Background to "Next Generation Mobility DAY 2025 Premium"

In recent years, it has become increasingly difficult to maintain public transportation services, especially in regional cities, due to a decline in Macnica, a declining birthrate and an aging population, and a shortage of workers and drivers, resulting in a lack of convenience and a worsening profitability. NTT The West Macnica Group has been autonomous driving hard to solve problems by leveraging each other's strengths. EV Bus implementation activities, technology knowledge and know-how NTT By combining the Nishinippon Group's community-based support capabilities to provide solutions, we have supported the social implementation of autonomous driving to resolve public transportation issues facing regional cities.

Macnica and the NTT West Group have established a system that can provide one-stop services from planning and proposing the use of autonomous driving EV buses to future Level 4 operation. They have actively engaged in co-creation aimed at the evolution of communities and mobility, and have expanded their business by providing autonomous driving EV bus solutions to local governments. In order to widely publicize these efforts, they decided to hold a joint event, "Next Generation Mobility DAY 2025 Premium - The power of autonomous driving that will transform local transportation."

This event featured a variety of programs, including lectures by local governments, test drives of Level 4 autonomous driving EV buses, and a demonstration exhibition of a remote operation management system. It was an event that provided everyone involved in urban development with an opportunity to solve problems and revitalize the community through the use of next-generation mobility.

"Opening Remarks and Opening Session"

Speaker: Takeshi Kachi, Smart City & Mobility Business Division Macnica, Inc.
Speaker: Hajime Miyazaki, Value Design Department, NTT Business Solutions Corporation

Kachi explained that Macnica is involved in demonstration experiments of autonomous driving buses in approximately 50 regions, of which six are in regular operation.

"In addition to selling vehicles, we are working hard to increase the number of users by utilizing advanced technologies such as generative AI and diverse networks to realize and continue regular operation. In addition to strengthening signal coordination recognition and obstacle avoidance functions, the next-generation model of autonomous driving vehicles, the EVO3, will have enhanced functions. By strengthening our capital alliance with the NTT West Group, we will accelerate the introduction of vehicles and the expansion of functions, and we hope to address the challenges faced by local governments."

The event also featured booths set up at the venue where people could exchange opinions directly with the Cabinet Office, Hitachiota City, where the system is in regular operation, and Ureshino City, where the demonstration project is being carried out.

Miyazaki explained that the NTT West Group's investment in Navya, a French autonomous driving vehicle manufacturer, is accelerating the development of autonomous driving technology tailored to Japan and enabling one-stop support for proposing solutions to local governments and building and operating the technology.

Hajime Miyazaki, NTT Business Solutions

"We are participating in demonstration experiments in over 12 municipalities as a project adopted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in fiscal 2023, and are providing comprehensive support from consulting to operation. In the future, we are also looking at linking with bus reservation system apps, medical MaaS, logistics and retail services. We will cover a wide range of areas such as transportation for the elderly, attracting tourists, logistics and medical access, and combine autonomous driving with online medical consultations and regional logistics to aim to correct the disparity between rural and urban areas."

"Efforts to steadily operate autonomous driving EV buses in Hitachiota City"

Speaker: Michiaki Shibata, Director of Planning Department, Hitachiota City, Ibaraki Prefecture

Mr. Michiaki Shibata, Hitachiota City, Ibaraki Prefecture

Hitachiota City was facing issues such as a declining population, a shortage of bus drivers, and poor access to shopping in mountainous areas. To address these issues, we introduced the consideration of introducing an autonomous driving EV bus, and the process from demonstration experiments to regular operation.

Hitachiota City participated in the "Demonstration experiment of autonomous driving services at roadside stations and other bases in mountainous areas" conducted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in 2017 and 2019. In 2022, it was selected as a "Future Technology Social Implementation Project" and will conduct a full-scale demonstration experiment of an autonomous driving EV bus in February​ ​2023. In February​ ​2024, Navya 's "EVO" was purchased and will operate a regular free service four​ ​times a day from City Hall to the commercial facility and the surrounding area, approximately 3.3 km away.

They are currently working on a demonstration experiment of a autonomous driving electric bus transporting goods and delivering them to receiving Box in mountainous areas, as well as a bus location system that distributes bus location information in real time. In addition, it has been decided that the operation route will be expanded from approximately 3.3 km to approximately 7 km by the end of fiscal year 2024. Going forward, they will continue to "strive to increase the number of users while ensuring both safety and smooth operation," they said enthusiastically.

He also mentioned that going forward, as part of efforts to achieve Level 4 autonomous driving certification, they aim to start with implementing this on certain sections, and that they would like to work with neighboring municipalities to improve mobility over a wide area and revitalize the region.

"Challenges and Possibilities Revealed from autonomous driving Demonstration Tests: Ureshino City's Challenges for Regional Implementation of autonomous driving"

Speaker: Mr. Takahiro Baba, Section Chief, Shinkansen and Urban Development Section, Construction Department, Ureshino City, Saga Prefecture

Mr. Takahiro Baba, Ureshino City, Saga Prefecture

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ureshino city has seen a decline in tourists, a decline in tea production, and an accelerated outmigration of young people. Amidst this, the new Shinkansen line was opened, and Ureshino Onsen Station and the roadside station were also opening at the same time, which was expected to be an opportunity to increase the number of visitors to the city. Therefore, Ureshino city decided to use autonomous driving EV buses to create content for tourist destinations, improve tourist mobility, and revitalize the city center.

"From fiscal year 2023, we will operate autonomous driving bus between Ureshino Onsen Station and the city center and Ureshino Onsen Bus Center as a demonstration experiment. In fiscal year 2024, we will increase the number of stops to eight. We are also trying to operate the bus at night."

As a result of the demonstration experiment, he explained that many visitors from outside the city came to test drive the autonomous driving bus.

"We realized that the autonomous driving bus can become a tourist attraction and have the potential to attract customers. Furthermore, we worked hard to revitalize the local area in cooperation with stores, distributing 500 yen coupons to bus passengers. Nearly half of the passengers used the stores, so we really feel that the collaboration between autonomous driving and shopping streets has led to the revitalization of the local economy."

On the other hand, the project also highlighted issues such as the need to manually intervene in the operation of autonomous driving buses due to on-street parking, and the lack of awareness among tourists and visitors from other areas. It was also recognized that further educational activities, regulations, and cooperation are essential to ensure the safe operation of autonomous buses.

"In the future, we would like to use autonomous driving as a symbol of the town, expand shuttle and sightseeing services from the station to the shopping district and the inn district, and actively disseminate information about stores and tourism. We would like to promote the creation of a safe town with low vehicle traffic, known as a 'transit mall,' and turn this into tourism content that will enhance the brand power of the region."

Test drive of autonomous driving electric bus level 4

In the parking lot adjacent to the venue, QUINTBRIDGE, a Level 4 test drive experience was held in the autonomous driving electric bus "EVO."

A course was prepared in which the vehicle could travel autonomously at 10 km/h around a parking lot (one lap is approximately 500 m), and test drives were also conducted to demonstrate boarding and disembarking at bus stops, as well as to recreate a situation in which the vehicle had to come to a sudden halt due to a pedestrian suddenly jumping out in front of the vehicle.

​The EVO provided as a test drive vehicle is the latest model that supports "Level 4 autonomous driving," in which autonomous driving system controls the vehicle under certain circumstances and allows it to run without a driver. EVOs are already in regular operation in Hitachiota City.

For Level 4 autonomous driving operations, we provide the data required for driving, setup, and technical acquisition data, and by linking the vehicle's driving data to the remote driving management system "everfleet," it is possible to check the EVO's driving information in real time from a remote location.

Test drive participants experienced Level 4 autonomous driving in both the EVO and everfleet vehicles.

In order to improve the riding experience, the vehicle is equipped with a conversational concierge service called "Avatar EV Bus Guide" that uses generative AI. It provides passengers with optimal operation information and a warm guide experience. It also responds to communication tailored to the interests of passengers.

"Cabinet Office Regional Revitalization Promotion Office Consultation Booth"

At the event venue, a booth was set up to introduce the use of future technologies to solve problems faced by local governments.

The Cabinet Office's "Future Technology Social Implementation Project" initiative was introduced, and efforts to promote smart cities were explained. Many local governments were exploring the possibility of using future technologies to solve local issues and develop new towns.

"Hitachiota City/Ureshino City Direct Consultation Corner"

A booth was also set up where visitors could meet face-to-face with the Hitachiota City officials who gave the talk. Visitors could ask questions directly about the background to the introduction of autonomous driving bus, its results, and challenges, and exchange useful information.

Ureshino City also set up a booth similar to Hitachiota City's, where people could directly consult with city officials about any problems or concerns they had regarding urban development. It was a place for exchange to deepen mutual understanding, and examples of Ureshino City's initiatives were introduced in more detail.

"Macnica West Japan Group Exhibition"

Macnica exhibited "everfleet," a remote operation management system that allows users to remotely check on the test drive of an autonomous driving bus taking place in an adjacent parking lot.

everfleet 's unique feature is its user interface, which can be customized to be easy to read and allows for system integration and function expansion according to usage. In addition to basic information such as vehicle speed, the operation management screen can also display destinations, arrival times, and delay information. Furthermore, cameras installed inside and outside the vehicle allow the driver to monitor the status of passengers inside the vehicle and road conditions inside the vehicle.

Visitors were given a hands-on experience of how a vehicle operating at Level 4 autonomous driving can be remotely managed.

everfleet has all the functionality and scalability required for managing and controlling autonomous driving vehicles. By customizing it to meet your needs, we can support the introduction of autonomous driving vehicles in any scenario.

A demonstration was given of a "digital map," which digitizes all kinds of maps, from wide-area maps of an entire town to floor maps within buildings, and can be used as a guide map.

By linking with GPS trackers and GTFS (a common platform for exchanging information between bus operators and users), dynamic information such as the location of moving objects, congestion status, and waiting times can be smoothly displayed on the map.

It allows users to create digital maps, conduct digital stamp rallies, make reservations and payments at facilities, and issue electronic coupons, thereby increasing end-user mobility and contributing to creating excitement.

Visitors were able to experience the convenience of using the digital map to check not only the location information of autonomous driving bus, but also detailed information about nearby stores.

At the exhibition booth introducing the avatar AI role-playing support service "Avatar Training" and the avatar online customer service service "AVACOM", there was a corner where visitors could experience avatars in a demonstration format. Visitors could experience a demonstration that recreated the act of serving drinks and other items to customers, and received an explanation of how avatars work.

At the booth showcasing "Bus Come," a reservation system exclusively for autonomous driving electric buses, it was explained that the system has intuitive back-office functions and is highly scalable, allowing it to link with a variety of systems, including payment systems, MaaS systems, and city OS.

At Next Generation Mobility DAY 2025 Premium, Hitachiota City and Ureshino City, which are leading the way in introducing autonomous driving EV buses, shared their valuable experiences, including the background to their introduction, their results, and the issues they have identified. We believe that the content was useful for the many local governments and stakeholders who attended.

Macnica and the NTT West Group will leverage each other's technological capabilities, community-based consulting, and social implementation capabilities to support the establishment of next-generation regional transportation systems for local governments facing regional transportation challenges.

We will continue to hold events like this to help people further deepen their understanding of autonomous driving, introduce implementation examples, and contribute to creating a sustainable local community.

Inquiry

Macnica supports the practical application of autonomous driving in various regions and facilities. If you have any questions or concerns regarding autonomous driving, please feel free to contact us below.