Tier IV robot taxi debut powered by Autoware and PACMod 3.0 System

Tier IV’s robot taxi — developed using Autoware, the world’s first open-source software for autonomous driving technology, and powered by the PACMod drive-by-wire system from Hexagon | AutonomouStuff — has successfully completed its first round of live testing with passengers in Tokyo.

The successful deployment of Tier IV’s robot taxi in central Tokyo in November represents the most publicly accessible product of a strategic partnership between Tier IV and AutonomouStuff. The Autoware Foundation guides community development of the autonomous driving software, and Tier IV also partnered with Mobility Technologies, SOMPO Japan Insurance, KDDI and Aisan Technology on a long-term plan to commercialize autonomous taxis.

“This is an amazing achievement using Autoware,” said Dr. Shinpei Kato, founder of Autoware and Chief Technical Officer of Tier IV. “Both Tier IV and Hexagon | AutonomouStuff are founding members of the Autoware Foundation. I am proud of this open alliance enabling the future of mobility.”

Bobby Hambrick, Chief Autonomous Officer of Hexagon’s Autonomy and Positioning division, commended the successful deployment of an Autoware-operated autonomous vehicle enabled by the PACMod 3.0 System as a significant milestone for safer mobility in Tokyo and autonomous vehicle technology all over the world.

“The autonomous taxi that Tier IV is deploying in Tokyo has the potential to change lives all over Japan by delivering on the promise autonomy technology holds for safer, less congested, more convenient travel,” Hambrick said. “I couldn’t be prouder to work with Tier IV and the Autoware Foundation on this remarkable achievement.”

The successful four-day test was designed to check the safety, comfort and punctuality of the self-driving taxi in two modes ー one under completely remote monitoring and another monitored by a safety driver sitting in the driver’s seat.

Upcoming trials are scheduled to be conducted between Dec. 8 and Dec. 23, 2020, in the Nishi Shinjuku area of central Tokyo, including a seven-day test for stakeholders and a five-day test entirely open to the public. People wishing to attend the trial need to apply via the website (https://future-mobility-lab.mo-t.com/5G-december/) and will be entered into a lottery drawing. Winners will be able to request a ride via a mobile app during the trial period.

About Hexagon | AutonomouStuff

Hexagon is a global leader in sensor, software and autonomous solutions. We are putting data to work to boost efficiency, productivity, and quality across industrial, manufacturing, infrastructure, safety, and mobility applications.

Our technologies are shaping urban and production ecosystems to become increasingly connected and autonomous — ensuring a scalable, sustainable future.

AutonomouStuff, part of Hexagon, is a global technology leader, pioneering solutions for R&D platforms, products, software and engineering services for the advancement of robotics and autonomy systems. Learn more at autonomoustuff.com

Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 20,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 3.9bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com and follow us @HexagonAB.

About Tier IV

Tier IV, a deep-tech startup based in Japan, is dedicated to sharing technology for safe intelligent vehicles that will benefit all of society by enabling as many individuals and organizations as possible to overcome the barriers of time and space to collectively bring autonomous vehicles into reality.

Founded in December 2015, Tier IV has led the development of Autoware, the world’s first open-source software for autonomous driving, and applied Autoware in applications of last-mile driverless mobility and logistics. Tier IV and its global partners continue to evolve Autoware and provide turn-key solutions for commercialization of Autoware-based autonomous vehicles all over the world. Learn more at https://tier4.jp/en/ and follow us @tier_iv_japan.

Autoware is a registered trademark of the Autoware Foundation.