The 2019 MMA General Meeting was held at the CIVI Training Center Akihabara in Tokyo on June 12 (Wed), 2019.

The 2019 General Meeting opened with a speech by Mr. Kenji Ueyama (General Manager of the Motion Control Division at Yaskawa Electric Corp.), who has assumed the position of the MMA chairman for FY2019. He also delivered a speech on the market trends and future of factory automation communication networks, as well as initiatives being taken by the MMA.

At the General Meeting, the MMA secretariat delivered a report on activities in FY2018 and plans, followed by a financial report and proposed budget. The directors of two sub-committees also gave reports on group activities in FY2018 and plans for FY2019.

Yaskawa Electric Corp. introduced two new products, and exhibited, demonstrated, and provided detailed explanations of the products at the site. The MMA exhibited MECHATROLINK-4 and Σ-LINK II in motion to introduce one of the MMA concepts to participants at the meeting.

AI Cube Inc. delivered a keynote speech on “Implementation of Data Solutions in Factory Automation and Further Progress of AI Use”, introducing the application of AI and efforts focused on factory automation.

Asratec Corp. delivered an interesting presentation on the topic of the “Future of Development of Giant Robots”, using motion videos and photos, including the potential for commercializing giant robots in the future.

At the reception following the General Meeting, participants conversed with each other and exchanged information in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The reception was in full swing by the end of the evening.

This year, 147 people from 83 companies participated in the meeting.

This meeting offered the MMA secretariat an opportunity to talk with many participants and listen to their expectations of and opinions on the MMA, which was very productive.

The MMA will engage in activities to expand the use of MECHATROLINK globally.