Osaka-Kansai Expo Technical Article - Murata Introduces a Series of New Technologies to Turn the Expo into a Testing Ground for the Society of the Future

Millimeter wave radar and load sensors detect minute vibrations from heartbeats at the millimeter level to create resonance experiences

Visitors to the Better Co-Being signature pavilion begin by taking a seat at the entrance with an echorb Wonder Stone in hand. One might think that the echorb experience begins once visitors set foot inside the pavilion. However, the resonance experience actually begins the moment they sit in the chair.
This experience is a demonstration of heartbeat sensing technology. The chairs that visitors sit in are equipped with millimeter wave radar sensors and load sensors that can sense the occupant's heartbeat.

According to Makoto Yasutake, the leader of the heartbeat detection technology, "The heart causes the body to vibrate in slight millimeter increments. The advantage of this technology lies in its ability to detect those minute vibrations."
The information on the visitor's heartbeat is shared with the stone in their hands to offer the experience of "placing their own heartbeat into the echorb."

Millimeter wave radar sensors are widely used as components in automobile collision detection and other applications. The radars can detect to an accuracy of several dozen μm, which enables the sensors to accurately calculate the distance to an object.
Furthermore, the load sensors can measure minute fluctuations of one gram or less. Compared to the components found in typical scales, these sensors can uniquely capture far more minute changes in load.
A more accurate form of heartbeat detection was achieved at the recent Osaka-Kansai Expo by combining these millimeter wave radar sensors and load sensors.

This sensing technology, which can detect minute changes in the body of one gram or less and fluctuations in millimeter increments, supports the experiential value of the Wonder Stones.

Millimeter wave radar sensors and load sensors were combined and incorporated into the pavilion chairs.

Promoting the demo experience concept and creating custom chairs to proposal ideas beyond one's area of expertise

So how was this recent experience created? Yuki Ruike, who was in charge of the mechanism design, described the struggles they encountered in development, noting that "it took some time to decide on the specifications." However, the team didn't simply wait around for instructions, but instead worked together to actively submit repeated proposals about potential applications of the technology.
For example, one such proposed demo experience would detect minute body vibrations caused by breathing and display that information as 3D waves, with deeper breathes creating larger waves. The team created a device that gave users a visually rewarding experience.

The team also proposed ideas that far exceeded the domain of an electronic component manufacturer.
The most prominent example is the chair mentioned at the beginning of this article. This chair was in fact created through discussions with Murata employees about "work that would normally be handled by furniture-makers" (Ruike) such as suitable designs and layouts and possible durability risks when different people sat in the chair.

In addition to dealing with the harsh conditions presented by outdoor use, this project also faced the challenge of restarting the mechanical design practically from scratch six months before opening.
A setback like this would normally lead to significant delays or a decrease in quality, but the team responded quickly while maintaining high quality standards capable of withstanding various risks.

Team leader Yasutake recalls, "We struggled and searched for the optimal solution to each problem, like what type of value visitors should experience and whether we could ensure a level of durability that would allow the chairs to be safely used by visitors throughout the Expo. We were able to demonstrate not only Murata's 'commitment to deadlines' but also our 'skillful manufacturing capabilities' that do not sacrifice quality."
Other companies praised this ability to respond to problems saying, "Not only are they fast workers, but they can also deliver high-quality results in difficult situations."

Using millimeter wave radar Child Presence Detection (CPD) as a technology for supporting the automobile society

The various technologies showcased at the Expo are being evaluated for application in the future of automobiles.
The team is proposing the application of millimeter wave radar sensors for use in Child Presence Detection (CPD).
Cameras that try to determine whether a child has been left in a vehicle cannot detect a child hidden in a blind spot. However, millimeter wave radar sensors can detect them instantly. And because these sensors detect heartbeats, they can also determine whether an object is a person or merely an inanimate object.

The team is also exploring the future application of these sensors in detecting driver drowsiness as a form of driver monitoring. Such a system would use heart rate variability to determine whether a driver is becoming sleepy.

Furthermore, they would like to pioneer similar applications using load sensors in driver monitoring. Takahide Nakadoi, who is in charge of the load sensors, stresses, "We can measure heart rate from fluctuations of one gram or less and so want to explore whether these sensors can be used to determine if someone has been drinking, for example, by obtaining that information."

Embedding LF antennas in the ground to detect the position of the Wonder Stones

The Wonder Stones also contain LF antennas, which are used in keyless entry for their ability to open and close car doors via remote operation. The LF antennas generate a magnetic field to detect the position of the echorbs and can accurately detect when an echorb enters or leaves the magnetic field.

