Aptopod Inc. (hereinafter Aptopod, headquartered in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Board Director: Junichi Sakamoto) and Macnica (hereinafter Macnica, headquartered in Yokohama, Kanagawa; Representative Director and President: Kazumasa Hara) have agreed to a capital and business alliance. In addition, a third-party allotment will be carried out with Macnica 's corporate venture capital firm, Macnica Investment Partners, as the underwriter. Going forward, the two companies will collaborate to realize digital transformation (DX) in the 5G era and provide a data platform that solves social issues by utilizing the AI/IoT technologies of both companies.

Background of the collaboration
As we approach the 5G era and a paradigm shift in the mobility field, development related to MaaS (Mobility as a Service) aimed at a connected car/ autonomous driving society is occurring in the automotive field, and automation is also increasing in various fields such as construction and agriculture. The shift to DX is rapidly progressing. Under these circumstances, expectations and demand for automation through AI, such as automatic detection, are rapidly increasing. To address these issues, we aim to combine Macnica 's AI technology and Aptpod's IoT technology to build and provide an edge/cloud hybrid data platform that utilizes vast amounts of data such as video information and purpose-specific AI.

Overview of collaboration
AI development and operation requires a seamless platform that includes a development environment that collects vast amounts of data, creates, verifies, and retrains AI models, and an execution environment that can flexibly combine edge computing and cloud computing. By combining Macnica 's `` Macnica Mobility Data Platform'' (MACNICA Mobility Data Platform) with Abtopod's high-speed IoT platform ``intdash'' and edge computing environment ``EDGEPLANT'', Macnica Mobility Data Platform 's data infrastructure , further strengthen edge computing and realize a vertically integrated edge/cloud hybrid AI/IoT environment.

Features of Macnica Mobility Data Platform
・High-speed data pipeline that achieves both real-time performance and data integrity
・One-stop service from highly accurate and fresh data collection to AI model development
・Hybrid AI execution environment on edge and cloud

Overall picture of solution in Macnica Mobility Data Platform

Macnica Mobility Data Platform use cases
Macnica Mobility Data Platform enables the development and execution of AI based on a huge amount of fresh data collected from mobility and industrial equipment, and provides an environment for the rapid development and execution of various AI models in various fields.

Main recipients
・Automobile manufacturers (autonomous driving vehicles, for connected system development)
・Utilization of infrastructure status data by the government
・Infrastructure operators such as electricity, gas, and water
・Construction/general contractor
・Agricultural field

Assumed use case example
・Automotive software development based on vehicle data (control and moving images)
・Grasping road environment such as obstacles and construction information
・Understanding the state of aging transportation infrastructure
・Safety maintenance at construction sites
・Crop condition detection in high-tech agriculture

* "intdash" and "EDGEPLANT" are registered trademarks of Aptpod.
*Company names and product names mentioned in the text are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

＜本製品に関するお問い合わせ先＞
株式会社マクニカ　スマートモビリティ事業部
MAIL ：auto-solution@macnica.co.jp

As a specialist in fast data (high-speed time-series data) in industrial IoT, Aptopod is an IoT software/service company with one-stop technology ranging from IoT/M2M sensor/hardware technology, cloud technology, and graphical user interface technology. . We provide a comprehensive framework for high-speed, high-volume data collection, transmission, advanced real-time processing, and event processing in the industrial scene.

Representative: Junichi Sakamoto Representative Director and President
Address: 4-3 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku
Established: December 28, 2006
Business description: Planning, development and sales of IoT-related software, operation of IoT platform cloud services, planning, development and sales of IoT-related hardware
Website: https://www.aptpod.co.jp

Since its establishment in 1972, Macnica has provided cutting-edge semiconductors, electronic devices, networks, and cybersecurity products with added technological value. In recent years, we have been developing new businesses in fields such as AI/IoT, autonomous driving, and robots, based on our traditional strengths of global cutting-edge technology sourcing and technology planning capabilities. Going forward, under the slogan "Co.Tomorrowing," we will connect cutting-edge technology and Macnica 's intelligence to provide unique services and solutions, creating social value and contributing to the development of future society. . the Company company is headquartered in Yokohama and operates a global business with 84 locations in 24 countries around the world.

Representative: Kazumasa Hara Representative Director and President
Address: 1-6-3 Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama
Established: October 30, 1972
Business Description: Import/export, sales, development, and processing of electronic components such as semiconductors and integrated circuits; development, import/export, and sales of electronic devices and their peripherals and accessories, etc.
Website: https://www.macnica.co.jp

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株式会社マクニカ　　http://www.macnica.co.jp
経営企画部　広報企画課　宮原　e-Mail：macpr@macnica.co.jp
〒222-8561　横浜市港北区新横浜1-6-3　マクニカ第1ビル