FKDPP Autonomous Control AI Algorithm Takes Highest Honor in Japan Industrial Technology Awards

Summary

March 15, 2023 - Tokyo, Japan - Yokogawa Electric Corporation has announced that the FKDPP algorithm has received the highest award, the Prime Minister’s Prize, in this year’s Japan Industrial Technology Awards.

Jointly developed by Yokogawa and the Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), FKDPP is an autonomous control AI protocol that makes use of reinforcement learning technology. It can control and autonomize areas of plant operations that have been beyond the capabilities of existing control methods and have up to now necessitated manual operation. Yokogawa put FKDPP into practical use by utilizing the company’s know-how regarding plant operation and control, and successfully autonomized manual operations of a distillation column during a field test at a chemical plant. FKDPP inventors Yokogawa and NAIST, as well as Yokogawa Digital, the Yokogawa subsidiary, are joint recipients of the award.

The Japan Industrial Technology Awards (Nihon Sangyo Gijyutsu Taisho) were established in 1972. The purpose of these annual awards is to bring recognition to companies and other organizations that have contributed to industry and society over the year through the development and practical application of advanced technologies. They are intended to celebrate and encourage the development of technologies.

Yokogawa will continue working on developing new technologies to solve the issues that customers face and contribute to the development of industry.

About Yokogawa

Yokogawa provides advanced solutions in the areas of measurement, control, and information to customers across a broad range of industries, including energy, chemicals, materials, pharmaceuticals, and food. Yokogawa addresses customer issues regarding the optimization of production, assets, and the supply chain with the effective application of digital technologies, enabling the transition to autonomous operations. Founded in Tokyo in 1915, Yokogawa continues to work toward a sustainable society through its 17,000+ employees in a global network of 122 companies spanning 61 countries.