Supercomputer “Kyo” operation ends. “Retirement” ceremony to shut down the power August 30 18:57

k10012057241_201908301837_201908301838.mp4

The world's best supercomputer “Kyo” in Kobe City was put into operation for the maintenance of the next-generation supercomputer to be the successor, and a ceremony was held to turn off the power on the 30th.

Approximately 180 people, including those involved, participated in the ceremony held at the facility in Kobe City where K computer was installed. The next generation supercomputer “Tomitake”, which has 100 times the computing power of “Kyo”, will be installed at the same location.

Mr. Satoshi Matsumoto, President of RIKEN, who co-developed “Kyo”, greeted, “I want to take over the spirit of“ Kyo ”to the next“ Tomitake ”although there is a bit of mischief.”

Then, in the computer room where “K computer” is located, four switches were pressed one by one, and the power was turned off after 2:30 pm.

Developed as a national project in 2012, the K computer has been used in a wide range of fields, including earthquake damage prediction and drug development, utilizing the world's highest level of computing power.

“Kyo” will be removed next week, then “Tomitake” will be installed and the operation will be started two years later.

“Kyo disappears, but the history of innovative Japanese supercomputer technology remains. The development of the next generation“ Tomitake ”can be used as soon as possible.” I want to go ahead. "

"Isn't it bad for second place?"

The supercomputer "K computer" was developed jointly by RIKEN and major electronics manufacturer Fujitsu for over 110 billion yen as a national project.

Development began in 2006, and construction began in 2008 at Port Island in Chuo-ku, Kobe City.

However, in 2009, at the time of “Business Sorting” by the Democratic Party administration, the minister in charge of administrative reform at that time said, “What is the reason for becoming the best in the world? Was judged to be a “reduction close to the budget”.

After that, the scientists struck back with a series of reluctances saying that "the country's interests would be greatly damaged", and the project was revived. In 2012, the full-scale operation of “K computer” will begin.

“Kyo,” which can connect 864 computers and calculate 1 trillion times, which is 10,000 times a trillion per second, has become the top in the world ranking of temporary computing capacity.

After that, although the ranking of computing power dropped, the ranking that competes for the processing capacity of so-called “big data” has become the world leader since 2015, and its comprehensive power and high practicality were evaluated.

Meanwhile, as international competition for supercomputer development has intensified, especially in the United States and China, RIKEN and Fujitsu have decided to develop a successor to the K computer.

The successor is named “Fujidake”, the highest peak in Japan “Mt. Fuji”, and the calculation speed is about 100 times faster than “Kyo”, which is expected to achieve world-class processing power.

“Tomitake” is expected to start operation in two years, and can be used for more accurate forecasts of weather such as local heavy rains and tornadoes, drug development, and engine design for automobiles and aircraft. It is expected.

Used for traffic jam prediction and disaster prevention

So far, “Kyo” has been used by universities and research institutions in Japan and overseas, and more than 200 companies, and has been used for research in various fields such as space observation, traffic jam prediction, and development of new drugs and materials.

The ability to instantly process huge amounts of data has made it possible to create a number of simulations and visualize the results of the analysis in three dimensions, especially in research in the field of disaster prevention.

Of these, research on earthquake resistance of buildings is attracting attention as a “next-generation hazard map” that can analyze ground data in addition to structure and age, and can predict the shaking of each building in detail.

In addition, research on so-called “guerrilla heavy rain” is used to develop technology that processes rain cloud data in the sky and predicts the occurrence of heavy rain before it begins to rain.

What it will be? "Kyo Computer Mae Station"

In response to the suspension of operation of the super computer “K computer”, “Port liner” passing through the city of Kobe, which has adopted the name “K” as the station name, would like to consider whether to change the name in the future. .

“K computer computer station” of “Port Liner” in Chuo-ku, Kobe city is near the research facility where “K computer” is located. I have adopted.

“Kyo” will finish its role in 30 days, and “Tomitake” will be introduced as a successor two years later. Kobe New Transit, which operates “Port Liner”, will leave the station name as it is or change it to “Tomitake” I'd like to consider the response.

Mr. Yasukazu Kanaya, General Manager of the Kobe New Transportation General Affairs Division, said, “It ’s a shame that there ’s a“ Kyo ”station, so it ’s a shame.