Initiatives for Demonstration Experiments Toward the Social Implementation of Automated Logistics Roads in FY2025 (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism)

Nomura Real Estate Development Co., Ltd., IHI Corporation, IHI Logistics & Machinery Corporation, Nakao Industry Co., Ltd., Fuji Transport Co., Ltd., and NX Research Institute, Inc. conducted demonstration experiments (a project selected for FY2025) toward the social implementation of the "Automated Logistics Road" concept promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). The experiments took place from January 29 to 30 at "Landport Yokohama Sugita" (Yokohama, Kanagawa), a facility jointly developed by Nomura Real Estate and IHI.

On the public demonstration day, approximately 70 members of the consortium dedicated to the implementation of automated logistics roads, along with numerous members of the press, participated in a site tour. This experiment focused primarily on the efficiency of unmanned cargo handling (Use Case 1) and coordination with truck arrival schedule information (Use Case 6), verifying the feasibility of automating transshipment at logistics hubs. We are pleased to report the results, challenges, and future direction obtained from these experiments.

1. What is an Automated Logistics Road?

This is a general term for "Autoflow Road," a new logistics infrastructure promoted by MLIT. It aims to provide dedicated logistics space within road corridors, equipped with a system where unmanned, automated transport vehicles use clean energy to transport cargo 24 hours a day. The Automated Logistics Road was conceived to address structural issues in Japanese logistics, such as the worsening driver shortage, the trend toward smaller and more frequent shipments, rising fuel costs, and the need for CO₂ emission reductions. MLIT aims to begin operations by the mid-2030s in sections where implementation is possible through small-scale improvements (pioneer routes), and is working toward social implementation through public-private partnerships, including demonstration experiments.

2. Main Contents and Verification Items of the Demonstration Experiment (Use Cases 1 and 6)

We simulated the transshipment space between the main line of the Automated Logistics Road and the hub within "Landport Yokohama Sugita." We performed automated unloading from 10-ton trucks arriving at the hub using AGFs (Automated Guided Forklifts), storage in automated warehouses, and transshipment to transport equipment. Through this, we measured the area and work time required for automated unloading, as well as the feasibility of automated logistics.