First Pilot Test of Automated Freight Lane Planned for November

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A pilot experiment for an automated freight lane will take place for the first time this November at the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture. The project is led by Japan's transport ministry.

Conducted in partnership with private-sector transportation and telecommunications companies, the experiment will evaluate how effectively unmanned carts can transport cargo without human assistance. With Japan facing a chronic shortage of truck drivers, the ministry aims to put the technology into practical use as soon as possible.

*Trucks form a line near Oi Terminal in Shinagawa Ward on January 15, 2024. (©Sankei by Shiro Harada)*

Testing Real-World Scenarios

The concept involves building dedicated lanes, either in highway medians or underground tunnels, with the long-term goal of linking Tokyo and Osaka.

The experiment will be conducted in a 700-meter-long (2,297 ft), 7-meter-wide tunnel at the research facility. It will simulate various scenarios, such as multiple carts operating simultaneously and avoiding obstacles like fallen objects.

Researchers will measure how cargo weight affects acceleration and braking time, as well as the impact of road vibrations on the cargo. The experiment will also test technology that can automatically transfer cargo from trucks to unmanned carts.

Construction Costs

According to the transport ministry's estimates, construction costs with current technology could reach ¥25.4 billion JPY (about $178 million USD) per 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) for above-ground routes, and between ¥7 billion ($49 million) and ¥80 billion ($560 million) for underground tunnels. The project is expected to be funded by the private sector. In May, the ministry launched a council of companies interested in operating or using the system.

Another round of testing is scheduled for fiscal 2027 or later, on a section of the under-construction Shin-Tomei Expressway between Shin-Hadano in Kanagawa Prefecture and Shin-Gotemba in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Author: The Sankei Shimbun

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