Summary of logistics solutions and services for the last mile system

The last mile problem has become a serious problem in the logistics industry. Behind this is an increase in parcel delivery services, labor shortages, and an increase in redelivery.

So, this time, we investigated new initiatives and businesses aimed at solving problems, such as new technologies and services such as automatic driving, platform services, and pick-up services.

[Service introduction] Strobe Co., Ltd., which operates the Autonomous Driving Lab, is developing "automated driving home delivery introduction support, PoC, and demonstration experiment consulting services" that support the use of autonomous driving technology in the EC and home delivery areas. there is For more details, please refer to "Strobe, supporting the introduction of 'unmanned home delivery' in the retail and restaurant industries! Resolving Labor Shortage Problems with Autonomous Driving Technology”.

Article table of contents

■Delivery robot system

Drone delivery: Rakuten and Japan Post are demonstrating progress

Rakuten, Inc., which handles major e-commerce sites, is using drones The delivery service "Rakuten Drone" was launched in 2016, and has been conducting demonstration experiments and trial service operations throughout the country.

The company jointly developed the Autonomous Control Systems Laboratory and the multi-copter drone "Tenku". Fully autonomous flight is possible, and all controls can be performed automatically until the cargo is dropped off at the destination and returned.

The first project, which started in May 2016, is a golf course delivery service, and the second project, which started in October 2017, is a product delivery service in Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture.

In January 2019, in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, together with Zenrin Co., Ltd. and Tokyo Electric Power Ventures Co., Ltd., we utilized the "drone highway" that uses the sky above the power transmission facility as a sky road, and the pilot visually recognized the aircraft. We are also conducting a drone delivery experiment by "flying without assistants outside the visual line of sight" that operates within the range that cannot be done.

Although it's not the last mile, Japan Post Co. has also launched a drone business. In November 2018, we started inter-post office transportation using drones, and using an aircraft manufactured by the Autonomous Control Systems Laboratory, from the Odaka Post Office in Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture to the Namie Post Office in Namie Town, Futaba District, Fukushima Prefecture. It is flying a section of about 9 kilometers to.

The aircraft flies at a height of 60 meters or less above the ground at a speed of 54 kilometers per hour or less. It can carry about 2 kilograms of luggage and is equipped with an emergency parachute.

In addition, Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd., the largest home delivery company, is collaborating with Bell Helicopter in the United States to develop drones specializing in the transportation of goods. It seems that both small and large machines are being developed for the aircraft responsible for delivery between base centers.

Overseas, US Amazon, a major e-commerce company, is aggressive. We are working on the commercialization of the "Prime Air" service, which uses drones to safely deliver packages to customers within 30 minutes. testing vehicle designs and delivery mechanisms.

[Reference] Regarding Yamato's drone business, see also "Yamato to commercialize self-driving aircraft in the sky within 10 years; US Bell Helicopter will be in charge of development".

Autonomous driving robots: ZMP takes the lead in Japan, and Yamato and Japan Post are stepping up efforts

Unmanned delivery for the last mile is done by ZMP Co., Ltd., which develops robots and autonomous driving in Japan. ahead. The delivery robot "CarriRo Deli" applies the technology cultivated in the development of autonomous driving of automobiles, and automatically runs at a maximum speed of 6 km / h while recognizing the surrounding environment 360 degrees with LiDAR (lidar) and camera. It is possible.

It has a small size of 65 x 95 x 96 centimeters and can carry up to 50 kilograms. It is a system that reads the QR code on the order screen of the smartphone and unlocks the locker that is loaded, and packages such as store apps and user apps that support order management at stores and loading products into each locker. It is

Startup Hakobot Co., Ltd. is also developing an automatic delivery robot. The first machine for was unveiled.

In addition to this, Yamato Transport Co., Ltd. and DeNA Co., Ltd. (DeNA) have teamed up in Japan to conduct delivery experiments using self-driving vehicles. In the demonstration experiment in April 2018, autonomous driving was performed on public roads in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, with a driver on board to respond to emergencies. ing.

In March 2019, Japan Post is also focusing on conducting demonstration experiments with Aisan Technology Co., Ltd., Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance Co., Ltd., and Tier IV Co., Ltd.

