Dynamic Map Platform Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO & President: Shuichi Yoshimura; “Dynamic Map Platform”) and Central Japan International Airport Co., Ltd. (location: Tokoname-shi, Aichi; President and CEO: Riki Inuzuka; “Central Japan International Airport”) will start field testing of autonomous driving vehicles equipped with High-Precision 3D Map Data (HD maps) in the restricted area of Chubu Centrair International Airport on Sunday, March 9, 2025.
■ Background and purpose of this field testing
Dynamic Map Platform has been entrusted with the R&D project of the Dynamic Map Development for Public Areas initiative of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry since November 2023. It is one of the initiatives of BRIDGE*1, which refers to the programs for bridging the gap between R&D and Society 5.0 run by the Cabinet Office.
This project is intended for airport and port facilities. In particular, the airport industry has been facing challenges with post-COVID-19 demand recovery through tourism and business, as well as labor shortages due to the increase in inbound demand. Therefore, labor saving and automation have been progressing through Aviation Innovation, an initiative that leverages cutting-edge technology, such as the implementation of autonomous driving vehicles. HD maps are crucial for safely and efficiently operating various forms of autonomous transportation mobility inside airports. This is because HD maps contain information that cannot be picked up with cameras or sensors alone, such as vehicle stopping areas or refuge zones and the priority order of movement at intersections with aircraft taxiways. This project aims to realize a new mobility society through the development and utilization of dynamic maps that combine these HD maps with external information, such as the movement information of other vehicles.
This field testing will be the first autonomous driving test that uses HD maps developed in this project for restricted areas of airports. It will start by testing autonomous driving level 2*2 to lead to further development and testing of dynamic maps for public areas in FY 2025 and beyond, with the aim of achieving autonomous driving level 4*3 in the future.
*1 BRIDGE: Abbreviation for “programs for Bridging the gap between R&D and the IDeal society (society 5.0) and Generating Economic and social value”
*2 Autonomous driving level 2: Advanced autonomous driving under specific conditions, conducted under the supervision of a driver.
*3 Autonomous driving level 4: The implementation of all autonomous driving system operations under specific conditions, such as location, weather, and/or speed.
■Field testing details
In this field testing, Minibus, the autonomous driving electric bus operated by Tier IV, Inc., will be equipped with Dynamic Map Platform’s HD maps. It will run on two routes intended for towing tractors and passenger buses at autonomous driving level 2 in the restricted area of Chubu Centrair International Airport to check its basic driving performance using HD maps. The route includes aircraft parking spots, service lanes*4, and similar facilities, allowing the test to take place in a setting closer to the actual implementation environment.
Using HD maps that include information on airport traffic rules and airport-specific structures achieves safer and more efficient autonomous driving.
*4 Service lanes: vehicle travel lanes that cross aircraft taxiways.
As a High-Precision 3D Data platform, Dynamic Map Platform will continue to contribute to problem-solving in many different industries in the future.
Overview of field testing
- Duration: Sunday, March 9 to Tuesday, March 11, 2025
- Target area: The restricted area of Chubu Centrair International Airport (the area around Terminal 1 to Terminal 2)
✓Route intended for towing tractors: approx. 1.3km one way
✓Routes intended for passenger buses: approx. 1km one-way, including service lanes - Demonstration details: Checking the driving performance and identifying issues with autonomous driving cars equipped with HD maps for restricted areas of airports with the aim of developing dynamic maps for public areas
- Autonomous driving level: Level 2 (manual intervention as needed based on vehicle driving conditions)
Equipment used and operator
Vehicle name: The autonomous driving electric bus by Tier IV, Inc. 「Minibus 1.0」
Maximum speed: 35km/h (during autonomous driving)
*The maximum speed during field testing is 30km/h due to the speed limit in the target area.
Operator: Tier IV, Inc.
<About Dynamic Map Platform Co., Ltd.>
Dynamic Map Platform was established with the backing of the Japanese government and investment from 10 Japanese automobile manufacturers and other enterprises. The company’s headquarters is located in Japan, and it also has bases in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and South Korea; it is expanding its business in 26 countries.
As a High-Precision 3D Data platform that replicates the real world in a digital space, Dynamic Map Platform supports innovation in various industries.
Established: June 2016
Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Representative: YOSHIMURA Shuichi
Business: Providing high-precision 3D data for a variety of industries, including automated driving and ADAS.
URL: https://www.dynamic-maps.co.jp/
<About Central Japan International Airport Co., Ltd.>
- Company name:
Central Japan International Airport Co., Ltd.
CENTRAL JAPAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMPANY, LIMITED - Location: 1-1 Centrair, Tokoname-shi, Aichi
- Established: May 1, 1998 (Became a nationally designated company with Central Japan International Airport as its main business entity on July 1, 1998)
- Representative: Riki Inuzuka, President and CEO
- Main business activities:
1. Establishment and administration of Central Japan International Airport and air safety facilities
2. Construction and administration of functional facilities, including passenger and cargo handling facilities, and of convenience facilities such as shops
3. Operations incidental to those given above - Number of employees: 292 *As of April 1, 2024
- Company website: https://www.centrair.jp/corporate/