■Nathan Shiga: April 15

Sony reminds us old-timers a series of audio equipment from cassette radioes to tape recorders in the1950-60s and now, believe you me, the company is coming up with a high-precision optical communication equipment to build a high-precision network between the earth’s surface and the outer space over a thousand meters above. The said optical disc is reportedly capable of reading information out of grooves several hundred nanometers apart.

Sony’s Computer Science Research Laboratories ties up with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) in a project to conduct in fiscal 2018 a series of test communication between Japan’s international space station ”Kibo” and the ground facilities. The joint research team is scheduled to round up basic technology toward mass-producing/marking the product within two years.

Space communication is currently done primarily via electric wave but the advance of laser-beam in space communication will constantly relay high-precision images vital to combat disasters, provide data for ground traffic control, etc.

The US venture Space X has reportedly managed to cut down by 30% on the rocket-development cost; Canon Electric has likewise come up with a low-cost control device. Now Sony joins the race with its rich reservoir of high-precision technology to claim a world-class position in optical communication equipment.

—Sponsered Link—