The position of the echorbs can be accurately tracked within the pavilion. When a visitor reaches a particular piece of art, the echorb in their hand vibrates in response to provide an experience.

Murata's LF antennas are primarily used in car keyless entry systems.
Makoto Tochigi of the LF antenna team recalls, "We aimed to promote a new form of value based on the 'ability to detect location through LF communication,' an idea that had become clear from the diverse values and perspectives of the team members. We wanted to use this as the driving force to help solve various social issues in the future by overcoming the challenge of implementation at the Osaka-Kansai Expo."
The teams within Murata considered various technologies to incorporate into the Wonder Stones. However, the LF antennas were chosen in recognition of the enthusiasm for this idea.

LF antennas play an important role inside Murata's pavilion, but their position cannot be confirmed visually.
The LF antenna receiving circuits are built into the echorbs, but the transmitting antennas are buried underground.

Takashi Kurokawa, who was in charge of designing the electrical circuits, smiles as he recalls, "Burying electronic components underground is rather unusual." However, the work needed to be completed in time for the pavilion construction, so the delivery deadline was extremely tight.

The official decision to incorporate LF antennas into the echorbs was made in May 2023, but delivery of the product was scheduled for August 2024, just a little over a year away.
Additionally, although the same team worked on electronic components like LF antennas, they had no experience combining those parts into a finished product that provides some sort of function.
Facing the heavy responsibility of "creating a finished product by ourselves in very little time," the team engaged in a process of repeated trial and error while working closely with related parties to overcome various issues.

Burying 500 antennas underground at a depth of 30 cm and overcoming a series of new experiences through teamwork

The LF antenna transmitters were to be buried 30 cm underground. Naturally, the team had no experience with this kind of task. Kenichiro Tanaka, who was in charge of selecting the water-resistant enclosure and other tasks, repeatedly interviewed a wide variety of individuals. "I talked with other departments inside Murata, went to hardware stores, and asked people who work on electrical equipment construction at Toho Electric Industrial Co., Ltd."

A total of roughly 500 LF antennas needed to be buried under the pavilion.
Would the team be able to ensure reliable communication under such conditions? To answer this question, they conducted experiments such as burying equipment at Murata Manufacturing's Yasu Division (Yasu, Shiga Prefecture) to gain knowledge through a series of first-time experiences.

The LF antennas for transmission were buried within the red areas of the pavilion.

The team also conducted a demonstration experiment by burying the antennas at a Murata site.

Beyond this, the team also faced position detection issues from malfunctioning echorb, which have a built-in receiving antenna. According to Kurokawa, despite the daunting task of changing the echorb circuitry, "instead of blaming one another, each team member worked together to overcome the problem at hand."

The first demonstration of LF antennas at the Expo and expectations of application at amusement facilities due to their durability and robust features

Tanaka explains that through this Expo, "It became clear that the strength of the LF antennas lies in their ability to continually detect position, even when buried in a waterproof case."

The appeal of LF antennas comes from the fact that they create a magnetic field.
While radio wave communications are affected by rain and other obstacles, a magnetic field is a physical phenomenon that refers to the space in which a magnetic force acts. Therefore, they are not directly affected by rains or other similar phenomena.
Kurokawa explains, "The pavilion staff were highly impressed the LF antennas' reliability."

In addition, Tochigi recalls, "We hoped that participating in the Expo would also help out team members grow as individuals and cultivate a sense of pride in our department." Amidst these developments, a change in mindset is actually starting to take place in the employees.

Yoshihiro Sako, who was in charge of mass production, explains, "Our experience promoting active applications of this technology at the Osaka-Kansai Expo led us to realize the importance of not only suggesting individual components to customers, but also of considering and proposing ways in which the technology can be used."
While keyless entry accounts for most of the demand for LF antennas, the team is actively promoting it as position detection technology and expects that it will be adopted by amusement facilities and event companies.

Dream technologies that will one day become reality, technologies and solutions taking flight from the Osaka-Kansai Expo

The Osaka-Kansai Expo is based on the concept of creating a "testing ground for the society of the future," and Murata Manufacturing is using the echorb Wonder Stones to provide a wide range of technologies and solutions that could not be implemented before.

At the 1970 Japan World Exposition (Osaka Expo), wireless telephones (mobile phones) and electric vehicles were announced as the dream technologies of the future. These items have now become widely available. The technologies Murata incorporated into the echorb at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo may become everyday aspects of the near future.

What will the future look like? Let us imagine the possibilities together through this technical article.