S-Booster 2017 report
S-Booster 2017 is a contest for a wide range of space-based business
ideas. After the contest, the winners will receive support for their
ideas' commercialization.
Ideas that pass Round 1 will be supported by a mentoring program to
encourage commercialization, allowing the participants to polish
their ideas with business guidance from mentors before the Final
Presentation.
At the Final Presentation, the Grand Prize, Sponsor Prize, and
Special Judges' Prize winners were chosen from among the 15
finalists.
Entry information
Themes
Business ideas using space assets. Any ideas can be submitted if they use space assets (including technologies such as satellites [telecommunications, Earth observation, positioning, etc.], manned space activities, space transport and satellite data obtained from them, operational expertise, etc.). Ideas that are already verified, and any technologies to be created in the future, are welcome.
S-Booster 2017 schedule
Entry period
Friday, June 16 (9:00 a.m.) to Tuesday, July 18 (5:00 p.m.), 2017
Round 1
End of July
Mentoring
August to October
Final Presentation
Monday, October 30, 2017 at Roppongi Nicofarre
Final Presentation report
List of finalists
Click ":Video": to see the finalist's presentation. (Japanese only)
| No. | Title/team name (individual name) |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Ripple Satellite Network Connecting the World
(Video) Ripple |
| 2 |
SELENYZER
(Video) Team SELENYZER |
| 3 |
Satellite Positioning and Security (Secure Positioning for the
Future)
(Video) Compass |
| 4 | Space Travel Festival Arisa Kuroda withD |
| 5 |
Fully Unmanned Feeding System with Drone Ships Using
High-precision Satellite Positioning Services
(Video) ROBOPLUS Co.,Ltd. |
| 6 |
Constructing an Ecosystem Encyclopedia and Big Data Using
Geospatial Information
(Video) Ecosystem GO! |
| 7 |
Lunar Base Construction for Sustainable Resource Development
(Video) Luna Treasure Seekers |
| 8 |
High-functional Work in Space With a Robotic Arm Using Real
Haptic Technology
(Video) Haptic Stars |
| 9 |
Ice, Space, and Dream Performance (3D Space Ice Mold)
(Video) 3D Space Ice Mold |
| 10 |
Mountain Forest Big Data Platform (Izanami)
(Video) Izanami |
| 11 |
Connected Next-generation Agriculture: Smart Agri Float
Project
(Video) Smart Agri Float Project Team |
| 12 |
Building a Flight Path/Altitude Optimization System Using
Doppler Lidar on Super-low-altitude Satellites
(Video) Ayako Matsumoto |
| 13 |
Developing a Space Environment Measuring and Orbital Transfer
Technology Using Space Tether Technology
(Video) TRY FORCE |
| 14 |
Sending an Inhalation Syringe to Space
(Video) Naoyuki Ishikita |
| 15 |
Promoting Commercial Usage of Earth Observation Data via Local
Administration
(Video) We OS |
Prize-winning ideas
List of winners
The following prizes were awarded after a heated discussion.
| Grand Prize |
Building a Flight Path/Altitude Optimization System Using
Doppler Lidar on Super-low-altitude Satellites Ayako Matsumoto |
| Sponsor Prizes |
ANA Holdings Prize Sending an Inhalation Syringe to Space Naoyuki Ishikita |
|
Mitsui & Co. Prize Satellite Positioning and Security (Secure Positioning for the Future) Compass |
|
|
Obayashi Corporation Prize Developing a Space Environment Measuring and Orbital Transfer Technology Using Space Tether Technology TRY FORCE |
|
|
SKY Perfect JSAT Prize Building a Flight Path/Altitude Optimization System Using Doppler Lidar on Super-low-altitude Satellites Ayako Matsumoto |
|
| Special Judges' Prizes |
Ripple Satellite Network Connecting the World Ripple |
|
High-functional Work in Space With a Robotic Arm Using Real
Haptic Technology Haptic Stars |
Grand Prize
Building a Flight Path/Altitude Optimization System Using Doppler Lidar on Super-low-altitude Satellites
Originator: Ayako Matsumoto
| Idea details | This idea optimizes aircraft flight routes by reading atmospheric conditions with satellite observation. Preliminary calculations indicate that cutting aircraft fuel by 1% would have annual economic effects of more than 300 billion yen. The Doppler lidar is a radar installed on a satellite that measures velocities by variations of frequency. Wind prediction over the ocean is not easy due to the small number of observation points, but satellite observation makes it easy. |
| Judges' comment | We highly evaluate this idea for its feasibility and innovative qualities, and expect it will create a new global market. |
| Interview with the winner | This contest was a way for me to achieve and come closer to my goals. Receiving support from mentors and many others, my idea has come close to its realization. First, entering the contest is important—my challenge had just begun. I will keep moving forward to make our idea come true. |
Sponsor Prizes
ANA Holdings Prize
Sending an Inhalation Syringe to Space
Originator: Naoyuki Ishikita
Originator: Naoyuki Ishikita
| Idea details | I propose an inhalation anesthesia vaporizer that weighs only 50g. Anesthesia vaporizers normally weigh 120 kilograms or more, so creating an ultra-small vaporizer around 50g will make anesthesia on spacecraft possible. Its forte is that this vaporizer can be used for easy and safe anesthesia, even at locations where sufficient equipment is not available. The 3D printing transfer of this vaporizer to remote places has been verified, and we transferred it to the International Space Station on January 13, 2017. |