Overseas, Starship Technologies Inc. has started delivering products in the UK using self-driving robots developed in-house, and it seems to be a hot topic. It is a box type that moves on six wheels and has built-in cameras, sensors, communication equipment, batteries, etc. When you open the lid of the body, there is a space to store luggage, and it is said that luggage up to 18 kg can be delivered.

In the United States, startups that develop automatic delivery robots such as Robby Technologies, Nuro, Marble, etc.

In the EC field, Amazon has embarked on a demonstration of the delivery robot "Amazon Scout", and the Jingdong Group of China has also collaborated with a startup to formally operate a smart delivery station using a delivery robot.

[Reference] About Hakobot, "Hakobot's self-driving delivery robot will be unveiled at 'Horiemon Festival in Nagoya'! See also For Roboneko Yamato, see also "Roboneko Yamato runs in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture: delivery experiment using self-driving vehicles". For Japan Post's initiatives, see also "Japan Post conducts experiments on self-driving cars: In an era where robots deliver New Year's cards". For Starship's efforts, see also "Starship Technologies in the United States, the start of product delivery by self-driving robots in the United Kingdom". For Amazon's delivery robots, see "US Amazon Starts Demonstration Experiment of Self-Driving Delivery Robot 'Scout'". For Nuro's efforts, see also "Softbank to use self-driving delivery vehicles for Uber Eats, investing 104 billion yen in US Nuro".

Autonomous driving mobile service type: Focus on Toyota "e-Palette", mobile service contributes to logistics

Although it will be a future technology, sales stores will be able to use self-driving cars It will be possible to move it and fill the last mile chasm.

Robomart, an unmanned food sales service using self-driving cars, unveiled at the CES held in Las Vegas in January 2018 by Robomart in the United States, and e-Palette, a multi-purpose EV for MaaS announced by Toyota Motor Corporation. ” and various other developments can be expected.

[Reference] Regarding Robomart, see also "Start of demonstration of unmanned self-driving convenience store Robomart in the United States; Toyota and 7-Eleven are also exploring deployment". For e-Palette, see also "What is Toyota's e-Palette? Multipurpose EV self-driving car for MaaS".

■Delivery system

On-demand delivery service: Overseas, Uber, etc. are starting. An on-demand delivery service has also been created in which general users who have registered with the service handle the delivery of packages. In addition to serving as the last mile for major transportation companies, there seems to be a service that directly matches individuals who want to send packages.

Typical examples include ride-sharing giant Uber's "UberCARGO" and Hong Kong's "GoGoVan" and "lalamove".

Roaming Delivery: Delivering Packages to Cars

Swedish automaker Volvo announced at a mobile communications trade fair held in Spain in 2014 that roaming deliveries to cars. Launched delivery service. By specifying a car as the delivery destination for the package, the delivery company can use the digital key to open the trunk and carry the package.

In 2017, the British department store chain "John Lewis" partnered with the startup "InMotion" under the umbrella of the British automaker Jaguar Land Rover, and started a demonstration experiment to deliver packages to the trunk of a customer's car. ing.

By installing a smart box in the trunk of a car, you can specify the car as the delivery destination, and the delivery company will deliver based on the car's location information, license plate, and the code necessary to open the trunk. It's how it works.

Collaborative delivery system: There is also an example of establishing an association to continue services, such as sharing the burden with shippers The Last One Mile Cooperative aims to solve problems such as a shortage of delivery drivers and soaring freight rates. implementation. It is a system in which a shipper can receive a discount service by paying for carrying in and sorting of luggage.

■Platform/application system

Raksul Co., Ltd., which provides a sharing platform service for printing and advertising, matches companies and individuals who want to send packages with light cargo drivers who want to work in their spare time. and "Hacobell Connect", a logistics platform for general cargo and logistics operators that can easily manage the dispatch of their own or affiliated companies and request cargo during the off-season.

Docomap Japan Co., Ltd., Fuji Unyu Co., Ltd., Trabox Co., Ltd., Esoco Co., Ltd., and NTT Docomo Kansai Branch Co., Ltd. are collaborating to reduce the number of empty vehicle forwardings in the truck transportation business using AI technology. was announced in 2017, and provides a platform “docomap JAPAN” that realizes delivery matching between shipping companies.

