Our report on a rather unique pilot project in Japan, including two questions that provide much food for thought.
The Toyota difference
Along with goods, autonomous robots will also deliver services and experiences.
From projecting video ads as they drive to serving as mobile stores akin to the e-Palette, they hold vast business potential. These robots are also distinctly different from overseas offerings.
Assistant Manager Sato, Advanced Mobility System Development Div.
One key feature is the detachable cargo bed, which makes it very versatile. For example, instead of simply waiting for a farmer to load up the trailer with vegetables, the Guide Mobi can go and perform another task elsewhere.
Since it can be used by everyone in the community, increasing its operational time also boosts cost-effectiveness.
Sato shared that he has children in the lower grades of elementary school. “In the future, I hope they will see these robots going about their work while everyone is asleep, or in heavy rains, and think, ‘My dad developed that,’” he told us, with a smile that will be hard to forget.
On the day we visited, a compact, low-speed robot was also being trialed.
Given that such small, low-speed models are already out there on the streets, is there anything that sets Toyota apart? We hesitantly posed the question to a developer, wondering what we should do if he responded “no”…
Masatoshi Kakutani, Assistant Manager, Advanced Mobility System Development Div.
A major difference from other companies is integration with parcel drop boxes, which enables autonomous delivery. That means you don’t need to wait at home for the robot to arrive or go out to receive the package.
We drew inspiration from the Toyota Production System idea that people should not just be left to watch over machines. The robot has been thoroughly lab-tested, and we also showcased the concept at the Osaka-Kansai Expo.
Because small robots cannot cover all areas of logistics, our development vision is a mobility network that integrates parcel drop boxes as well as medium- and large-sized vehicles.
A clear difference indeed—our apologies! Kakutani says they are also exploring refrigerated transport.
Assistant Manager Kakutani, Advanced Mobility System Development Div.
The area where I live hasn’t felt the effects of aging, but I was surprised to learn that even in such places there are many older people who rely on mobile vending.
Even if the supermarket is just a kilometer away, walking the 2 km round trip is a tough ask for a senior person who has handed in their driver’s license. To assist those who struggle with shopping, we are also looking into refrigerated transport.
The benefits of testing in mountainous areas
Local business operators who took part in the trials spoke about not only convenience but also the unique challenges faced by aging communities.
Tsutomu Takigami, DonDon Market
With the population growing older, there are more vacant homes, and the shops that existed in each village are gone. Over 90% of our DonDon Market customers live nearby, and many are women over 60.
For those who have given up their licenses, the only option is for us to bring things to their door. But if everything is done by robots, there will be less interaction in the community. I would love it if the robots were equipped with cameras so that we could talk to local residents.
When asked how he got involved with the initiative in the first place, Takigami explained, “If we don’t do something, people will no longer be able to shop. The question is, who’s going to do it…? So I volunteered.”
“I feel embarrassed, so let’s get the photo done quickly,” Takigami added. You could sense that he did this not for the money, but from a genuine desire to better the lives of the townspeople.
Given that autonomous transport robots tend to be tested in urban areas, these mountain-town trials marked a major step forward in identifying new challenges.
As a business, the project hasn’t even reached the starting line. But preparations are steadily underway to ensure that, when the time comes, it can hit the ground running.