| Judges' comment | We highly evaluate this idea driven by space and aircraft that is also applicable to underpopulated regions and developing countries. It has great social significance, and profitability as well. |
| Interview with the winner | After my presentation, I was relieved to see everyone was smiling. I am happy to receive this prize from ANA Holdings, since I believe this idea can also be applied to aircraft in the future. I learned a lot from my mentor and the other finalists through this contest. |
Mitsui & Co. Prize
Satellite Positioning and Security
(Secure Positioning
for the Future)
Team name: Compass
Team name: Compass
| Idea details | This idea is to add security functions to positioning information receiver satellites. By building security infrastructure for the future, when positioning information will be increasingly precise, we aim to reduce hacking risks that may occur while driving cars, using unmanned drones to deliver packages, and so forth. |
| Judges' comment | We positively appraised the usefulness of this idea, as stable positioning is necessary for the future of the world. |
| Interview with the winner | Receiving the Sponsor Prize has brought me one further step closer to realizing my idea. Simplifying the presentation in the short term was the most challenging part, so I watched videos from Japan and abroad to learn presentation techniques. This contest turned out to be a very special experience that brought valuable findings in my life. |
Obayashi Corporation Prize
Developing a Space Environment Measuring and Orbital Transfer
Technology Using Space Tether Technology
Team name: TRY FORCEE
Team name: TRY FORCE
| Idea details | We propose to connect small satellites to each other, spread out with tethers (strings) like a spider's web. As a massive group of satellites, they can be used for the environmental measurement of magnetic storms, Earth observation, space debris measurement, deep space exploration, and other purposes. |
| Judges' comment | Obayashi Corporation is planning to do construction in space in the future, and we chose this idea because we are happy to work together to construct buildings in space. |
| Interview with the winner | This contest gave me a keen sense that researchers working on social issues are needed in the ages to come. I want to accomplish my idea with this great chance. I struggled a lot on this short presentation, but I learned extremely valuable things. In the next fiscal year, I hope students and graduate students I teach will take on the challenge of entering. |
SKY Perfect JSAT Prize
Building a Flight Path/Altitude Optimization System Using
Doppler Lidar on Super-low-altitude Satellites
Team name: Ayako Matsumoto
Team name: Ayako Matsumoto
| Idea details | This idea also won the Grand Prize. It optimizes aircraft flight routes by reading atmospheric conditions with satellite observation. Wind prediction over the ocean is not easy due to the small number of observation points, but satellite observation makes it easy. |
| Judges' comment | This idea addressed a clear issue, and indicated specific economic effects from resolving the issue. Also, the feasibility of the idea with satellites was great plus. |
| Interview with the winner | This contest was a way for me to achieve and come closer to my goals. Receiving support from mentors and many others, my idea has come close to its realization. First, entering the contest is important—my challenge had just begun. I will keep moving forward to make our idea come true. (*Same as the Grand Prize) |
Special Judges' Prizes
Ripple Satellite Network Connecting the World
Team name: Ripple
| Idea details |
| This idea expands low-cost telecommunications to regions such as developing countries and mountainous areas where mobile phone reception is unavailable. We will design a global-scale satellite communication network using ultra-small satellites and specific low-power transceivers. |
| Judges' comment |
| We highly evaluated this idea's global contributions based on local needs and expansivity using ultra-small and low-power technologies. |
| Interview with the winner |
| Every time I polished my idea, I felt the idea was becoming better, with the passion of various people growing larger and more significant. Perhaps ideas develop and grow by themselves. I hope people who have concepts to accomplish will go ahead and enter this contest. |
High-functional Work in Space with a Robotic Arm Using Real Haptic Technology
Team name: Haptic Stars
| Idea details |
| This idea applies real haptic technology to a robotic arm so robots can do the work of astronauts. It is expected that having robots do extravehicular activities instead of astronauts will have benefits such as reducing development costs. |
| Judges' comment |
| We highly evaluated the practicality of this idea for robotizing extravehicular activities. |
| Interview with the winner |
| This contest inspired me to do everything for my dream. The most memorable advice I received was, "To achieve your dreams, never say 'we' or 'my university.' Say 'I.'" It was a valuable experience that taught me business-oriented ways of thinking that are not necessarily required in the research field. Starting from today, I want to make a new start and work towards the practical use of my idea. |
