Seiji Okamoto found himself under pressure to come up with a cost-effective solution for a safety project along a Tokyo subway line. Drawing inspiration from a QR barcode reader system, originally used for product inventory, he devised a project that not only alleviated workplace stress but also dramatically reduced costs by approximately 99.9 percent. This innovation has paved the way for the Tokyo metropolitan government to meet its target of having safety gates installed at all stations on its four Toei subway lines by the end of February.
The implementation of safety gates had been an ongoing project on three of the four Toei subway lines using a radio system to coordinate the opening and closing of train doors with platform gates. However, the Asakusa Line faced obstacles due to shared tracks with multiple railway companies, making the installation of a radio system a costly and complex endeavor. To find an alternative solution, Okamoto explored various options, including a laser sensor system and manual door operation by train crew members, before settling on QR code technology to operate the platform gates.
Denso Wave Inc., an industrial equipment manufacturer, collaborated with Okamoto to develop a system that reads QR codes to facilitate the operation of platform gates. Overcoming challenges such as readability issues caused by passenger congestion on platforms, the team conducted experiments to ensure that QR codes could be scanned effectively. By affixing QR code stickers on train doors and implementing three cameras above the station, the system successfully scans the QR codes upon a train's arrival to open the platform gates, simplifying the process and reducing costs significantly.
The success of the QR code technology in enhancing safety measures on the Asakusa Line has garnered favorable results, with the technology being adopted by other railway companies as well. The joint patent obtained by the Tokyo metropolitan government's Bureau of Transportation and Denso Wave reflects the impact of Okamoto's innovative approach in improving train safety and efficiency. The QR code technology's cost-effectiveness and effectiveness in protecting lives have positioned it as a significant advancement in the railway industry, with potential for further expansion and application in similar contexts.