Tobetsu Town, Hokkaido and Macnica to hold autonomous driving bus demonstration test run at "Tobetsu Digital Park 2024" from August 9th, aiming to create a safe, secure and livable town of the future

Tobetsu Town, Hokkaido (Mayor: Goto Masahiro) and Macnica (Headquarters: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Kazumasa Hara; hereinafter Macnica) announced today that they will conduct demonstration runs of autonomous driving bus and hold "Tobetsu Digital Park 2024" using the latest digital technology for a limited time from August 9th in order to create excitement around Royce Town Station.

Tobetsu Town has positioned the area around Royce Town Station, which opened in March 2022, as the "new face of the town," and aims to create a sustainable, vibrant town where people can live safely and securely by collaborating with nearby tourist facilities such as the Royce Confecta Co., Ltd. Royce Town Factory and Nordic Winds Tobetsu Roadside Station, as well as utilizing new technologies to enhance urban functions.

Macnica is working to solve various social issues in collaboration with partner companies, research institutes, and local governments using the world's most cutting-edge technologies, including AI, IoT, and autonomous driving. As part of this effort, we are working with local governments across the country to create safe, secure, and livable cities of the future, starting with demonstration experiments of autonomous driving buses.

■ "Tobetsu Digital Park 2024" Project ①: FY2024 autonomous driving Bus Demonstration Operation
autonomous driving is when the autonomous driving system recognizes the surrounding situation using cameras, sensors, GPS positioning systems, etc., predicts and judges, and operates the steering wheel, accelerator, and brakes. In this demonstration run, we will use Gaussin Macnica Mobility's "ARMA ^{* 1}" and "EVO ^{* 2} "autonomous driving buses without steering wheels, accelerators, or brake pedals. The buses will run on two sections: from JR Royce Town Station to the Royce Town Factory, and from JR Royce Town Station to Tobetsu, a Nordic Wind Road Station.

Additionally, in order to make operation safer, traffic signals and road-vehicle coordination will also be implemented in some sections through infrastructure linkage, visualizing traffic signals along the driving route and road environment information around the vehicle for the first time in a demonstration experiment in the area. Vehicle driving information and infrastructure information will be linked to Macnica 's remote monitoring system "everfleet ^*3," allowing real-time operation status of autonomous driving bus to be monitored and managed from a remote location. Furthermore, the demonstration experiment will also visualize the location information and bus stops of the autonomous driving bus on a digital map, contributing to improved convenience and mobility for users.

<Demonstration operation overview>
・Operation dates: Friday, August 9, 2024 to Sunday, September 8, 2024 *The start date for Route 1 is currently being adjusted.
・Operating hours: 9:30 to 16:30 (3 to 4 round trips per hour)
・Fee: Free
・Boarding method: No reservation required (however, the service will be flexible depending on weather and passenger availability)
・Route:
① JR Royce Town Station ⇔ Royce Town Factory (approximately 700m one way)
*Stops: JR Royce Town Station, Royce Town Factory
*Operating hours: 9:30-16:00 (14 flights per day)
*Vehicle used: autonomous driving bus EVO
② JR Royce Town Station - Royce Town Factory - Nordic Style Roadside Station Tobetsu (approximately 2.4km one way)
*Stops: JR Royce Town Station, Royce Town Factory, Nordic Style Roadside Station Tobetsu
*Operating hours: 9:30-15:30 (6 trips per day)
*Vehicle used: ARMA autonomous driving bus

■ "Tobetsu Digital Park 2024" Project ②: Creating a lively town using the latest digital technology
Digital technology will be used to create a lively atmosphere at JR Royce Town Station and Nordic Style Roadside Station Tobetsu, where autonomous driving bus will stop.

・JR Royce Town Station Area
-Food truck opening (August 17, 18, 24, and September 1, 2024)
Food trucks based in Tobetsu Town and Sapporo will be setting up shop in front of the station for a limited time.

- Tobetsu Town Local Products Marche (August 24th and 25th, 2024)
Local vegetables will be sold by JA Kitaishikari.

- Guidance by concierge robot (August 9th to September 8th, 2024)
"Temi," an autonomous robot that can converse with humans, will welcome visitors in front of the station.

・Scandinavian Winds: Activities at Tobetsu Roadside Station
- Operation status management screen exhibition (August 9th to September 8th, 2024)
A monitor will be installed on which the autonomous driving management screen can be viewed.

- Installation of temi and LOVOT (August 24th to September 1st, 2024)
In addition to the autonomous robot "temi" that will be installed in front of the station, "LOVOT," a family-type robot that can remember human faces, become attached to them, and greet you, will guide you around the roadside station.

