Panasonic in collaboration with East Japan Railway Group (JR East) launched a mobility service trial using its robotic device. An electric wheelchair with autonomous tracking function. The trial run is scheduled to take place from July - September 2020 at the new Takanawa Gateway Station opened along the JR Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines. Normally to be done in a closed area of the station to verify their serviceability in a sunny, semi-outdoor environment.

The new station is positioned as a new hub for international exchange and is moving forward with the installation & demonstration of the latest station services and facilities. With the introduction of various robotic services that can be used in the station and at surrounding facilities to create safer station environments. In anticipation of the completion of Phase One of its large-scale Shinagawa Development Project by March 2024, generally not open to the public.

Three units of the robotic mobility device are to be used for the trial. The leading robot will be controlled by a station employee, and the other robots to automatically follow it in a column using autonomous tracking function. Robots are equipped with an automatic braking system that enables them to slow down or stop completely when an obstacle is detected and will only move again once it recognizes the way is cleared. The company's goal is to develop a completely unmanned mobility service for a new way of living. It eyes on globally expanding mobility as a service market to develop robots that can propose new value to customers and urban environments. Such as tour services for families and groups to transport multiple people together in a cluster, using autonomous mobility device's capability.

For more information: www.panasonic.com