CBcloud Co., Ltd. provides a logistics platform for companies "PickGo" and a delivery platform for individuals "PickGo for Personal" service. We are working on services such as matching by distributing all at once.

In addition, an application released by Tradeshift Japan Co., Ltd. that shares information on trucks and containers that are scheduled to return empty after cargo transportation and matches companies and organizations that have cargo transportation needs. Caratra", Serut Inc.'s smartphone app "DIAq" that searches for nearby drivers, riders, and messengers and requests delivery, and Ukettle Inc.'s automatic tracking function and flexible re-delivery requests. Various platforms such as “Ukettle” have been born.

■Receiving system

Delivery lockers: The number of lockers installed is increasing, reducing redeliveries

In the receiving system, delivery lockers are gaining momentum. Packcity Japan Co., Ltd., which was jointly invested by Neopost Shipping and Yamato Transport Co., Ltd. in 2016, has installed more than 3,000 courier lockers "PUDO Stations" nationwide that can be used by any courier company. there is

In addition, Full Time System Co., Ltd. has commercialized the delivery box "Full Time Locker" for condominiums and "POSTAKU", which combines the two functions of a mailbox and a delivery box. There is also a well-known service called “Haco Post,” which allows you to receive and send packages and registered mail from lockers installed at post offices.

Convenience store delivery and delivery service: Benefits for the recipient

In addition to receiving packages, there are services that allow you to receive packages at convenience stores, and can be easily installed at the entrance of your home. Yper Co., Ltd.'s delivery bag "OKIPPA", NASTA Co., Ltd.'s home delivery box for detached houses and collective housing, etc. are being commercialized by various companies.

In the latter half of 2018, Nasta and Fukuoka City conducted a demonstration experiment of delivery boxes targeting 1,000 households. of users said they had decreased.

In addition to helping to prevent redelivery when the recipient is absent, it seems that the service and product have benefits for the user as well.

Delivery management and cloud services: Improving overall operations such as efficient delivery route proposals

Optimind Co., Ltd., a startup from Nagoya University, uses AI to optimize logistics Deploying cloud services that aim to Loogia, an AI-optimized vehicle allocation cloud service, is a service that streamlines ``which vehicle should go to which destination and in what order.'' It uses machine learning to create a map for delivery, We propose efficient delivery routes based on algorithms and map data.

CBcloud Co., Ltd. also released in August 2018, "Ichimana ~ AI Dynamics Management ~", a simple dynamics management system that utilizes AI and blockchain technology and pursues the convenience of managers and drivers. .

[Reference] Regarding Optimind, see "Nagoya Great Neighborhood, Japan's Strongest in AI and Autonomous Driving: Startups One After Another".

In addition, ASKUL, a major office supply company, outsources home delivery to a subsidiary and offers a "Happy on Time" service that allows users to specify a time zone in small increments. It seems that they have succeeded in improving the accuracy of arrival times and reducing the absence rate as much as possible with their own delivery system that utilizes AI.

In addition, there are efforts to improve the efficiency of logistics in general by introducing a warehouse management system that supports everything from receiving and shipping / inventory management to inventory work, including warehousing.

In the consulting menu "Logistics Business Transformation Consulting Service" provided by NTT DATA, it is possible to automate and optimize logistics operations that rely on human labor by utilizing the logistics image discrimination AI engine.

■ [Summary] The last mile in the logistics field is a growing industry. Problems directly turn into demand

The last mile in people's transportation services is not necessarily expected to have a corresponding demand, but in logistics The last mile is inextricably linked to increased demand. In other words, there is a "demand" there.

For this reason, various services such as unmanned, labor-saving, and smooth receipt of luggage by utilizing automatic driving technology are fields that can be expected to continue to grow, and the development of technology and new services will continue to progress. It seems that there are many.

In addition, the flow of logistics is mainly "collection → temporary sorting (distribution center) → moving to a small logistics base → secondary sorting → delivery from each sales office", but each sales office is the last mile Cloud services that contribute to the last one mile problem by optimizing the whole from collection to delivery, etc. have also penetrated.

In today's world where there is no end to the number of online shopping deals, advanced technologies such as AI and ICT will make up for labor shortages and evolve into something more convenient in the future.

[Reference] For the last mile, see "What is the last mile? Utilization of self-driving technology to solve problems".