Source: Nikkei Chinese Network

In order to realize the industrialization of "underwater drones" in the sea navigation in the sea, the Japanese government will formulate relevant strategies within 2023.In addition to security, markets in the fields of offshore wind power stations and underwater resource exploration will also expand rapidly, which may trigger Mobility Revolution.Although Japan started late in the field of drones in the air, it has high technical strength in underwater drones.Whether Japan can come back in Dongshan in the name of "marine country" will play a key role in gathering talents.

At the end of April, the basic plan adopted by the Japanese Cabinet Conference clearly stated that "In view of the technical advantages of Singapore's marine industry, it will formulate an autonomous underwater drone (AUV) strategy and implement it effectively."The plan is the mid -term policy of the Japanese marine policy, and it is rare to formulate strategies for specific technologies.

Underwater drones can judge the situation and sail itself, including remote control submersible (ROV), which is also collectively referred to as "underwater drones".Its length is between several meters and 10 meters.The battery life of high -performance underwater drones has reached hundreds of kilometers, which can be dived by thousands of meters underwater.

The Comprehensive Marine Policy Promotion Bureau of Japan's Cabinet House established a government and enterprise consultation organization on May 24th to start formulating a strategy of clearly proposing the path of technological development and industrialization.

The demand for underwater drones has expanded rapidly globally.In terms of maintenance management of the soaring offshore wind power stations and transmission lines, the selection of carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) facilities, it has attracted much attention.In addition, the research of efficient exploration of submarine resources through multiple drones is also advanced.Moreover, it is expected to show their skills in the management of farms and outlying islands.Some folk forecast data show that by the early 2030s, the market size of underwater drones will exceed 1 trillion yen.

On the other hand, in major countries, although the U.S. Navy has proposed the idea of building large underwater drones, there is no large project, including the civilian field.A cadre of the Japanese Cabinet Mansion stated confidently that "the government and the enterprise will cooperate to jointly propose a strategy, hoping to have the dominance of Japan."

From the perspective of technical strength, Japan has indeed achieved the world's leading results.The University of Tokyo and other studies have been studied since the 1980s. The 10 -meter -long underwater drone "Poshima" developed by the Japanese marine research and development institutions and Mitsubishi Heavy Industry set a world record with more than 300 kilometers in 2005 (then).

In the international competition held in 2018, the "AUV-NEXT" used by the eight institutions of Japan won the runner-up.Japan is also a leading position to control multiple underwater drones into a queue for exploration resources.

However, due to the failure to achieve industrialization, most overseas products occupy in the civilian field.The main use of underwater drones is the exploration and management of submarine oil fields. Japan does not have such a market, and only uses it for inspection of underwater structures.Relevant sources said: "Because there is no market, domestic manufacturers in Japan cannot grow. Therefore, they cannot get rid of the 'negative triangle' with low cognitiveness."

The reason for turning the situation is that with the strengthening of Chinese military power and attacking Ukraine in Russia, maritime security protection, especially economic security, has become a topic that Japan needs to solve.

The Basic Ocean Basic Plan also believes that Japan's Linghai and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are facing the threat. In order to strengthen the marine investigation and information collection system, it is proposed to use underwater drones.

Japan's exclusive economic zone has resources such as rare earth, cobalt and manganese that are indispensable for high -tech products.Sea wind power is an indispensable element of decarburizing society.In order to stabilize industrial products, energy and aquatic resources, Japan has positioned underwater drones as "important technologies that are beneficial to economic security".

In terms of industrialization of underwater drones, the topics facing Japan are piled up.The first is how to attract and cultivate talents.Underwater drones involve high -tech technologies such as protective machines that are protected by high water pressure, controlling technologies of unmanned voyage, and communication technology.But now in Japanese institutions and universities, professional researchers are considered less than 20, and less than 100 technicians including enterprises and other companies.

On the other hand, in the future development of underwater drones, the increasingly important robotic artificial science and control technology also compete with the air drone and autonomous vehicles. All parties compete for talents.Japan needs to build a new mechanism, so that the small number of talents can exert potential and increase the number of talents.

At this time, there is a concept of "service providers" that organize professional and technical personnel and provide various services.Instead of adopting manufacturers, users use this division of labor, but the team of experts is responsible for providing services and sharing data from development to application according to user needs.

The marine research and development institution takes the detection of submarine resource as an example. As an example, it was found that according to the technological development, about 40 detectors were used, and it cost about 200 billion yen. It can investigate the entire exclusive economic zone in Japan.The director of the agency and Yu Xing said: "The huge number of detectors and budgets were required before, and it was believed that it could not be achieved, but it was fully realized through strategic measures."

However, whether the budget and the establishment of a development environment can still be unclear whether it can be ensured.The Ocean Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Cabinet House is mixed with the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Land and Transport, the Ministry of Land, Transportation, and the Economic and Industry.The total amount of maritime budgets in the provincial departments is about 540 billion yen (2023), which is not rich.To ensure the improvement of experimental venues, formulation standards, and unified approval procedures, etc., the improvement environment also needs to overcome the respective politics of the provincial department.

Maybe this is the opportunity to take the opportunity to consider the existence of the Japanese marine policy command tower.Japan is responsible for "marine countries", but it has been commercialized for more than 20 years later than Europe. The commercialization of mineral resources has not progressed.The comprehensive marine policy department of the Prime Minister's comprehensive marine policy was established in 2007, but the harbor belongs to the Ministry of Land and Transportation, the province of Agriculture, Forestry and Aquatic Products, and the Economic and Industry Province of Agricultural Forestry and Fisheries, and there are still obstacles.

From the perspective of the world, in addition to security problems, marine plastic problems and marine ecosystem protection are also important policy issues.The United States and the United Kingdom are reorganizing laws and organizations related to the ocean.How does Japan establish a command tower and implementation system for marine policies?It is a good opportunity to formulate an underwater drone strategy.