Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum Renovates "Trial Square" Zone to Offer "Space Project," Japan's First 3D Design and Printing Experience

The Space Project allows visitors to participate in a hypothetical 2020 lunar mining mission by designing a "DODECATRON*" mining vehicle. The experience consist of "Mission Lab" in which 12 visitors simultaneously work together as a team to design, and "Custom　Lab" the visitor individually challenge to design. Both programs require on-site reservation at the museum; first-come and first-served basis. Like the museum's other vehicle design programs, the Space Project provides visitors with the context of an exciting storyline in which to experience the challenge of achieving a project goal on schedule.

In the case of the Mission Lab, participants use a futuristic "GA-BAN" design tool to collaborate on the design of a "DODECATRON" mining vehicle. Each participant will be respectively take charge in designing of the size, shape, and positioning of the engine, cockpit, rollers for vehicle locomotion, and other components. They can then operate the vehicle, and have it perform various mining operations on the virtual lunar surface. As a souvenir of their experience, each visitor is presented with a model of a standard-configuration "DODECATRON" fabricated by a Keyence 3D printer. The fee for participation is 500 yen per person.

In the case of the Custom Lab, participants use a dedicated tablet computer to single-handedly design all 12 of the components that make up the "DODECATRON." A model based on their original design will subsequently be produced by a 3D printer and sent to them by post. Up to 36 visitors can participate in a day. The fee for participation is 2,500 yen.

MHI business operations span energy and the environment, transportation, defense and aerospace, machinery and equipment systems, and much more. In the field of aerospace, MHI is responsible for manufacturing and launching Japan's premier launch vehicle, the H-IIA rocket, as well as the H-IIB rocket. The company is also engaged in space development, and has proposed a forward-looking plan for future lunar resource development. With the addition of the Space Project to the Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum "Trial Square," MHI hopes to inspire the dreams of a new generation of young achievers.

Since its renovation in January 2009, "Trial Square" has provided visitors with a unique hands-on learning experience in the design and operation of various types of ships and aircraft, and the manufacture of locomotives and automobiles. Now, five years on, it offers visitors a new way to experience the wonders that science and monozukuri craftsmanship can achieve.

The Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum was opened by MHI in Yokohama in June 1994 to promote exchanges with the local community and to foster interest in science and technology. The Museum uses actual machinery and equipment, scale models, video presentations and explanatory panels to present easy-to-understand introductions to MHI's state-of-the-art scientific technologies and products. Exhibits are divided into six zones: Environment/Energy, Aerospace, Ocean, Transportation, Daily Life Discovery and Technology Quest. The Museum welcomed its two millionth visitor in October 2012 and will mark its 20th year in June 2014.

The Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum was opened by MHI in Yokohama in June 1994 to promote exchanges with the local community and to foster interest in science and technology. The museum uses actual machinery and equipment, scale models, video presentations and explanatory panels to present easy-to-understand introductions to MHI's state-of-the-art technologies and products. Exhibits are divided into six zones: Environment/Energy, Aerospace, Ocean, Transportation, Daily Life Discovery and Technology Quest. The museum welcomed its 2 millionth visitor in October 2012 and will mark its 20th anniversary in June this year.

* DODECATRON: In Greek, "dodeca" means 12 and "tron" means equipment.

Outline of Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum