Self-autonomous driving demonstration experiment started within the restricted area of Nanki Shirahama Airport

Nanki-Shirahama Airport,Inc., Ltd., NEC Corporation, and Macnica will begin a demonstration experiment of autonomous driving driving using the autonomous driving vehicle "EVO (by NAVYA)" within a restricted area at Nanki Shirahama Airport from July 19th.

In this demonstration, the autonomous driving vehicle "EVO" operated by Macnica was parked in a garage within the airport's restricted area, and was driven along a route to the southernmost point of the airport at designated times four times a day, including at night. autonomous driving round trip. Through a one-week demonstration experiment, we aim to create new value by accumulating knowledge and identifying issues related to driving automation within airport restricted areas, such as by utilizing it for airport maintenance.

■ Background and purpose
The continuous securing of personnel necessary for the maintenance and management of public infrastructure is a common issue for all infrastructure operators, but airports, which have a vast management area, also need to save labor through efficient operation through smart maintenance. It is required to try.
Under these circumstances, in addition to labor saving, Nanki Shirahama Airport will conduct a demonstration experiment of autonomous driving with the aim of reducing the risk of human-induced accidents in restricted areas.
In the future, in combination with the local 5G that has already been developed at Nanki Shirahama Airport, we aim to apply it to smart maintenance such as "remote inspection" in which inspection vehicles automatically drive and remotely inspect video data and "abnormality detection" by AI. increase.
In addition, customers can use airport restricted areas such as "MR Airport Experience" (http://shirahama-airport.jp/application/files/8416/5516/2555/MR5G_MR_.pdf), which is being tested at Nanki Shirahama Airport. We aim to use it for moving vehicles and achieve both maintenance and entertainment.
In addition, monitor participants of the "MR Airport Experience" to be held from August 19, 2022 will be able to ride the autonomous driving vehicle "EVO" and drive on the surrounding roads. Application for the experience is scheduled from July 22, and the application method is
Please refer to (https://jpn.nec.com/event/l5g_shirahama/index.html).

Self-autonomous driving vehicle used in this demonstration

■Demonstration period
July 19, 2022 to July 20, 2022 Acquisition of driving route data
August 19, 2022 to August 24, autonomous driving Autonomous vehicle running

■ Driving route

■ Further developments in the future
We aim to develop autonomous driving initiatives outside the airport, solve secondary traffic problems in the entire Kinan area, and develop it into a means of transportation that can be used daily by those who are vulnerable to transportation.
Furthermore, we will promote efforts to decarbonize airports by utilizing electric vehicles, including autonomous driving vehicles, for airport operations.