TIER IV has announced that its AI Pilot system, which is responsible for powering an autonomous bus service in Shiojiri, Nagano Prefecture, has achieved Level 4 status.
The system is the first of its kind in Japan to be awarded the certification & associated permissions to travel at speeds of up to 35km per hour on public roads.
Developed in-house by, TIER IV’s AI Pilot combines the open-source software Autoware, a series of sensors, an in-vehicle infotainment system and an on-board computer.
TIER IV founder and CEO Shinpei Kato, said:In Japan, it is increasingly difficult to sustain regional public transportation amid population decline and an ageing society.
At TIER IV, we are committed to addressing these challenges with autonomous driving technology. The Level 4 certification in Shiojiri represents a major step forward in these efforts. Looking ahead, we will continue to drive research, development and proof of concept (PoC) tests to accelerate the widespread rollout of autonomous solutions.
The system is currently on use along the route between Shiojiri Station and Shiojiri City Hall.
