Nippon Koei and Macnica jointly conduct demonstration experiment using autonomous driving buses in the central urban area of Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture - Fuyo Lease cooperates by providing vehicles -

Nippon Koei Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Hiroaki Araya; hereinafter "Nippon Koei") has been commissioned by the Tochigi Prefecture Department of Land Development, Transportation Policy Division to carry out a commissioned survey to investigate a pilot project for an unmanned autonomous driving transportation service. Macnica, Inc. (headquarters: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Representative Director and President Representative Director and President Kazumasa Hara; hereinafter "Macnica") to conduct a pilot project (hereinafter "This Pilot Project") in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, using autonomous driving buses provided by Fuyo General Lease Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Katsunori Nagano; hereinafter "Fuyo Auto Lease").
This demonstration experiment is part of the Tochigi Prefecture ABC Project ^{* 1}, which aims to fully operate route buses equipped with autonomous driving systems on some bus routes within Tochigi Prefecture in 2025, and aims to verify the feasibility of using autonomous driving buses as a means of transportation to increase mobility in the central business district of Ashikaga City.
Ashikaga city's downtown area is dotted with many historical tourist attractions, such as the National Treasure Bannaji Temple and the Japan Heritage site of Ashikaga School, and is undergoing a shift from car-centered urban development to people-centered, walkable urban development. In this demonstration experiment, the route will start and end at JR Ashikaga Station and Tobu Ashikaga-shi Station, and will travel around the areas surrounding tourist facilities in the downtown area where pedestrians and vehicles coexist, using NAVYA's "ARMA ^{* 2}," an autonomous driving bus with no steering wheel, accelerator or brakes.

autonomous driving bus ARMA that stops in front of the tourist facility "Taiheikikan"

Nippon Koei will utilize its past experience in operating demonstration experiments related to autonomous driving transportation services to operate the autonomous driving bus in this demonstration experiment, prepare for it, and verify its effectiveness.
Macnica provides data acquisition and setup, technical materials, and acquired data necessary for autonomous driving bus operation and autonomous driving driving. In addition, by linking vehicle travel data to Macnica 's remote monitoring system "Macnica Mobility Data Platform ^{* 3}", it will be possible to check the travel information of autonomous driving buses in real time from a remote location.
Fuyo Lease and Fuyo Auto Lease will provide autonomous driving buses through the "autonomous driving Demonstration Experiment Support Service Program ^*4", which the three companies have concluded a business agreement with Macnica.

[Outline of this demonstration experiment]
■ Schedule: Saturday, March 18, 2023 to Monday, March 27, 2023
■ Hours: 9:00 to 18:00 (12 flights a day)
■ autonomous driving vehicle: autonomous driving bus ARMA
■Running route: A route that starts and ends at JR Ashikaga Station and Tobu Ashikaga-shi Station and tours tourist facilities and commercial facilities
(JR Ashikaga Station → Tobu Ashikaga Station approx. 1.8km / Tobu Ashikaga Station → JR Ashikaga Station approx. 2.9km)

■Service schedule: Operates during the times shown in the table below.

■Participation method: To participate in the experiment, please check the Tochigi Prefecture ABC Project website.
< http://abc-project.tochigi.jp/jissho.html >

* We will take sufficient measures against COVID-19, such as temperature measurement of the driver and disinfection of the car with alcohol before boarding.

*1: Tochigi Prefecture ABC Project
In Tochigi Prefecture, we are challenging the full-scale operation of route buses (Bus) that have introduced an autonomous driving system (Autonomous). In this project, we aim to start full-scale operation of fixed-route buses with an autonomous driving system on some bus routes in Tochigi Prefecture by fiscal 2025. From fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2023, we are proceeding with demonstration tests of autonomous driving buses at 10 locations in the prefecture. increase.
Tochigi Prefecture ABC Project HP: http://abc-project.tochigi.jp/index.html

*2: Self-autonomous driving bus ARMA (manufactured by French company NAVYA)
ARMA is an autonomous shuttle bus equipped with an autonomous driving autonomous driving system. It is an EV (electric vehicle) specification, and can run automatically for about 9 hours (100km) on a single charge.

Overall length: 4,750mm
Height: 2,650mm
Width: 2,110mm
Weight: 2,400kg
Gross vehicle weight: 3,450kg
Number of passengers: up to 10
Power source: electric motor
Maximum speed: 19km/h (Average speed of about 10km/h during operation)
autonomous driving level: Level 2
Others: In case of emergency, the passenger's driver will intervene manually

*3: Macnica mobility data platform (remote monitoring system)
Monitoring is possible by collecting sensors installed on the vehicle (GPS, camera, etc.) and vehicle CAN information (vehicle speed, rotation speed, steering angle, etc.) and saving the data to the cloud using a high-quality transmission method. One person can remotely access the cloud and check the mobility status of multiple vehicles in real time. In addition, the accumulated data can be applied to check past situations, analyze data, and utilize AI. By utilizing a remote monitoring system, we aim to resolve the social issue of labor shortage.

*4: autonomous driving Demonstration Experiment Support Service Program (hereinafter referred to as the “Program”)
A service program jointly developed by Macnica, Fuyo Lease, and Fuyo Auto Lease.
Please refer to the URL below for details.
https://www.macnica.co.jp/business/maas/news/2021/136501/

*Product names mentioned in the text are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
*Information (including product prices, specifications, etc.) in the news release is current as of the date of the announcement. Subject to change without notice.

＜本実証実験に関するお問い合わせ先＞
日本工営株式会社　交通政策事業部　交通都市部
MAIL ：ml-autonomous-hitachiota@dx.n-koei.co.jp

Mobility solution department, Macnica,Inc.
Tel: 045-470-9118
Mail:auto-solution@macnica.co.jp