https://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_101814.html
NEDO, Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, has published a concept for the “Realization of Delivery Services Using Automated Delivery Robots”
Automated delivery robots deliver various packages and products to logistics centers and retail stores. Aiming to solve issues such as labor shortages and people with shopping difficulties in the logistics field, NEDO is working with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry toward the social implementation of automated delivery robots. In April 2023, the revised Road Traffic Act came into force, allowing low-speed, small-sized automated delivery robots to be driven on public roads, and automated delivery services have been fully implemented in society.
A Working Group has compiled three main points:
(1) Expected use cases
Three main use cases are expected: delivery to private homes, mobile sales, and B2B transportation.
By increasing speed and size compared to low-speed, small robots, it is possible to improve maximum load capacity and operating rate, and shorten delivery time per delivery. Therefore, it is expected that the range of activities will be expanded from the current situation, such as frequent small-lot deliveries such as home delivery, product sales as unmanned mobile stores, and expansion of delivery areas for quick commerce.
(2) Specifications and operation of robots required by industry
To realize the expected use cases, it is hypothesized that for medium-speed and medium-sized robots, a machine smaller than a light car will travel at a maximum speed of 20 km/h, and will travel on the left side of the road. Since aspects such as ensuring safety and harmony with existing traffic are very important, we will continue to discuss with relevant ministries and agencies and promote future efforts toward social implementation.
(3) Roadmap for social implementation
The roadmap indicates that the next three years will be designated as an “intensive demonstration experiment period” with the aim of early social implementation, and that concrete discussions will be held with relevant ministries and agencies after sharing knowledge among stakeholders and refining the ideal form.
