TIER IV is a Japanese startup that is revolutionizing the autonomous driving industry. Founded in 2015, the company aims to create safer and more efficient transportation systems by making autonomous driving accessible to everyone. TIER IV has become a key player in the industry and has established partnerships with big-name car manufacturers, including Toyota and Suzuki.
TIER IV’s Autonomous Driving Solutions
TIER IV’s autonomous driving software platforms, Pilot.Auto and Web.Auto, offer a range of support from development to operation of customers’ autonomous driving systems. These platforms can be used in multiple operational design domains (ODDs), including closed spaces with restricted traffic and pedestrian-vehicle mixed traffic in urban areas.
Pilot.Auto
Pilot.Auto is an autonomous driving software platform based on Autoware, an open-source software (OSS) for autonomous driving whose development is led by TIER IV. Pilot.Auto enables partners to achieve their own autonomous driving goals in accordance with TIER IV’s proprietary reference design specifications.
Pilot.Auto provides services to help partners’ autonomous driving implementation in their respective communities. These include customization of software, integration of software with the target vehicle systems, adaptation of software to the target driving environments, and maintenance for the customized, integrated, and adapted software.
Pilot.Auto currently provides five variants of the reference design. Each reference design defines the functions and performance requirements that are essential for specific use cases and ODDs, and Pilot.Auto is equipped with the basic software and hardware designs to meet those requirements. The reference designs provided by TIER IV play the role of a “starting point” for the development of autonomous driving systems for partners and can significantly reduce the cost and lead time required for the development and operation of autonomous vehicles.
Web.Auto
Web.Auto is a cloud-native, edge-intensive DevOps software platform that is essential for the development and safe operation of autonomous driving systems. Web.Auto is configured with development platform tools, such as autonomous driving simulators and CI/CD data pipeline, which are required to develop autonomous driving systems efficiently and effectively, as well as operation platform tools such as fleet management system and remote monitoring system that can be integrated with applications provided by a third party.
The main functions of Web.Auto include autonomous driving simulation, CI/CD data pipeline, data management, fleet management, and remote driving.
Examples of TIER IV’s Autonomous Driving Solutions
TIER IV has been working with a number of customers, including car manufacturers and service operators, to promote the development of autonomous driving systems that utilize Pilot.Auto and Web.Auto for each reference design. Some of them have already started commercialization of autonomous driving services.
Cargo Transport: TIER IV and Yamaha Motor’s eve autonomy all-in-one autonomous transport service
TIER IV has been actively involved in the expansion of the market for autonomous transport vehicles, and their collaboration with Yamaha Motor, eve autonomy, has yielded great results. In April 2020, TIER IV and Yamaha Motor founded eve autonomy, and together they have been developing an all-in-one autonomous transport service. In September 2021, eve autonomy announced their all-in-one autonomous transport service, “eve auto.” The service was developed to meet the need for autonomous transport in closed spaces, including indoor and outdoor environments.
The all-in-one service has already been implemented in several factories, including the Hamakita Factory of Yamaha Motor. It is worth noting that the acceptance of the offer of a series of development and maintenance platforms for autonomous driving systems from a third party is a world first. Based on the knowledge gained from this case study, TIER IV is also actively applying the platform to other autonomous driving services in Japan and overseas, aiming to work with partner companies to promote and accelerate the development of autonomous driving.
Shuttle Bus: TIER IV’s installation of autonomous driving software platform in Toyota Motor Corporation’s e-Palette
TIER IV installed the autonomous driving software platform in the e-Palette, a battery-electric vehicle developed by Toyota Motor Corporation. The company conducted autonomous driving field tests of mobility services at Odaiba, Tokyo Waterfront City from February to March 2022. TIER IV used Pilot.Auto as the base, into which innovative concepts were incorporated to enhance vehicle control with consideration of ride comfort and adaptability to various driving situations.
At the same time, TIER IV provided support for the establishment of a commercial-level operation system for autonomous buses using Web.Auto tools. The tools included an autonomous driving simulator and high-precision 3D map editing tool. Furthermore, TIER IV is engaged in collaborations with other leading Japanese car manufacturers in the realm of large buses with a seating capacity of more than 50. Since 2020, TIER IV has been working with other car manufacturers to build such shuttle buses using both Pilot.Auto and Web.Auto software platforms. The company has been moving forward with the development of shuttle buses with a focus on practical application on public roads, beginning with the implementation of the platforms on vehicles that travel on dedicated vehicle lanes in restricted areas in airports.
A consortium consisting of Tier IV, NTT East, KDDI, and Narita International Airport (NAA) has started a two-year experiment to test multiple autonomous buses using local 5G technology at Narita International Airport. The goal of the experiment is to have up to three buses operate autonomously between terminals 1 to 3 by a remote operator, who will monitor the vehicles at all times. The consortium aims to implement level 4 autonomous driving of passenger buses in restricted airport areas by 2025.
Delivery Robot: TIER IV and Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ collaboration on autonomous delivery robots
TIER IV and Kawasaki Heavy Industries signed a memorandum on a collaboration to address last-mile logistics issues and launched a joint development project on autonomous delivery robots in August 2021. Kawasaki Heavy Industries provides the main body of the delivery robot, which is equipped with TIER IV’s software platforms. Field tests have been conducted on roadside strips and sidewalks in Tokyo, and the two companies have worked on the simultaneous control of several types of robots, including a delivery robot developed by TIER IV, with a focus on the implementation of delivery robots in society in the future.
TIER IV’s Recognition in Japan and Beyond
TIER IV’s impact has not only been felt in Japan but also beyond. For instance, the Chinese autonomous driving market is one of the biggest and most competitive markets globally. In 2021, TIER IV’s Autoware was officially listed by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) as the first foreign autonomous driving software to pass the country’s new standards. The recognition by the Chinese government is a significant boost to TIER IV’s global recognition and provides the company with the opportunity to collaborate with Chinese players in the autonomous driving market.
Speaking of collaborations, TIER IV has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the automotive industry. In 2021, TIER IV entered into a joint development project with Foxconn Technology Group, a leading electronics manufacturing service provider, to plan and develop autonomous personal cars. As part of the project, TIER IV is to provide a cloud-based DevOps software platform, with the concept of “software-defined vehicle (SDV),” which enables vehicle functions and performances, including autonomous driving features, to be enabled through the application of software.
TIER IV’s autonomous transport service, “eve auto”, has been recognized by the Chinese market as one of the “Top 50 Successful Cases of Low-Speed Autonomous Driving in 2022“. The award was given at the “2022 Annual Conference on the Development of Low-Speed Autonomous Driving Industry” held in Hangzhou on December 23, 2022, organized by the Low-Speed Autonomous Driving (LSAD) Industry Alliance in China. TIER IV, as an alliance member, attended the conference, and its “eve auto” service, which combines a self-driving EV developed by Yamaha Motor and TIER IV’s self-driving software platform, was chosen as one of the successful cases. TIER IV’s Autoware was also recognized for promoting commercial services for low-speed autonomous driving scenarios based on Autoware. This recognition underscores TIER IV’s success in the autonomous driving industry, particularly in the Chinese market.
Conclusion
TIER IV’s work in the autonomous driving industry has had a significant impact, not just in Japan, but globally as well. The company’s platforms, Pilot.Auto and Web.Auto, have enabled partners to achieve their autonomous driving goals and significantly reduce development costs of their desired autonomous driving system while shortening the time to market. TIER IV’s practical and useful solutions to big customers have made the company a recognized player in the autonomous driving market