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Overcoming Challenges in Level 4 Autonomous Trucking

T2, a pioneering company based in Tokyo's Chiyoda district, is set to pave the way for Level 4 autonomous trucking. The firm, which has already commenced commercial operations of autonomous trucks for mainstream freight transport, is part of the 'L4 Truck Operation Conference.' This initiative includes collaboration with five partner companies to tackle specific challenges in transitioning from Level 2 to Level 4 autonomous trucking by 2025.

Background and Objectives

Established in November 2024, the 'L4 Truck Operation Conference' comprises 14 participants from various sectors, including logistics providers and automobile manufacturers. Monthly meetings focus on discussions regarding the practical implementation of Level 4 autonomous trucks. The collaboration aims to identify essential challenges, leading to two significant pilot projects.

Pilot Project Overview

Pilot Project 1: Daytime Operational Development

Currently, long-distance transportation between the Kanto and Kansai regions occurs predominantly at night due to driver time constraints, taking over two days for a round trip. With the implementation of Level 4 autonomous trucks, T2 plans to optimize daytime operations, reducing this time significantly to just one day. This enhancement is expected to increase freight capacity.

Additionally, for the autonomous trunk transportation, it is vital to establish switching hubs where manual driving transitions to autonomous operation near interchanges or connecting areas. This necessitates careful scheduling, as hub capacity might be overwhelmed during peak periods. Presently, freight companies primarily focus on pick-ups and deliveries along general roads during the day, resulting in lower loads compared to nighttime transport.

To address these challenges, T2 will collaborate with Fukuyama Transporting and Mitsui-Soko Logistics to test transporting goods during the day using T2's autonomous trucks. The experimental period is set from July 23 to July 24, 2025.

Timeline and Participants

• - Date: July 23-24, 2025
• - Location: Specific highway sections between Kanto and Kansai
• - Roles: Fukuyama Transporting and Mitsui-Soko Logistics will supply cargo and transport operations, while T2 will handle overall management and provide the experimental vehicle.

Truck Used

T2 will utilize a Level 2 autonomous truck, which requires a driver for operation, during this pilot.

Validation Objectives

• - Verification of operational schedules during daytime transport (such as switching hub passage times)
• - Assessment of operational efficiency and travel lead times for the specified route
• - Effectiveness validation of the assumed operational patterns

Pilot Project 2: Remote Vehicle Monitoring and Emergency Response

Given that Level 4 autonomous trucks will operate without a driver, establishing an effective response system for emergencies like accidents or breakdowns is crucial. T2 will collaborate with KDDI, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, and Japan Post to validate emergency response procedures assuming the dynamics of Level 4 autonomous trucking.

Timeline and Participants

• - Date: Late July 2025
• - Location: Certain highway sections between Kanto and Kansai
• - Roles: KDDI will provide communications networks and monitoring systems; Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance will ensure emergency responses; Japan Post will offer designated safe areas outside the expressway; T2 will manage the overall process and provide the test vehicles.

Validation Objectives

• - Evaluate the effectiveness and challenges of response actions during abnormal detection via remote monitoring
• - Examine the structure needed for continued transport
• - Verify various issues to facilitate discussions with relevant stakeholders

Future Outlook

Through these pilot projects, T2 and its conference partners aim to accelerate the preparation for Level 4 autonomous trucking. By validating the operational effectiveness and identifying challenges, they seek to pave the path toward the successful implementation of autonomous trucks in freight transport.

Official website of T2: t2.auto

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