RoAD to the L4
Project on Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment (RDD&D)
of Automated Driving toward the Level 4 and its Enhanced Mobility Services
自動運転レベル４等先進モビリティサービス
研究開発・社会実装プロジェクト
Significance
This project aims to promote a sustainable mobility society in light of significant developments in the automotive industry, such as CASE.
Through it we believe we can help lessen the negative effects on the environment, address, mobility issues, and boost the economic value of our nation by achieving and promoting advanced services at Level 4 and beyond.
Project Overview
Aimed at the early realization and widespread adoption of autonomous mobility services, RoAD to the L4 was a five-year project spanning fiscal years 2021 through 2025 and was positioned to play a leading role in this field.
Regarding passenger transportation:
- In early fiscal year 2023, practical implementation of a Level 4 driverless autonomous driving service was initiated in Eiheiji Town, Fukui Prefecture.
- In fiscal year 2024, practical implementation of a Level 4 autonomous bus service with an onboard operator was initiated in Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture.
- Around fiscal year 2025, the project aimed to realize the practical implementation of a Level 4 autonomous bus service with an onboard operator operating under mixed-traffic conditions in the Kashiwanoha area of Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture.
In addition, by sharing the insights and know-how obtained from these pioneering implementation cases with major operators and local governments engaged in the practical deployment of autonomous MaaS in Japan, and by fostering consensus building, the project provided timely support for practical implementation.
Regarding freight transportation:
- From 2026 onward, the project sought to realize the practical implementation of Level 4 autonomous trucking for long-haul freight transportation between Tokyo and Nagoya on the Second Tomei Expressway.
Implementation Structure
- This project involves several individual projects for R&D and deployment of automated driving systems in public, shown in green on the right.
- A project coordinator has been assigned to the organization responsible for the comprehensive research and study of this project (coordinating organization).
Project Themes and Implementation Areas
We intend to go beyond technology development, research, and experimentation and are committed to initiatives aimed at the societal implementation of advanced mobility services, we proceed with 4 individual projects for R&D.
■Theme 1 video (FY2023)
■Theme 2 video(FY2024）
■Theme 3 video (FY2023）
（Japanese only）
■Theme 4 video (FY2024）
2. Investigation of Traffic Accident Criminal Court Cases for Development of Automated Driving Control System
- Organized regulations under the Road Traffic Law and analyzed past criminal court cases involving traffic accidents in order to reference specific cases in designing automated driving systems (defining risk scenarios, assessing risk, and studying measures to reduce risk.)
3. Development of Guidance for Social Implementation and Commercialization of Automated Driving Mobility Services
- We will work with operators across Japan who are involved in social implementation of Level 4 automated MaaS to exchange opinions, share information, and build consensus on safety assurance and business feasibility, which will be reflected in the guide.
- This guide is divided into two main sections: an "Introduction Section" to verify usage needs for areas newly developing mobility services, and an "Implementation Section" for those preparing to implement Level 4 automated driving mobility services in specific areas.
4. Organization of Expanded Task Force Implementation Status (TF)
- To promote the understanding of the procedure for the social implementation of automated driving MaaS, we share the authorization process, ways to distribute the responsibilities between operators, and proceeding examples with operators across Japan who are involved in social implementation of Level 4 automated MaaS.
5. Organization of Level4 Mobility Acceleration Committee
- In October 2023, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), and other organizations launched the Level 4 Mobility Acceleration Committee to develop an environment for the realization of new automated mobility services by promoting appropriate information sharing among service providers, related ministries and agencies, and facilitating the licensing procedures.