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A communication system that uses roadside beacons to broadcast road and traffic information and private messages to vehicles has been developed. The system, called Road/Automobile Communication System (RACS), was the result of a joint research project involving the Public Works Research Institute and 25 private-sector corporations. This paper contains an outline of RACS and of an onboard system developed by TOYOTA and presents the results of field tests conducted in the Tokyo area. The results not only verify the capability of the RACS system and the effectiveness of the in-vehicle equipment but also indicate the potential of such a beacon based network to improve traffic jam and driving safety whilst providing enhanced communication facilities without increasing radio-wave congestion.

This paper describes a new plastic coloring and forming system. The system greatly reduces the time and amount of raw materials necessary for color changes, and eliminates the need for manual cleaning during a color change. This system is well-suited for small-lot production with frequent color changes, as well as for automated production systems. The system is being used by auto parts makers, and is practical in a variety of other fields involved with the coloring and forming of plastics.

This paper is a study of the On-Board Diagnosis (OBD), a constituent element of the automotive electronic diagnosis system, together with its support functions. With regard to the OBD, we have listed and explained the principles of various diagnostic methods and their advantages and disadvantages. In addition, we have also commented on design factors and concepts. As to the support functions, nameiy diagnostics communication and diagnostic scan tool, drive recorder, and also IT, we have made recommendations on their future development in view of the functional division of roles with respect to the OBD in light of their respective characteristics.

We developed a fastening method to reduce noise levels and fastening work loads. The development was based on research into improved tools and fasteners. This was done in preparation for an increase in elderly worker and female worker population in the Automobile Assembly Shop. The principle of this method is to form female threads inside a straight sleeve by clinching the sleeve around a threaded bolt. We achieved improvements in component material clinching force and a durability for loosening torque compared to conventional bolt and nut methods.

Recently, programmable controllers have been utilized for new equipment on production lines in the automobile industry. However, operators who must use these devices to carry out various operations face difficulties understanding the different methods for programming, ets. of these devices, and for handling the various types of peripheral equipment. In accordance with the increase in the number of PCs, CAD/CAM systems have become requisite for achieving high efficiency in sequence control design. However, poor PC standards prevent their development. In this paper, the development of PC systems, as well as methods for the elimination of problems with standardization, are described. The methods of standardization concern the methods of transmission between the PC and the peripheral equipment, the construction of peripheral equipment and the structure of data in the ladder diagram.

The human body undergoes a variety of changes as it ages through adulthood. These include both morphological (structural) changes (e.g., increased thoracic kyphosis) and material changes (e.g., osteoporosis). The purpose of this study is to evaluate structural changes that occur in the aging bony thorax and to assess the importance of these changes relative to the well-established material changes. The study involved two primary components. First, full-thorax computed tomography (CT) scans of 161 patients, age 18 to 89 years, were analyzed to quantify the angle of the ribs in the sagittal plane. A significant association between the angle of the ribs and age was identified, with the ribs becoming more perpendicular to the spine as age increased (0.08 degrees/year, p=0.012). Next, a finite element model of the thorax was used to evaluate the importance of this rib angle change relative to other factors associated with aging.