Saitama Institute of Technology has been focusing on research and education in autonomous driving. Starting in April 2025, the Department of Information Systems, Faculty of Engineering, will be opening the first "Autonomous Driving Major" in Japan, accelerating efforts toward social implementation.
It is also known for its strong employment rate at major companies, and is the only university in Saitama prefecture to be ranked within the top 2024 of the "400 Ranking of Actual Employment Rates at 100 Famous Companies." Professor Watanabe Taishi's Autonomous Driving AI Laboratory in the Department of Information Systems, Faculty of Engineering, who has experience in teaching and researching autonomous driving, has graduates who have secured employment at major Japanese manufacturers and IT companies such as Honda, Kyocera, and Canon.
We asked graduates who studied in the Autonomous Driving AI Laboratory about the learning and growth they can expect from the new major, as well as their future career paths.
Professor Watanabe Hiroshi (front row, center) and members of the Autonomous Driving AI Laboratory who were graduating on the day of the interview.
Why did you choose Saitama Institute of Technology?
Saitama Institute of Technology has been working with autonomous driving-related companies and local governments such as Fukaya City to develop and conduct demonstration experiments on autonomous vehicles. There are many initiatives aimed at practical application, such as the operation of an autonomous driving AI school bus and research and development aimed at introducing autonomous buses to Fukaya City's community bus "Kururin." The image that "when it comes to autonomous driving, Saitama Institute of Technology" seems to have spread among students.
"I decided to enroll at Saitama Institute of Technology after learning that it has the longest driving distance in Japan for demonstration experiments of self-driving buses," says Kotani.
"I've been interested in automating things since I started programming. One of the reasons I enrolled was that I was attracted to Professor Watanabe's lab, which actually operates autonomous vehicles." (Gokan)
In Professor Watanabe's Autonomous Driving AI Laboratory, students can carry out various graduation research projects, such as installing the developed technology in an actual vehicle and running it, or solving problems using computer simulations. Some students even produce results that lead to patent applications. Let's introduce some research examples of graduates.
Enokido focused on a sensor called LiDAR that is installed in self-driving vehicles, and came up with a way to survive the extreme heat of summer.
"When the LiDAR heats up, it malfunctions and doesn't provide accurate data. To solve this, we proposed using a water-cooled cooler. Also, because water-cooled coolers can sometimes leak, we researched ways to deal with that as well," says Enokido.
Hisatomi worked on research that combined autonomous driving with his passion for trains.
"We used image AI to create a system that can read signs at railroad crossings and recognize the status of the barriers. There are times when cars will cross railroad crossings, so this research is essential for ensuring safe driving," says Hisatomi.
Internship-like experiences
As mentioned at the beginning, many of the graduates find employment at major manufacturers and IT companies. Others find employment as engineers in industries other than automobiles, such as medical IT and railways, and some have even launched venture businesses. Although they had to start job hunting before their graduation research began in earnest, the efforts of their seniors in the same laboratory and their interest in advanced autonomous driving are likely to have influenced their employment success.
"I heard about the world's first amphibious self-driving bus from my senior colleagues, and based on that, I talked about what I wanted to do during the interview. I think the fact that employees were interested in my research topic also helped me get the job." (Kotani)
"When you look closely at autonomous vehicles, you can see that they are made up of many small parts and components. That's why I wanted to be involved in the manufacturing of small things, so I got a job at an electronic parts manufacturer." (Okusa)
The students are hopeful that the experience they gained in the laboratory will be useful even after they graduate.
"I think there will be opportunities to conduct joint research with our business partners, so I would like to make use of my experience in the lab and my knowledge in related fields. Depending on the content, there may be an opportunity to work with Professor Watanabe again." (Imaizumi)
"This lab collaborates with companies and local governments to conduct demonstration experiments, and I was able to interact with people from large companies while I was still a student. I think I can make use of this experience even after I get hired." (Kaneko)
"Being able to conduct research while being deeply involved with various companies is a valuable and rich experience that is similar to an internship, while still being on campus." (Professor Watanabe)
Contributing to the community through autonomous driving
Professor Watanabe is conducting research with students with the aim of developing autonomous driving technology that can contribute to the local community. He said that in his new major, he looks forward to meeting stimulating colleagues and experiencing the thrill of technological development.
"This is a major that allows you to learn about autonomous driving from various angles, including manufacturing and AI. It will also be stimulating to meet friends and people from companies who share the same aspirations. This research provides many opportunities to connect with society, so I hope you will make good use of the university environment to connect it to your future.
Also, there is always a gap between what works inside a computer and what actually happens in an autonomous vehicle. It's hard to bridge that gap, but at the same time, I think solving that problem can be fun." (Professor Watanabe)
An autonomous vehicle developed by Saitama Institute of Technology will be introduced on the community bus route in his hometown of Fukaya City.
Finally, we asked the graduates about the appeal of their new major and their message to prospective students.
"You'll be involved in some of Japan's top demonstration experiments, and it's like heaven for people who want to learn about autonomous driving. Even if you don't have any knowledge of autonomous driving yet, as long as you're interested, you can deepen your learning after enrolling," says Ito.
"The things we've worked on in the lab, like self-driving buses, are being implemented in society and actually taking passengers on public roads, with many people riding them. I don't think there are many universities where students can have this kind of experience." (Kaneko)
"Autonomous driving technology will become more widespread in the future, so if you can hone your skills while you're still a university student, it will be a big advantage," says Suda.
There are still many problems to be solved before autonomous driving can be put into practical use. And the need for autonomous driving engineers is increasing. Why not study autonomous driving at the Department of Information Systems, Faculty of Engineering, and get involved in the cutting-edge field of autonomous driving?
