Sharing a shopping street with pedestrians

Two vehicles ran through one of the busiest streets in Kansai, and an AI camera measured how they shared the space with pedestrians.

Sannomiya Center-gai is a shopping street running east to west through Kobe's Sannomiya district. In this street, one of the liveliest in Kansai, two iino type-S712 vehicles ran.

Measuring how people walk with an AI camera

Using an AI camera, we compared how pedestrians moved when iino was not running and when it approached, measuring its effect on them. Many people slowed down when they saw iino or walked alongside it, enjoying a stroll through the town together.

Mobility spots that blend into the street

At each end of the route we set up a timber spot matched to the existing street furniture. A monitor inside showed where iino was in real time, so people could rest or work there and hop on when it arrived.

We also put stickers on the road showing the route to test whether people could tell where it was going. They were not noticed much, and how to communicate the route remains a challenge for next time.

Overview

• Location: Sannomiya Center-gai, Kobe, Hyogo
• Model: iino type-S712
• Period: May 22–28, 2024
• Vehicles: 2
• Study: pedestrian flow measured with an AI camera