Driverless vehicle tests on roads eyed

March 29, 2017

NAGOYA- Autonomous driving tests on public roads are accelerating in Aichi Prefecture , home to Toyota Motor Corp. and many other automobile-related companies.

The central Japan prefecture has been designated as a national strategic special zone for deregulation as the Japanese government seeks to enhance the international competitiveness of the automotive industry. Local companies and Nagoya University repeatedly conducted Level 3 automated driving tests in fiscal 2016 as part of their efforts to contribute to the development of self-driving vehicles.

According to the central government’s classification, autonomous driving without the driver is designated as Level 4, while Level 3 is for limited self-driving, in which the driver controls the vehicle when necessary.

The experiments involved a self-driving system developed by Nagoya University to automatically maneuver the steering wheel, apply the brake and depress the accelerator. They were conducted in a 2- to 3-kilometer test section of a public road each in 15 prefectural cities and towns, including the city of Anjo.

An experimental vehicle travels with the help of a laser installed on its roof to check for obstacles around the route. The driver sits behind the wheel, but only for responding to emergency situations.

The vehicles initially ran awkwardly when they reached curves and hills, but improved their performance as the self-driving system was adjusted after each run. Jiji Press