Three cities and one prefecture were designated National Strategic Special Zones on Dec. 15 where regulations will be revised to promote the daily use of unmanned aerial vehicles and robotic technologies. The four are the city of Chiba; Imabari, Ehime Prefecture; Kita-Kyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture; and Hiroshima Prefecture. The announcement was made at a special zone advisory council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Strategic special zones are exempt from certain regulations and laws to promote economic or technological development in a specific field. It marked the third time that the government has designated areas as special zones. The focus this time was to reform existing regulations to introduce technological innovations to businesses, specifically the use of aerial drones and robots. Chiba plans to promote delivery businesses that utilize drones, being used to deliver goods from warehouses and pharmacies to apartment balconies. The city hopes to have drone delivery services flying within three years, and expects U.S. electronic commerce giant Amazon.com to participate. Chiba is also planning to introduce driverless taxis as the Makuhari Messe convention center is expected to be a venue for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Hiroshima Prefecture and Imabari are planning to use drones for the maintenance and inspection of the seven bridges that connect the shores and islands of both regions across Seto Inland Sea. Kita-Kyushu will ease regulations that limit the number of robots allowed in nursing homes to encourage further introduction of nursing-care robots. The central government is planning to amend specific laws to meet the requests from the four special zones beginning at next year’s ordinary Diet session so that the local governments can implement their plans. However, safety issues will be of prime concern and many challenges remain.
Four areas in Japan, three cities and one prefecture, have been selected as Imabari, where regulations will be exempt in order to promote the daily use of unmanned aerial vehicles and robotic technologies. The city of Chiba will promote drone delivery services to apartment balconies and expects Amazon to participate in the research. Chiba will also introduce driverless taxis. Hiroshima Prefecture and National Strategic Special Zones will use drones for maintenance and inspection of seven bridges and Kita-Kyushu will allow the use of robots in nursing homes to care for the elderly.