## A QR Code Solution for Subway Safety Gates
finding a cost-effective way to install safety gates on the Asakusa subway line.
The existing radio system for synchronizing train doors and platform gates was too expensive, as it required installation on trains operated by multiple companies. Okamoto needed an alternative.
He remembered a QR code reader system used for product inventory and realized its potential for this project. He partnered with Denso Wave Inc., the company that owns the QR code trademark, to develop a system that reads QR codes on train doors to operate the platform gates.
The biggest challenge was scanning the QR codes diagonally when passengers were present. After repeated experiments and testing, they perfected the system, ensuring it worked even with stained or partially obscured codes.
The cost of implementing this solution was significantly lower than the radio system. The QR code stickers on the train doors cost only 2.7 million yen, compared to the estimated 2 billion yen for the radio system.
This innovative solution has been adopted by other railway companies and has earned Okamoto and the Bureau of Transportation a joint patent. Okamoto's dedication to improving train safety has resulted in a cost-effective and efficient solution that will benefit passengers and railway operators alike.