Tokyo airport trials driverless cargo vehicle
The Peninsula
Tokyo: Tokyo s Haneda Airport is trialling a driverless vehicle to tow cargo containers in an attempt to get around labour shortages as the number of...
Tokyo: Tokyo's Haneda Airport is trialling a driverless vehicle to tow cargo containers in an attempt to get around labour shortages as the number of tourists flying into Japan soars.
The vehicle at one of the world's busiest airports can tow up to 13 tons of containers, joint developers All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Toyota Industries said in a statement.
It can pull up to six containers at a time, trundling between aircraft and airport buildings over a distance of around two kilometres (1.2 miles) with no driver in the cab.
The Level 4 vehicle, meaning that it does not require human interaction in certain settings -- although a human driver can still request control -- has been in operation since July 1.
The trial, the first at a Japanese airport, is part of government-backed efforts to innovate the air transport industry, and the companies aim to make the vehicle fully operational by the end of next year, they said.
