Saitama Institute of Technology established "Field Auto Co., Ltd.", a university-launched venture that promotes research and development of autonomous driving technology through industry-academia collaboration on June 2018, 6.This is the first private university in Japan.
Saitama Institute of Technology participates in the automatic driving system / large-scale demonstration experiment (SIP-adus large-scale demonstration experiment) of the national project strategic innovation creation program. From October 2017, as a SIP-adus large-scale demonstration experiment participating organization, we started the demonstration experiment on public roads in the area around Odaiba.It is the only private university that conducts demonstration experiments with a major global automobile manufacturer. In December 10, in Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture, the prefecture's first demonstration experiment of autonomous driving on public roads was started.
Field Auto Co., Ltd., which was established this time, makes use of the experience and know-how of the autonomous driving demonstration experiment of Saitama Institute of Technology that has been cultivated so far, and cooperates with Tier IV, Inc., which develops and provides open source autonomous driving software. We will develop our business centered on supporting driving demonstration experiments.This is the first attempt at a private university to promote industry-academia collaboration activities related to autonomous driving demonstration experiments.The company is set up on the campus of Saitama Institute of Technology, and students also participate in the activities.Professor Daishi Watanabe of the Department of Information Systems, Faculty of Engineering was appointed as the president.
In the future, Field Auto will promote its business by utilizing the technology and know-how related to the practical application of autonomous driving that has been researched and developed at Saitama Institute of Technology in order to realize a society that is friendly to the elderly and other vulnerable people and free from traffic accidents. We plan to move off-campus.In addition, in cooperation with Tier IV, Inc., we aim to be contracted for about 3 autonomous driving demonstration experiments in three years.
Against the background of these efforts, Saitama Institute of Technology plans to establish a new AI major in the Department of Information Systems, Faculty of Engineering, in order to strengthen AI education and develop human resources in the AI era in the spring of 2019.
* The Strategic Innovation Creation Program (SIP) is a national project carried out by the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation of the Cabinet Office, which goes beyond the boundaries of ministries and traditional fields for the purpose of creating science and technology innovation.
