Autonomous vehicles continue to represent the emerging transport trend in Japan
The German delegation, led by Transport Minister Winfried Hermann (Greens), is currently in Japan to explore the latest advancements in autonomous driving technology. The visit includes stops at the IBM Tokyo Research Center and the Kanagawa Institute of Technology (KAIT).
IBM's goal is to create a cloud that collects data from millions of vehicles to create a real-time digital model of the road space. This data will be used to provide warnings about slippery roads, aquaplaning, and traffic jams to autonomous cars. IBM Japan's research chief, Yoshikuhi Kawashima, mentioned that they have been working on autonomous driving since 2006.
At KAIT, the delegation observed tests on autonomous cars in various weather and lighting conditions, including simulations of fog, night, low sun, rain, and a cyclist without lights riding at night. The toy car racetrack at KAIT features a self-driving car that completes ten laps without stumbling.
IBM is also exploring blockchain technology in relation to autonomous driving. The company plans to use this technology to secure data transmission between vehicles and improve the overall safety of autonomous driving.
Bosch Japan, a major player in the automotive industry, employs 6,200 people in Japan, mainly in brake production for electric cars and combustion engines. Christian Mecker, President of Bosch Japan, was part of the delegation.
German companies are currently collaborating with Japanese partners in the fields of electric mobility and autonomous vehicles. FPT Software, a German company, has entered a joint venture with the Japanese IT firm Smart Holdings to support digital transformation focused on the automotive sector in Japan, targeting Software-Defined Vehicles and related technologies.
The infrastructure for operating hybrid and electric motors with E-fuels in Japan is still in the test phase. Japan aims to only allow hybrid and electric motors by 2035, with a strong reliance on the hybrid motor that produces electricity for an electric motor from gasoline.
The delegation's visit to South Korea is scheduled for Wednesday. IBM is also working on a self-driving suitcase for the blind, which they plan to present at the Expo 2025 in Osaka. Mohanad El-Haji, a Karlsruhe entrepreneur, has been working with KAIT for ten years and founded a startup for artificial intelligence as a spin-off from KIT. His startup has 22 employees and focuses on creating an AI model to help the on-board computer of autonomous cars categorize various road traffic scenarios.
Inside the Tech Lab at IBM Tokyo Research Center, complex visualizations are displayed on giant screens. The group first visited the IBM Tokyo Research Center, a massive AI research facility. A large transporter at KAIT is used to simulate accidents based on real-life dangerous situations. Rain is simulated on a sensor at KAIT, requiring the computer to calculate the smaller appearance of an object through the raindrop.
The visit to Japan marks an important step in the exploration of autonomous driving technology by the German delegation. The collaboration between German and Japanese companies promises to bring significant advancements in the field, contributing to safer and more efficient transportation solutions in the future.
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