Commencement of Technology Development to Implement Autonomous Driving in Buildings and Cities

Taisei Corporation (President: Yoshiro Aikawa, hereinafter 'Taisei'), Tier IV, Inc. (President and CEO: Shinpei Kato, hereinafter 'Tier IV'), Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. (President: Koji Ishikawa, hereinafter 'Sompo Japan'), and Nippon Signal Co., Ltd. (President: Ryuichi Goto, hereinafter 'Nippon Signal') have recently commenced joint research on technologies that enable autonomous vehicles to drive safely and smoothly both inside and outside buildings. In this joint research, the four companies will pool their advanced technologies and expertise with the aim of future commercialization and service provision. 1. Background and Purpose In recent years, the development of autonomous driving technology has progressed rapidly in Japan and overseas, and the momentum for social implementation is accelerating, with autonomous taxis already put into practical use in some U.S. cities. In Japan, it is expected that similar services will be introduced on a full scale over the next few years. On the other hand, in high-rise buildings often found in Japanese urban centers, underground parking lots and drop-off areas are common. In underground spaces where GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) radio waves are difficult to reach, it becomes difficult for vehicles to determine their exact location. Furthermore, advanced technology is required to drive safely in unique environments with narrow passages, pillars, and a mix of pedestrians and other vehicles. Resolving these issues and developing an environment where autonomous vehicles can move seamlessly from public roads to inside buildings, and vice versa, is essential for the spread of autonomous driving services. The four companies launched this joint research to fuse knowledge from their respective fields of expertise to develop technologies solving these issues and to build a service provision mechanism for implementation. 2. Overview of the Joint Research Using a vehicle equipped with 'Autoware*', an open-source software for autonomous driving whose development is led by Tier IV, the underground parking lot of the Sompo Japan headquarters building (Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo) will be used as the field for verification tests. The goal is to establish a solution that realizes safe and efficient driving by linking buildings, autonomous driving systems, and traffic infrastructure.

- Taisei: Overall management of the joint research, provision of building design and urban development technology - Tier IV: Provision of autonomous vehicles and systems - Sompo Japan: Provision of verification test field, risk assessment - Nippon Signal: Provision of road-vehicle cooperative systems, etc. Prior to this joint research, a driving test of an autonomous vehicle was conducted in the underground parking lot of the Sompo Japan headquarters building in August 2025. Through this test, specific technical challenges to be overcome in the unique environment of a building were confirmed, such as ensuring the accuracy of self-position estimation, driving control in narrow roads, and detecting and avoiding people and obstacles. In this joint research, we will intensively work to solve these challenges. * Autoware is a registered trademark of The Autoware Foundation. 3. Future Developments Through this joint research, the four companies aim to establish solutions that solve the technical challenges of autonomous driving in buildings and commercialize them. Next year, we will continue driving tests in the underground parking lot of the Sompo Japan headquarters building, and eventually...