NTT Com and NTT Urban Development,
In parks and public roads in Hiroshima City
Conducting a demonstration experiment using an autonomous driving robot

1.Background

In recent years, the use of robots and self-driving vehicles has been under consideration to resolve social issues such as labor shortages due to a declining birthrate and aging population, and securing transportation for the elderly. In April 2023, the revised Road Traffic Act will come into effect, and it is expected that the use of robots and self-driving vehicles will become even more widespread. Against this backdrop, NTT Com has been conducting various initiatives as part of its smart mobility business, including demonstrations using security robots and delivery robots ^*1 and demonstrations using personal mobility to ensure local transportation ^*2.

In addition, NTT Urban Development, as a comprehensive real estate company of the NTT Group, is engaged in real estate development such as office buildings, commercial facilities, and housing, and in the Hiroshima area, it is responsible for the construction, management, and operation of "Hiroshima Gate Park." ^*3 As the representative company of the joint venture, we are working in cooperation with various stakeholders to improve convenience for park visitors and store customers and to create a place that conveys new value.

The two companies will conduct a demonstration experiment at Hiroshima Gate Park, which is scheduled to open in April 2023, using Panasonic Holdings Corporation's automated transport robot "JACOBO" (hereinafter "JACOBO") to disseminate information and patrol the park as an advanced initiative to create a lively space and manage the park.

2.Details of this demonstration

• (1)Providing various information, including facility information

  Jacobo will be equipped with signage on its side, and will automatically stop at designated stopping points within the park as it moves about, transmitting information such as information about commercial facilities and park rules. This will allow visitors to check information as "mobile digital signage" in various locations within the park. We will verify whether this new form of information transmission, combining "robots and signage," is an effective means of communicating information to visitors.

• (2)Patrol

  During the daytime on weekdays, Jacobo will operate autonomously and patrol Hiroshima Gate Park and surrounding roads. As the robot drives, it will issue warnings about park rules, and the effectiveness of promoting appropriate park use by raising awareness of park usage rules and deterring prohibited behavior will be verified. The project will also identify issues that arise when robots perform patrols that are typically performed by humans, and consider the possibility of fully deploying robots in the future.

3.Roles of each company

• NTT Com

  The entity conducting this demonstration will provide the service management system.

• NTT Urban Development

  Consider the content of this demonstration and conduct necessary administrative consultations, etc.
  On-site response during this demonstration.

4.Implementation period

November 9, 2023 - December 1, 2023

5.Location

Hiroshima Gate Park (part of Central Park, Motomachi 5, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture) and surrounding public roads