Robot Taxis Planned for Japanese Cities by 2020

robot-taxi-1Mobile internet firm DeNA and driverless car tech company ZMP have announced a joint venture that aims to see driverless cars, which the firms are calling Robot Taxis, put to work on Tokyos roads by 2020.

The venture has already been approved to start testing in 2016. Tests will take place in Kangawa, a coastal town to the south of Tokyo, and will offer rides to 50 people before being taken back to the company for analysis.

A prototype of the Robot Taxi has been exhibited at the companys ZMP Forum held in Tokyo this week, and the hope is to have the taxis running commercially in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

As part of the tests, ZMP is also collaborating with German firm IBEO Automotive Systems to integrate laser scanners which will act as the main environmental sensors for object detection and recognition on the cars.

IBEOs technology will also be integrated into a number of ZMPs other autonomous vehicles, and sold as a bundle package to other companies interested in using autonomous driving technology around the world.

“The objective of ZMP, to develop an autonomous vehicle driving in a megacity like Tokyo, is very challenging,” said Dr Ulrich Lages, CEO of IBEO. “We are very proud of being part of ZMPs innovative autonomous vehicle approach.”