Yamaha Motor Starts Capital Alliance with AI Computing Company — Strengthening intelligence technology development in product automation and automatization —

May 10, 2019

IWATA, May 10, 2019 - Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (Tokyo: 7272) announced today that the company has entered into a business capital tie-up agreement with AI computing specialist Digital Media Professionals Inc. (hereinafter DMP), with the main purpose of strengthening the development of artificial intelligence technology (AI) for automation and autonomy of the company’s products. Yamaha Motor has decided to underwrite new shares by third-party allotment issued by DMP. As a result, Yamaha Motor will become the largest shareholder of DMP.

The provision of this business capital tie-up is part of the “ART for Human Possibilities, Advancing Robotics,” which is one of the Company's long-term visions. By securing artificial intelligence technology (AI) as the core of control technology for the future, the business capital tie-up with DMP is intended to strengthen the support for Yamaha Motor’s development systems. In addition, through the combination of DMP’s deep-learning, image processing and image recognition technology with the Company’s products and technology, Yamaha Motor can move further in the creation of new values such as low-speed automatic / autonomous driving systems, robot utilization in agricultural applications, and advanced safety technology in various areas of mobility in order to offer mobility and solutions to society in the unique style of Yamaha.

DMP is a R&D fabless semiconductor vendor that develops hardware and software IP licenses for embedded 2D/3D graphic technology developed independently, and graphic LSI development and sales businesses that incorporate these IPs. In recent years, DMP has focused on the area of AI computing, providing solutions through a broad portfolio of IP, hardware and software products, and services, and an independently built AI ecosystem.

Main business alliance contents

- Cooperation in the final production process from algorithm development to product loading using AI technology applications
- Development of automatic and autonomous driving systems in low speed areas
- Development of labor-saving and automation systems in agriculture domains using robotic technologies
- Development of advanced safety driving support systems for all mobility products
- Assignment of directors from the Company

DMP Outline