Japanese firms are making significant strides in the development and implementation of autonomous vehicles at Tokyo’s Haneda airport and its surrounding area. This initiative aims to enhance transportation services for both domestic and international travelers, as well as address the challenges posed by labor shortages in the transportation sector.
In Haneda Innovation City, a commercial and business complex located near the airport, Level 4 self-driving buses are being introduced to transport people within the premises free of charge. These 11-passenger vehicles are fully automated under certain conditions and will operate on an 800-meter route at a maximum speed of 12 kilometers per hour. The buses‘ status will be monitored remotely to ensure safe and efficient operation.
The project is a collaboration between Boldly Inc., a subsidiary of mobile carrier SoftBank Corp. specializing in autonomous driving, and general contractor Kajima Corp., which operates the complex. In April, the bus operators became the first in the private sector to obtain approval from authorities to provide a public service using a Level 4 vehicle. Plans are underway to expand the use of autonomous driving vehicles to connect the complex and the airport on a 3.9-km round-trip route by 2026.
Japan’s acute labor shortages, particularly in the transportation sector, have prompted the government to promote the use of self-driving vehicles as a solution to the shortage of bus and taxi drivers. This shift towards autonomous transportation not only addresses workforce challenges but also offers a more efficient and reliable mode of travel for passengers.
In a recent development, All Nippon Airways Co. and Toyota Industries Corp. conducted a trial run of a Level 4 towing vehicle at Haneda airport. This test, the first of its kind conducted inside the restricted area of a domestic airport, demonstrated the safety and operability of the driverless towing vehicle. Equipped with cameras and sensors to avoid obstacles, the vehicle successfully transported six containers over a 2 km distance between the tarmac and a nearby facility at a speed of around 15 km per hour. The companies plan to implement this technology by 2025, further advancing the use of autonomous vehicles in airport operations.
The introduction of autonomous vehicles at Haneda airport and Haneda Innovation City represents a significant step towards the future of transportation in Japan. As technology continues to evolve, these innovations will not only improve efficiency and convenience for travelers but also contribute to addressing the challenges posed by labor shortages in the transportation sector. With ongoing developments and collaborations in the field of autonomous driving, Japan is poised to lead the way in the adoption of innovative transportation solutions.