TDK Corporation‘s Aim¹ is an original artificial intelligence (AI) data analysis platform. The company announced its launch in April for internal use as part of the efforts to progress materials informatics (MI)².

The operation of Aim builds a foundation for medium- to long-term material development. This aims to support industries and applications ranging from autonomous driving, wearables, robotics, renewable energy and more.

In the development process, TDK has refined its unique materials technology. It accumulated data analysis technologies for the material development of various products, including passive components. However, these technologies have been concentrated in individual business divisions and departments, making it difficult to be deployed throughout the company.

In recent years, MI, which utilizes AI and big data to improve the efficiency of material development, has garnered attention worldwide. Also in 2013, TDK started MI initiatives and applied them to the development of magnetic and dielectric materials. Eventually, in 2018, the Aim platform was developed.

Specifically, Aim is an original AI data analysis platform that was developed to widely deploy data analysis technologies accrued in individual departments throughout the company. This way, anyone can use them as well as compile high-quality data necessary for AI and big data utilization.

The Aim platform is being tested in Japan since 2019. It was being used for high-speed and high-precision image analysis of materials to measure factors, such as the shape and size of grains or particles in magnet materials or dielectric materials, for example. Additionally, it has been leveraged to reduce analysis time and inspection time internally. Further, it has undergone an expansion of functions in preparation for full-scale introduction of MI throughout TDK.

Over time, functions such as improved data analysis and more robust databases have expanded. Moreover, mechanisms for MI utilization have been developed. Accordingly, the operation of Aim in MI began in April 2023. Initially, it will be operated by research-specific divisions in Japan. However, the company plans to widely deploy it at additional locations in Japan and overseas. As TDK verifies its effects through operation and testing, more efficient MI mechanisms will be developed.

TDK will promote in-house digital transformation (DX) related to material development through the operation of Aim and other means. Moreover, by accelerating MI promotion at TDK, the company’s original materials technology will continue to evolve to provide new valuable technologies and products.

¹Aim: A neologism that comes from AI + material. Aim is a TDK AI data analysis platform for the dissemination of internally developed data analysis technologies throughout the company.

²Materials informatics (MI): Efforts to improve the efficiency of material development using information science methods.