World News

Industry news and insights from Europe and around the World

UK News

Latest news and developments in the United Kingdom

Products

Keep up-to-date with the latest new products and technology

Features

General articles, applications and industry analysis

Daikin works with smart device to improve service

JAPAN: Daikin Industries is to collaborate with Japanese digital technology company Fairy Devices to develop the use of remote work support solutions.

The collaboration will combine Fairy Devices’ expertise in digital technology, such as voice recognition, edge AI, and data analysis, with Daikin’s on-site problem-solving knowledge from its worldwide air conditioning service operations. 

The companies will jointly introduce Thinklet, described as the world’s first smart wearable device with multi-microphone and voice edge AI technology. 

This is not the first time Daikin has been involved with similar technology. In 2017, Daikin in the Netherlands trialled the use of hi-tech smart glasses to assist its service engineers in the field. The new collaboration, however, appears to go much further.

Daikin recognises the importance of service operations such as maintenance and inspection to maintain the performance and quality of its air conditioners. The company’s expansion worldwide, especially in emerging countries, has met a major shortage of field service engineers. Daikin also sees an urgent need to quickly train service engineers around the world to improve the quality of service operations.

The Thinklet incorporates connected voice and video technology

The smart wearable Thinklet device and Fairy Devices platforms, such as APIs and AI, combines with Daikin Industries’ business support web app to provide remote work support solutions. 

The Thinklet is equipped with five microphones, enabling the wearer and, for instance, an instructor to converse even in a noisy environment. It also incorporates high performance voice recognition and a wide-angle 8 million pixel video camera. It is wi-fi and 4G LTE enabled. 

Based on feedback and experience from various air conditioning installations and maintenance work, the two companies intend to build a more practical “connected worker solution”.

Related stories:

Daikin sees future with “smart glasses”29 August 2017
NETHERLANDS: Daikin in the Netherlands has been trialling the use of hi-tech “smart glasses” to assist its service engineers in the field. Read more…

Latest News

21st December 2024

Hoshizaki takes 51% stake in Vietnamese company

JAPAN,VIETNAM: Hoshizaki, the Japanese manufacturer of commercial food and beverage refrigeration equipment, has acquired a majority shareholding in Vietnamese company Asia Refrigeration Industry (ARICO).
20th December 2024

Giles Pratt set to retire

UK: Giles Pratt, sales specialist at Fujitsu General Air Conditioning UK, is set to retire after a career spanning 40 years in the UK air conditioning industry.
20th December 2024

Vertiv acquires centrifugal chiller technology

UK: Vertiv has invested in centrifugal chiller technology with the acquisition of certain assets of BiXin Energy Technology (Suzhou) Co (BSE).
20th December 2024

Mitsubishi Electric buys Irish agent

NETHERLANDS/IRELAND: Mitsubishi Electric Europe is to acquire all the shares of its Irish agent – air conditioning installation and maintenance company Crystal Air Holdings Ltd.
20th December 2024

Daikin joins green initiatives agreement

UK: Heat pump manufacturer Daikin has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to support jobs, skills training, warmer homes and more sustainable power.
19th December 2024

Foodservice equipment wins F-gas exemption

EUROPE: The foodservice industry has obtained a temporary exemption to a January 1 ban on certain self-contained refrigeration equipment under the new European F-gas regulations.