JR West and SoftBank demonstrate automatic and uniform bus transportation, to practical use in the mid -2020s

Mr. Shuji Kubota, Director of Innovation Director of JR West Nippon Railway Headquarters

The BRT is a high -speed transport system that uses a "dedicated road" instead of a public road, and in that sense it is close to the railway running on the track.The aim is to make use of the advantages of operating in an environment where general vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, etc. are basically not entering, and to realize automatic driving and row driving early.Shigehiro Shimizu, General Manager of the SoftBank Executive Officer Corporation (Wide Area Sales Manager) and General Railway and Public Business Promotion Headquarters, emphasizes that it is an effort to "realize commercial operation at 60 km / h. There is no example in the world yet."did.

The image of BRT aiming for realization

It is a specific service image that combines up to four units freely, but it uses three types of autonomous vehicles, a large bus, a small bus, and a joint bus, to realize a transportation system that combines them. The leading vehicle is assumed that staff who will be responsible for response and operation management in the event of an abnormal occurrence will be on board. In addition, it is aimed at services that make up a column by joining and dividing in different vehicles with different vehicles, and combining them with vehicles running on general roads, and providing flexible transportation capabilities in accordance with demand. "Up to four units are freely combined. For example, start by automatic driving from a dedicated road, join a small bus by a branch line and run by a squad. We will develop and demonstrate various types of operating systems, such as getting on a general road and running in the second row as the lead, "(Shimizu).

Autonomous driving technology to be confirmed in the demonstration experiment

Regarding the BRT that both companies aim to realize, Mr. Kubota of JR West gave the following points. One is "BRT that is easy and easy to use for people." Aiming for a operation system that allows "collaboration with other traffic modes" other than autonomous driving and column driving mode. He said, "It's easy to connect with existing roads, and transit with route buses will be smooth." We aim to cooperate with town planning. Connect multiple transportation infrastructure with stations and terminals as nodes. "Take a small bus (in manned driving) near the house and join the corps as it is. I want to provide convenience close to the door -to -door." The other is "sustainability". If a platoon can be driven, it is expected that about 500 people will be transported up to 500 people at a time, making it easier to secure drivers suffering from labor shortages. In addition, he said, "It has a simple facility and structure compared to railway, and has a high cost, including maintenance work." He plans to work on social implementation with local governments and local businesses.