RoAD to L4, Advancing Autonomy: Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment of Level 4 Driving Automation and Enhanced Mobility Services in Japan

This paper explores the advancement of Level 4 driving automation [1] to automated mobility services for commercial and private vehicles, with a focus on the RoAD to L4 project in Japan. The project outlines the progression from Level 3 to Level 4 in commercial vehicles. The study also details the success of deploying Level 4 services in limited areas and vehicles in 2023, and describes plans to expand to 50 locations across the country by FY2025. The study also highlights efforts to apply Level 4 technology to truck services on expressways post-2025. Additionally, the project discusses broader societal goals, including the popularization of new mobility service using V2X, and gaining public acceptance for automated mobility service.