Initiatives for FY2025 Demonstration Experiments Toward Social Implementation of Automated Logistics Roads (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 were held from January 29th to 30th 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 the tour. In these experiments, we verified the feasibility of automating transshipment at logistics hubs, focusing primarily on the efficiency of unmanned cargo handling (Use Case 1) and coordination with truck arrival schedule information (Use Case 6). 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 the new logistics infrastructure "Autoflow Road" promoted by the MLIT. It aims to create dedicated logistics spaces within road corridors, equipped with unmanned, automated transport vehicles that 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. The MLIT aims to begin operations by the mid-2030s on sections where implementation is possible through small-scale improvements (precursor 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, and verified the feasibility of automated logistics...