Creating Air Environments for Increasing Intellectual Productivity with Air Conditioning Solutions Using IoT and AI

DAIKIN'S APPROACH

Promoting Open Innovation in Pursuit of the Limitless Possibilities of Air

Daikin is promoting open innovation through tie-ups mainly between its Technology and Innovation Center (TIC) and various companies, research institutes, and universities. The goal of these partnerships is to create new value for air that goes beyond the air conditioning elements of temperature, humidity, air flow and purification.

In 2016, we began joint research with NEC Corporation aimed at air and spaces that increase intellectual productivity. By combining Daikin's strengths of technology for optimizing air control and knowledge concerning the impacts of air and space on people with NEC's strength of leading IoT and AI technologies, we engaged in research with the goal of providing new solutions for optimal environmental controls in order to increase work performance (intellectual productivity) in offices.

Linking Sensing (NEC) and Control (Daikin/NEC)

DAIKIN'S PERFORMANCE

Testing a Balance between Increased Intellectual Productivity and Comfort with Effective Temperature Stimulus

During this joint research, we focused on arousal level (an indicator of brain activity) which is correlated to intellectual productivity. This is because studies have shown that maintaining the right level of arousal without drowsiness or nervousness is important for improving performance.

As a result, we examined what methods and timing of stimuli help to maintain arousal at the right level when feeling drowsy. During the test, 55 test subjects performed simple two-digit addition to make them feel drowsy. They were then asked to report their level of drowsiness on a five-step scale every five minutes. We also estimated their drowsiness using image processing technology to take pictures of eye lid movements. As test subjects became drowsy, we added various stimuli such as air conditioning (temperature), lighting (illuminance), and aroma (fragrance), and observed changes.

The results confirmed that temperature stimulus from air conditioning can sustain the right level of arousal for longer compared to light and aroma stimuli, since the average arousal level compared to no stimuli was two steps higher and drowsiness was prevented for more than 45 minutes. When signs of drowsiness first appeared, the right level of arousal was maintained when lowering the room temperature three degrees Celsius. At this setting, room temperature can also be returned to the original setting in a short period of time. Therefore, the balance with comfort was also confirmed.

Past studies have shown that people become drowsy if they are too comfortable and that drowsiness can be stopped with a flow of cool air. However, the mechanism was unclear and ways of preventing drowsiness while maintaining comfort were unknown. This research demonstrated that drowsiness prevention and comfort can be balanced using effective temperature stimulus, marking a major step toward air conditioning solutions that increase intellectual productivity. Looking ahead, we plan to accumulate data and create an air environment that considers various human factors by using IoT and AI.

Relationship between Arousal Level and Performance

Changes in Arousal Level Due to Various Stimuli

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Room temperature setting: constant 27°C, lighting at 700lx, no aroma

Source:

Atsushi Nishino et. al, Approaches to Environmental Controls Considering Human Factors Annual Meeting Presentation Compilation 2018 of the Architectural Institute of Japan

NEXT CHALLENGE

Aiming for New Value Creation in Air for More Active Living

Looking ahead, we will work with other companies and universities to increase the overall quality of indoor spaces, not just office spaces, where people are said to spend 90% of their lives. This will include providing an air environment tailored to people's needs and condition, while combining the latest technologies, data and know-how.