Fujitsu Estimates Workers' Heat Stress Levels with New AI-Based Algorithm

Fujitsu Ltd announced the development of a new algorithm to estimate ongoing heat stress in workers, such as security guards, using its artificial intelligence technologies, known as Human Centric AI Zinrai.

Developed together with Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd, Fujitsu aims to enhance solutions deployed on its digital business platform, "Fujitsu Digital Business Platform MetaArc that use IoT to support on-site safety management. This new algorithm will be available from the end of July. Also from June through September, Fujitsu is implementing solutions incorporating this new algorithm in a field trial with security guards at its own Kawasaki Plant.

Previous algorithms estimated heat stress levels using a device worn on the arm to measure data such as humidity, temperature, as well as increases in pulse, and were primarily used in manufacturing and at construction sites. As the new algorithm can now estimate heat stress levels that accumulate over time, it is suitable for employees who continually work outdoors in the summer.

Combined with the previous algorithm, it can be used to manage safety in a wide variety of situations.

In order to estimate the level of accumulated heat stress, and because a diverse range of data is handled in which correlations are difficult to discern, the new system uses AI technology to execute machine learning based on expert knowledge. In so doing, Fujitsu developed a logic in which AI can extract the characteristics of high heat stress to enable estimates such as those made by labor science experts.

In light of the knowledge gained from implementing this new technology, Fujitsu is accelerating safety management support for customers across a variety of industries. Fujitsu will help connect people, things and infrastructure across boundaries between companies and industries through "MetaArc" which will realize the customers' digital transformation, enhancing their competitiveness and creating new value.