- Digital touch-responsive experience (August 24th - September 1st, 2024)
This will be an experience where you can enjoy digital art by holding your hand over the large screen and moving the monitor without contact.

- Unmanned sales digital signage (August 24th to September 1st, 2024)
We will install digital signage to sell Tobetsu Town's specialty products unmanned.

- Performer x Touchless Activity Event (August 25, 2024)
This one-day only special performance will combine the dance of the internationally acclaimed "EBIKEN" Ebinama Kenichi ^*4 with the latest in contactless digital video.

In addition to the demonstration operation of the autonomous driving bus, Tobetsu Town and Macnica will continue to work on various initiatives to implement a smart town and actively utilize new technologies, such as utilizing a variety of content and data, with the aim of creating a new, sustainable town where people can live safely and securely.

*1: autonomous driving bus ARMA (manufactured by Gaussin Macnica Mobility)
ARMA is an autonomous driving shuttle bus equipped with an autonomous driving EV system. It is an EV (electric vehicle) and can run autonomously for about 9 hours (100 km) on a single charge.

Overall length: 4,750mm
Height: 2,650mm
Overall width: 2,110mm
Weight: 2,400 kg
Total vehicle weight: 3,450kg
Passenger capacity: 9 (8 passengers + 1 operator)
Power source: EV electric motor
Maximum speed: 19km/h during demonstration operation
autonomous driving level: Level 2
Other: In the event of an emergency, the driver will manually intervene

*2: autonomous driving bus EVO (manufactured by Gaussin Macnica Mobility)
The EVO is an autonomous driving shuttle bus equipped with an autonomous driving EV system. It is an EV (electric vehicle) and can run autonomously for about 9 hours (100km) on a single charge.

Overall length: 4,780mm
Height: 2,670mm
Overall width: 2,100mm
Weight: 2,600 kg
Total vehicle weight: 3,450kg
Passenger capacity: 15
10 people during demonstration experiment (8 passengers + 1 operator, 1 security officer)
Power source: EV electric motor
Maximum speed: 19km/h during demonstration operation
autonomous driving level: Level 4 compatible (Level 2 during demonstration experiment)
Other: In the event of an emergency, the driver will manually intervene

The autonomous driving buses used in this demonstration run will be provided by the "autonomous driving Demonstration Test Support Service Program" jointly established by Macnica, Fuyo General Lease Co., Ltd., and Fuyo Auto Lease Co., Ltd. For details, please refer to the following URL.
https://www.macnica.co.jp/business/maas/news/2021/136501/

*3: everfleet (Macnica remote monitoring system)
In order to put autonomous driving into practical use, it is necessary to remotely monitor the passengers inside the vehicle and the surroundings of the vehicle. everfleet integrates and centrally visualizes vehicle data such as vehicle speed, steering, and remaining battery power in addition to mobility location information and camera images inside and outside the vehicle, and external data that is coordinated with traffic infrastructure such as traffic lights. It is also possible to collaborate with This makes it possible to grasp the operation status from a remote location in real time and operate autonomous driving mobility safely and securely. Furthermore, the system can simultaneously manage a wide variety of mobility vehicles in multiple regions and automatically detect and notify abnormalities during operation, allowing a single remote operator to efficiently manage the operation of autonomous driving mobility vehicles. By doing so, we can realize labor-saving operations and contribute to improving transportation profitability.

*4: Kenichi Ebina Profile
Kenichi Ebina (EBIKEN)

In 1994, he went to the United States to study, where he self-taught himself various genres of dance as a hobby at university, and after graduating, he based his activities in New York. In 2012, he became the first dance artist in the world to perform a 90-minute performance entirely alone, mainly focusing on street dance, and in 2014, he completed a full 120-minute performance. He returned to Japan in 2015. To date, he has performed in various events, shows, and on television in over 300 cities in 40 countries.
They incorporate a variety of elements and ideas, not just dance, but also pantomime, magic, illusionary sound effects, video, lighting effects and more, into their unique direction, creating a unique style that is enjoyed by people of all ages, genders and nationalities, including those who are not interested in dance or stage performances.
EBIKEN is currently working as a performer at Linkest Inc., of which he is the representative, while also working as an artist agent, director, and producer.

<Contact information for inquiries regarding this demonstration project>
Yuza, Business Promotion Division, Planning Department, Tobetsu Town
TEL: 0133-23-3198
MAIL: toshikei@town.tobetsu.hokkaido.jp

Tanaka, Government Solutions Promotion Office Macnica
TEL: 045-470-9191
MAIL: tanaka-yos@macnica.co.jp

*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. Please note that it is subject to change without prior notice.