Panasonic is testing Japan’s reaction to its first delivery robots
National strategy
The trials are based on Japan’sgrowth strategy action plan, published in July 2020, which called for robot delivery pilots to inform policymaking for a wider roll-out.
Panasonic is taking part in a public-private council for the promotion of deliveries by autonomous robots which is sponsored by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. Part of the company’s R&D and field test activities are also being supported by a government technology development project to accelerate the deployment of autonomous delivery technologies.
In October, Japan Post Co.startedpublic road trials of self-driving delivery robots in Tokyo.
Elsewhere, Starship Technologies isrunningrobot deliveries with the Co-op supermarket in two UK cities, with plans to expand the service next year. In July,Amazon announcedtrials of its electric, autonomous Scout package delivery robots in Atlanta, Georgia, and Franklin, Tennessee, adding to services inSnohomish County, Washington, andIrvine, California.
San Francisco, which was a front-runner for the deployment of robot deliveries,passed regulationsin 2017 to govern the use of delivery robots after complaints from some residents. The city has sinceestablished an Office of Emerging Technologyto engage earlier with companies that want to deploy potentially disruptive new systems and products.
In other robot uses during the pandemic, Singapore piloted a four-legged, dog-like robot called Spot topromote social distancingin parks, and Seoul is using small humanoid robots todeliver digital skills trainingto senior citizens.
Smart town
Panasonic has been working in Fujisawa Sustainable Smart Town since it opened in 2014. The development, which is home to over 2,000 people, is located on the site of a former Panasonic factory in Fujisawa. It brings together 18 public and private organizations, including Panasonic and Fujisawa City. The community aims to serve as a model for citizen-centric sustainable development and how technology can address urban challenges related to energy, security, mobility, and health.
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Story byCities Today
Cities Today is the leading news platform on urban mobility and innovation, reaching an international audience of city leaders.Cities Today is the leading news platform on urban mobility and innovation, reaching an international audience of city leaders.
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