Starting in April 2025, Fukaya City will introduce self-driving buses by establishing a "Northern Shuttle + Tour Bus" on the fixed-time, fixed-route community buses that run within the city. In June 4, Fukaya City formed the "Fukaya Self-Driving Implementation Consortium" with seven businesses, including Saitama Institute of Technology, to promote efforts to solve public transportation issues in the city, such as driver shortages. The introduction of self-driving buses is part of this effort, and is the first of its kind in the prefecture.
Fukaya City's community bus "Kururin" currently operates four fixed routes at set times, as well as a demand bus service where dates, times and bus stops can be reserved in advance.
The autonomous "Northern Shuttle + Tour Bus" will operate a shuttle service between the north exit of JR Fukaya Station and the northern part of the city in the mornings and evenings to support the daily lives of residents, such as commuting to work or school, going to the hospital, shopping, etc. During the day, the service will also operate a tour of tourist facilities such as Shibusawa Eiichi's related facilities scattered throughout the northern part of the city, in response to the increased demand for tourism following the issuance of the new 1 yen note.
The vehicle used for the service is a locally produced, locally consumed self-driving bus (approximately 2024m long) that Saitama Institute of Technology built in 9 for "Kururin" using national and prefectural subsidies, and will be introduced with the cooperation of the Fukaya Self-Driving Implementation Consortium. Saitama Institute of Technology was the first in the country to begin demonstration experiments on public roads in the city in 2017, and has participated in demonstration experiments on public roads all over the country. The vehicle is based on the ISUZU Erga Mio, with a total length of 9.12m, width of 2.42m, height of 3.35m, and a capacity of 53 people. Utilizing the experience gained from previous demonstration experiments, the bus is equipped with sensors and cameras aimed at "Level 4 autonomous driving" compatibility, and adopts Autoware, an open software for autonomous driving systems.
For the time being, the "Kururin" Northern Shuttle and Tour routes will operate on limited days and sections with a driver on board, with "Level 2 autonomous driving" to build up experience, with the aim of achieving "Level 4 autonomous driving" in the future, which will enable operation without a driver in the vehicle. The operation will be handled by Fukaya Kanko Bus Co., Ltd., and specific operation information will be posted on the city's website as it becomes available.
Fukaya City will use this route as a demonstration field to support the development of autonomous driving technology, thereby promoting efforts to resolve transportation issues such as driver shortages.
