Initiatives for Demonstration Experiments Aimed at Social Implementation of Automated Logistics Roads in FY2025 (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism): Verifying Operations at Logistics Hubs Designed for Automated Logistics Roads Using Landport Yokohama Sugita

Nomura Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Daisaku Matsuo; hereinafter "Nomura Real Estate"), IHI Corporation (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Hiroshi Ide; hereinafter "IHI"), IHI Logistics & Machinery Corporation (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Motohiro Kawada; hereinafter "IHI Logistics & Machinery"), Nakao Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Arida-gun, Wakayama; Representative Director: Masahiro Nakao; hereinafter "Nakao Kogyo"), Fuji Transport Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nara City, Nara; Representative Director: Hiroaki Matsuoka; hereinafter "Fuji Transport"), and NX Logistics Research Institute, Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Masahito Suzuki; hereinafter "NX Logistics Research Institute") conducted demonstration experiments (a project adopted for FY2025) aimed at 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 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 working toward the implementation of automated logistics roads, as well as numerous members of the press, participated in the tour. This demonstration experiment focused on the efficiency of unmanned cargo handling (Use Case ①)*1 and integration with truck arrival schedule information (Use Case ⑥)*1 to verify the feasibility of automating transshipment at logistics hubs. We are pleased to announce the results, challenges, and future direction obtained from these experiments.

[Image: Demonstration experiment at "Landport Yokohama Sugita"]

1. What is an Automated Logistics Road? It is a general term for a new logistics infrastructure promoted by the MLIT called the "Autoflow Road." The goal is to provide dedicated space within road corridors equipped with unmanned, automated transport vehicles that use clean energy to transport cargo automatically 24 hours a day. Automated logistics roads were conceived to address structural issues facing Japanese logistics, such as the worsening driver shortage, the trend toward smaller and more frequent shipments, rising fuel costs, and the need to reduce CO2 emissions. The MLIT aims to begin operations on sections where implementation is possible through small-scale improvements (priority routes) by the mid-2030s, and is striving for social implementation through public-private partnership initiatives such as demonstration experiments*2.

*1 Overview of FY2025 Demonstration Experiments for Social Implementation of Automated Logistics Roads (Excerpt from MLIT website) *2 MLIT Website: Changing Japan's Logistics: Automated Logistics Roads (Autoflow Road) - Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

2. Main Contents and Verification Items of this Demonstration Experiment (Use Cases ① and ⑥) We simulated the transshipment space between the main line of an automated logistics road and a hub within "Landport Yokohama Sugita." We performed automatic unloading from a 10-ton truck arriving at the hub using an AGF (Automated Guided Forklift), storage in an automated warehouse, and transshipment to transport equipment. Through this, we measured the area and work time required for automatic unloading and organized the operational conditions for automated logistics road hubs (Use Case ①). Additionally, we linked truck arrival information obtained from ETC 2.0*3 and other sources with the hub's system to trigger automatic retrieval from the warehouse and measured loading times to verify the effect of reducing driver waiting times (Use Case ⑥).

*3 A next-generation system that adds high-speed, large-capacity two-way communication functions to conventional ETC (Electronic Toll Collection System) to provide diverse information services such as traffic congestion avoidance support, safe driving support, and disaster support.

3. Roles of Each Company and Future Direction <Nomura Real Estate (Lead Company): Overall coordination and provision of the demonstration site> By collaborating with various partner companies and utilizing an actual logistics warehouse for this experiment, we were able to identify and examine more specific issues related to automated logistics road hubs. In particular, we believe that the automated logistics road concept requires functions and facilities different from conventional logistics warehouses, such as anticipated cargo volume and truck numbers. As this concept takes shape, we intend to contribute to the realization of automated logistics roads, including hub development, while leveraging the knowledge gained from this demonstration.

<IHI/IHI Logistics & Machinery: In-facility operations, operation notifications, unmanned forklifts, automated warehouse arrangement> This demonstration is a highly significant initiative for IHI. The material handling system introduced here differs from simple automation in conventional logistics centers; it aims to improve overall logistics efficiency by linking truck transport with AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) traveling on highways. We believe this new form of logistics is an important step toward the future development of the logistics industry and the creation of new value.

<Nakao Kogyo: Truck arrangement/operation, loading/unloading> We are considering the automation of cargo delivery using additional equipment such as laser sensors so that after a driver pulls into the berth, they can complete cargo handling within 3 minutes by simply pressing a button without leaving the vehicle, using an auto-floor system.

<Fuji Transport: Truck arrangement/operation, loading/unloading> Through this demonstration experiment, we were able to confirm the potential for automation through unmanned cargo handling and the integration of arrival schedule information, as well as practical challenges for incorporating these into actual operational workflows. We believe it is important to take a medium- to long-term perspective and repeat step-by-step demonstrations and verifications. We will continue to cooperate toward the steady social implementation of automated logistics roads while incorporating the perspective of actual transport sites.

<NX Logistics Research Institute: Planning, measurement, and report preparation> In this demonstration experiment, we gained important knowledge for the social implementation of automated logistics roads. In particular, it was a major achievement to confirm the importance of processing capacity at the nodes between departure and arrival points, and to clarify the potential for efficiency through unmanned cargo handling and arrival information integration, as well as the challenges in actual operation. We recognize that these findings are essential for solving technical issues and finding the direction to stably operate logistics networks as social infrastructure for the future. Based on these analysis results, we will continue to contribute to the realization of highly effective automated logistics roads.

3. Details Obtained from the Demonstration Experiment https://www.mlit.go.jp/road/ir/ir-council/buturyu_douro/pdf11/05.pdf