“Development of ‘VIPS’ intra-airport information collection base using spatial ID” with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s program to promote SME innovation

Project period: 2023-2026
Service developed: VIPS, an intra-airport information collection base that uses spatial ID
Target users: Airport management companies, ground handling companies, airline companies, autonomous driving vehicle manufacturers, etc.

VIPS (Various Information Port System) is an information coordination base that collects various types of static and dynamic information using spatial ID as a key. Information inside the airport is collected within VIPS, enabling people to confirm it via their tablet. As VIPS coordinates with autonomous driving mobility services, it also contributes to the introduction of mobility equivalent to level 4 autonomous driving, which means no driver is needed in certain conditions.

The points developed

Use of spatial ID technology: The system uses spatial ID as a key to achieve uniform management of both dynamic and static information within the airport.
The role of data coordination: By collecting various types of intra-airport information in a central system and adding location information, VIPS plays a role as a data coordination base that enables people to smoothly understand the current state of affairs.

Making construction information and other information normally managed on paper usable for both people and mobility through digital, uniform management

Map information from within the airport, such as service lanes* and other structures, is registered on VIPS in advance. Within this, dynamic information such as no-entry or impassable areas (e.g. where there is construction work or a standstill due to a broken-down vehicle) is recorded as necessary.

People are then able to check and use this VIPS information on their tablets. They can also use this system as the basis for autonomous driving mobility operations together with HD maps, enabling them to select and operate safer driving routes by changing driving lanes and avoiding areas with service lanes that will be hard to pass through.

At the moment, construction information is almost always managed on paper—managing it digitally with VIPS will contribute to improved efficiency and convenience in the duties carried out by employees working on site.

*Routes that cross aircraft travel routes

Use cases for which VIPS provides solutions

VIPS can be applied to use cases such as the following. In addition to airport management companies, it is targeted at businesses such as airlines, mobility manufacturers, and ground handling companies, and aims to suggest solutions to issues. The assumed recipients of the information are autonomous driving mobility services, businesses, and airport managers, but the information will be distributed as necessary to the users who need it in accordance with the use case.

Examples of use cases	Destination of information distribution (user)
Provision of information about obstructions using information from cameras in blind-spot areas located at intersections, etc.	Mobility services, Businesses
Provision of information about towing tractor locations and the locations and sizes of the containers being transported.	Mobility services, Businesses, Airport managers
Provision of service lane surveillance information from cameras.	Mobility services, Businesses
Provision of information about areas that cannot be used for passage.	Mobility services, Businesses, Airport managers
Sharing the current status of areas where ground handling equipment is standing by.	Mobility services

Hopes for future development

There are challenges associated with operating autonomous driving vehicles in spaces that are blind spots on the vehicle’s cameras. To handle this issue, the company is promoting AI learning so that cameras can recognize special-purpose vehicles such as towing tractors and aircraft, which operate in blind spots.