Report on the NTT R&D Forum 2020
Special Session 2
In Special Session 2, Yuji Maeda, Ph.D. Vice President, Head of NTT Space Environment and Energy Laboratories welcomed guests Yuya Takashima, Novelist and SF Consultant (Mobile Suit Gundam: THE ORIGIN) and Kawori Manabe, TV Commentator to discuss the theme "Challenges of NTT Space Environment and Energy Laboratories in the Coming Space Millennium." The session introduced various challenges that NTT Space Environment and Energy Laboratories are involved in, including optimal operational technology for fusion reactors etc., relating them with the science-fiction setting of the Gundam franchise.
The Space Environment and Energy Laboratories were established within the NTT Information Network Laboratory Group in July 2020. Under the basic concept of "Earth's Future from Space", the laboratories are conducting researches that not only aims to create energy technologies for the next generation, such as nuclear fusion and space solar power systems, and resilient environmental adaptation technology, but also to contribute to reducing environmental impact to zero in a bid to help regenerate the global environment and create a sustainable and inclusive society.
More specifically, the laboratories can be broken down into the "Next Generation Energy Group," which conducts research on extremely clean forms of energy such as fusion reactors and space solar power generation as part of the "Zero Environmental Impact Project"; the "Energy Network Technology Group," which conducts research on how to distribute the energy created; the "Sustainable Systems Group," which conducts research on sustainable systems that reduce CO2 emissions; the "ESG (Environmental, social and corporate governance) Management Science and Technology Group," which conducts research to scientifically analyze ESG management and make predictions for the future as part of the "Resilient Environmental Adaptation Research Project"; and the "Proactive Environmental Adaptation Technology Group," which conducts research on our physical adaptation to the environment and trying to control the weather.
The first theme of the session was "The Space Millennium and Gundam's World View." NTT's Yuji Maeda raised the question "Will we need mobile suits and Gundams for Earth in the future?"
In response the novelist Yuya Takashima cited the example of the appearance of "mobile workers" used for developmental work on the surface of the moon. These mobile workers are the predecessors to the mobile suits in Mobile Suit Gundam: THE ORIGIN, which he was involved in as an SF consultant, describing them as an extension of the powered suits that are currently being developed for practical use: "I personally think it would be ideal to have something connected to a mobile suit that would allow you to move freely in space."
Meanwhile, TV Commentator Kawori Manabe spoke of a prospect she learned during an interview that "if VR technology develops, we will gain benefits that exceed our five human senses." She said that although it was assumed that mobile suits would be piloted by humans, if communication technology develops then "for example, it may be possible to go to space using only our senses, rather than purely actual people going."
Dr. Maeda replied "It would be wonderful to create a world where only robots venture into outer space and can be controlled remotely from Earth," concluding that "our mission is to eliminate a world where we cannot communicate and we are working hard to meet this challenge, including in the field of space communication."
The next theme was "The Space Millennium and Global Environmental Issues." Dr. Maeda pointed out that one current problem for the global environment is that the number of human beings has increased too much and is expected to increase further in the future. He asked if a realistic solution might be for human beings to migrate to space colonies.
Mr. Takashima said "I would want to go" and added "I have an image of having an extended stay on a space colony like those we see in Gundam."
Meanwhile, Ms. Manabe expressed her opinion, saying "we assume that we would live the same kind of life on a space colony as we do here on Earth but maybe we would live a life that was different in terms of daily life or consciousness, where just our physical bodies would be on the space colony and we would live in a virtual world."
The third theme also looked at "The Space Millennium and Global Environmental Issues." At this point, Dr. Maeda introduced the challenges facing the Space Environment and Energy Laboratories. The laboratories are currently conducting research on optimal operational technology for fusion reactors in collaboration with the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) Organization and the National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, among others. Long-term stable generation of plasma is required in order to extract energy from a fusion reactor. This entails a huge amount of sensor data being sent to the control center, the calculation of optimal figures, and the provision of instant feedback; and in order to provide these things, it is essential that we increase the speed of the network and reduce latency. NTT has announced that it would like to help in this regard, through the application of IOWN technology.
In addition, NTT's research into space solar power generation was presented. The laboratories are also conducting research on transmitting energy generated in a geosynchronous orbit 36,000 km above the planet back down to Earth. Dr. Maeda suggested that if using lasers for this transmission is successful, it may allow us to warm and cool the clouds and oceans to control the weather. He explained how initially a variety of simulations will be conducted on a reproduction of the planet in cyberspace using digital twin computing technology, and that after confirming there are no adverse effects on Earth and mankind, the aim is to implement space solar generation in the real world.
Finally, Dr. Maeda asked both guests if they had any requests for the Space Environment and Energy Laboratories.
Mr. Takashima said he would like to see research on warp drives. Dr. Maeda answered this by first saying that transmitting the human body via warp drive would be a different story, but that he "thinks this is a technology for the communications sector," leaving room for entry into this kind of research. In addition, Ms. Manabe expressed her request, saying "I would like to see you continue your research in a direction that will enrich the natural world in a two-pronged approach that includes new global values and natural concepts."