Japan Aims to Create Self-Driving Lanes and Drone Routes

The Japanese government has announced plans to develop digital infrastructure by creating self-driving lanes on expressways and drone flight routes. The initiative is part of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's "Vision for a Digital Garden City Nation" aimed at achieving rural-urban digital integration and transformation.

The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry is expected to approve the plan, which includes the establishment of self-driving lanes on the Tohoku and Kyushu expressways by fiscal 2033. The lanes will be designed for use by autonomous vehicles ranging from "Level 2" with advanced driving assistance to "Level 4" driverless ones.

The plan also includes the creation of drone flight routes over the nation's first-class rivers and power grid, covering a total length of 10,000 kilometers and 40,000 kilometers, respectively. The aim is to utilize drones for tasks such as delivering supplies, inspecting electric power infrastructure, and other applications.

Furthermore, the government plans to create 3D data of underground infrastructure such as water and gas pipes in 10 cities nationwide by fiscal 2026 and in 50 cities by fiscal 2033. This initiative aims to facilitate the identification of damaged spots and expedite recovery from disasters.

The project is expected to generate at least ¥2 trillion in economic activity over the next 10 years. The government forecasts that the projects will promote the use of autonomous vehicles and improve rural-urban digital integration, contributing to the nation's economic growth and development.