Robotic Vehicle Technology
May Mobility, Inc. (“May Mobility”) and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (“NTT”) announced their collaborative efforts toward the public deployment of autonomous driving services, including the launch of a demonstration test site at the NTT Central Training Center.
The “e-Palette” will be added to the vehicle types to be utilized at the demonstration site. Through this demonstration experiment and with the addition of the new vehicle, the companies will showcase a system that can provide the most appropriate vehicle type according to local traffic conditions and various needs, and contribute to the spread and expansion of autonomous driving services.
1．Background
In November 2024, NTT established a demonstration base with May Mobility at the NTT Central Training Center to create opportunities for direct dialogue with various stakeholders through the experience of autonomous driving technology together with NTT Group’s communication and other technologies.
The companies already conducted demonstration tests with a vehicle developed based on Toyota Motor Corporation’s Sienna minivan. However, under the consideration that a new vehicle with increased number of passengers is needed to respond to local traffic conditions and various needs, NTT and May Mobility will proceed with demonstration tests of autonomous driving with remote monitoring using the vehicle developed by May Mobility using “e-Palette” as a platform and equipped with May Mobility’s autonomous driving technology.
2．Outline of Initiatives
Operation Route: NTT Central Training Center
Vehicles: Vehicle developed based on Toyota Motor Corporation’s battery EV dedicated to mobility service, “e-Palette”
Features: May Mobility and NTT, with support from NTT East, will use the field to conduct an autonomous driving demonstration, including remote monitoring functions using technologies such as local 5G network (the test environment inside NTT e-City Labo [1]).
3．Future Outlook
Through the use of the e-Palette, NTT and May Mobility will strengthen their ability to respond to the needs for vehicle size in each region. Through the demonstration tests in various regions, they will further deepen cooperation with local residents and provide safe and secure autonomous driving services that contribute to solving social issues.
[1] NTT e-City Labo: A facility located at the NTT Central Training Center (Chofu City, Tokyo) where visitors can experience NTT East Group’s solutions for solving regional issues, including a test environment for NTT East’s managed local 5G service (Gigaraku 5G).
SOURCE: May Mobility
