For the Senior Generation
We want to create a society in which people can enjoy the lifestyle of their choosing, in comfort and in good physical and mental health, regardless of their age. Through IoT, smart robots, autonomous driving technology, and other innovations, we aim to contribute to building a society where senior citizens can maintain direct and indirect connections with their local communities.
Providing a new mobility service that
uses automated driving technology
Automated BRT, one solution to rural transportation issues
SoftBank Corp. is working with relevant local organizations to achieve sustainable transportation services in conjunction with planned community development. One such initiative concerns next-generation mobility services that can operate safely, stably and flexibly while maintaining transportation capacity and speed. More specifically, we are working on the development of automated bus rapid transit (BRT) technology in which different types of self-driving buses run in convoys.
SoftBank Corp. and West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) started BRT trials using automated driving and convoy driving technology on a dedicated test course (Yasu City, Shiga Prefecture) in October 2021, working toward social implementation as a next-generation mobility service by the mid-2020s.
Sustainable public transport using autonomous vehicles
Against the backdrop of bus route closures and driver shortages, BOLDLY Inc. is providing support for the implementation of self-driving buses across Japan and provides the Dispatcher platform for self-driving fleet management. Through these and other initiatives, BOLDLY is working to realize convenient and sustainable mobility services using autonomous vehicles.
On December 1, 2022, MONET began regular services of a NAVYA ARMA self-driving bus in the town of Kamishihoro, Hokkaido. Marking a major transition is scheduled to commence during FY2023, with the aim of realizing the practical implementation of Level 4 automated driving service in an urban area.*
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- *For some time after the transition, the bus will operate at Level 2 in some situations, such as at intersections with traffic signals.
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