior proportions project a sense of robustness yet nicely balanced with delicate detailing in the lamps and chrome embellishments. Mitsubishi has successfully managed to create a distinctive graphic face in a crowded market." The all-new Outlander is Mitsubishi Motors' flagship built under the design concept Bold Stride. The exterior features thick, horizontal proportions which produce a bold, fixating presence, and the jet tail fin pillars inspired by the vertical tail of airplanes express the vehicle's powerful and nimble road performance. Inside, Mitsubishi Motors carefully selected materials to enhance the premium feel, while the horizontally-sculpted instrument panel, which makes it easy to understand the position of the car while driving, adds a feeling of robustness and spaciousness. "The evolved Outlander series has been highly acclaimed around the world, winning an array of prestigious design awards in Japan, the United States and Europe, and we are honored that the all-new Outlander has won another significant award in Australia," said Seiji Watanabe, division general manager of design, Mitsubishi Motors. "The all-new Outlander embodies the company's 'Robust & Ingenious' design philosophy that epitomizes Mitsubishi Motors-ness. By winning this award, we hope that more customers will have the opportunity to see and experience it for themselves." The winners of the 2022 Australian Good Design Awards were selected in 11 design disciplines which include Architectural Design, Communication Design, Design Research, Design Strategy, Digital Design, Engineering Design, Fashion Impact, Next Gen (Student), Product Design, Service Design and Social Impact. About Mitsubishi MotorsMitsubishi Motors Corporation (TSE:7211) --a member of the Alliance with Renault and Nissan--, is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has about 30,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, mainland China, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Russia. Mitsubishi Motors has a competitive edge in SUVs, pickup trucks and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and appeals to ambitious drivers willing to challenge convention and embrace innovation. Since the production of our first vehicle more than a century ago, Mitsubishi Motors has been a leader in electrification--launched the i-MiEV --the world's first mass-produced electric vehicle in 2009, followed by the Outlander PHEV --the world's first plug-in hybrid electric SUV in 2013. The company announced a three-year business plan in July 2020 to introduce more competitive and cutting-edge models, including the Eclipse Cross (PHEV model), the all-new Outlander and the all-new Triton/L200.For more information on Mitsubishi Motors, please visit the company's website athttps://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/ Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
More