Saitama Institute of Technology will start joint development with ITbook Technology Co., Ltd. regarding the construction of an automatic driving and operation system for amphibious buses in "Development of amphibious unmanned driving technology-Yamba smart mobility-".
The project "Development of amphibious unmanned driving technology-Yamba smart mobility-" represented by ITbook Holdings Co., Ltd. was adopted in the "Technology Development Joint Program for Demonstration Experiments of Unmanned Ships" of the Japan Foundation. ..Saitama Institute of Technology will participate in the project as a member of the consortium together with Naganohara Town, Gunma Prefecture, Abit, and the Japan Amphibious Vehicle Association.
The subject of this research is the "Yamba Dam Amphibious Bus" introduced by Naganohara Town.The goal is to run along the shore road, enter Yamba Agatsuma Lake (Yamba Dam), automatically navigate on the water, and then automatically drive and operate a route that will land and return to the ground. We plan to develop and verify the technology necessary for practical use for two years, and proceed with the development of technology that enables unmanned operation with the aim of putting it into practical use in five years.
Saitama Institute of Technology and ITbook Technology Co., Ltd. will jointly develop an experimental vehicle and ship for an amphibious bus for autonomous driving and operation, and design and develop software.Based on the joystick robot car technology that is also used for the Saitama Institute of Technology's autonomous driving bus and Autoware, which is open source autonomous driving software, we have built an automatic driving and operation system for amphibious buses.Using this system, we will conduct demonstration experiments of "position estimation and automatic operation technology for takeoff and landing / takeoff and landing", "technology for detecting and avoiding water obstacles", and "remote control technology using local 5G".
Saitama Institute of Technology is strengthening the development of automatic driving while pioneering the education and research of AI (artificial intelligence), and the Cabinet Office's Strategic Innovation Creation Program (SIP) Phase 2 "Automatic Driving (System and) (Expansion of services) ”is the only private university that has participated in the demonstration experiment for the second consecutive term.Utilizing these experiences, we will challenge the development of automatic driving and operation technology for amphibious buses, which is unprecedented in the world.
