DOCOMO and Nissan are experimenting with car dispatch services where autonomous cars come to pick up

　NTT DOCOMO and Nissan Motor will start a demonstration experiment on AI distribution services using automatic driving vehicles in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture on September 21.This time, the vehicle was released for the press.

　The demonstration experiment is conducted by DoCoMo and Nissan.Approximately 200 general monitors will participate in an on -demand dispatch service using autonomous vehicles in areas such as Yokohama Minato Mirai and Chinatown (recruitment has been completed).Compared to the same kind of demonstration that we have been doing so far, it has evolved in addition to the increase in vehicle waiting points in addition to the increase in the number of passengers and seats.

DOCOMO, Nissan Motor, and on -demand dispatch services with autonomous driving vehicles have started, and recruitment of general monitors on September 21 is also started.

　A combination of Nissan's autonomous driving transportation service "EASY RIDE" and DOCOMO's "AI operation bus".When you actually use it, you will have to make a reservation from the web app.As a procedure, select the boarding / getting off position from the "Reservation" button.After that, if you choose the ride time, you can confirm the reservation.The maximum number of passengers is up to three.Children with a height of 110cm cannot get on.

　When the vehicle arrives, the door can be opened by entering the code listed in the vehicle door.You can start by preparing according to the voice guidance.

Autonomous driving where you can ride with confidence

　The driver's seat has a figure of a person, but it is basically not operated by safety measures, and there is no need for users to have a conversation.In this demonstration experiment, we will run on public roads that are not closed with ordinary cars.When I actually got on the driver's experiment, I felt that it was a natural driving feeling that I could not see the driver's seat.

　On the way, there was a general car that had a lane protruding and stopped at the end of the traffic jam, but there were some movements that recognized it firmly and slowed down.It looks safer than the impatient driving.In particular, at the intersection where the signal was organized, I was able to relax without anxiety, as it slowed down even if there was no pedestrian when turning right and left.

　The mechanism used for this demonstration is prepared with a mechanism that takes into account some sudden interrupts, and it is driving in recognition of the vehicle that actually interrupts, as well as the surrounding situation where interrupts are likely to occur.。

　The large display installed in the car allows you to check the information read by the sensor of the vehicle in addition to route information such as destination and expected arrival time.In the lower right is a camera that captures the driver's seat, and it is clear that there is no intervening person.

　The only person shifts when departure or stops, which is due to the fact that the vehicle does not support the automatic operation of that part.

Electric car is based

　The vehicles used in the experiment are based on the "E-NV200", a Nissan electric vehicle.It is said that it was selected from a living space.Equipped with many cameras, radar and scanners on the front of the vehicle and the front and rear bumper.As a result, the lane change and the signal will be recognized, and even if there is no person's intervention, it will automatically send it to the set destination.

　In the case of conventional automatic driving cars, sensors were often attached to the roof, but all vehicles used in this experiment are embedded in the car or bumper, so at first glance it is normal.It is the same as a car.

　Unlike conventional similar vehicles that combine general -purpose products, the feature is that it is composed of hardware designed for in -vehicle use.

Use the mechanism of the AI operation bus

　The vehicle's control system has added some functions to this DOCOMO AI operation bus, which has already been used for commercial use.

　In addition to those that were originally provided, such as the total number of passengers and the function that shows the number of people currently on board, there is a function to manage automatic driving vehicles assuming unmanned.In addition to network reception status and telemetry, the E-NV200 is an electric vehicle, so the battery remaining can be confirmed by operators who control the battery level.

　If the battery level on the vehicle is low, it will not accept reservations.It is also possible to display one information at a time as shown in the photo below.You can also check the information on the route you received.

　The use of the AI operation bus mechanism that has already been operated as a commercial service is to look forward to the future development of the current service, and the meaning of checking how to manage automatic driving cars.be.

　Initially, because it is designed to manage manned vehicles, the design that says what kind of information is needed to manage unmanned vehicles is a point that has been devised.

　Nissan wants to confirm what kind of need for this kind of service through this approach, how much price setting is appropriate, and how much the interval at the time of getting on and off is appropriate.DOCOMO also wants to gain knowledge such as operational problems that can be understood only after practicing.

　This demonstration experiment will be conducted from 8:30 to 16:00, excluding September 21 to October 30, Monday.