First in Japan! "Aichi Model 2030, where the sky and road connect" - The 3D transportation network of the future will be unveiled on Saku Island - where the ground signal turns red when a drone approaches
When the signal changes, use the winch to lower the load. PD6B-Type3
On November 5, 2025, Prodrone Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, President and CEO: Shunsuke Totani), in collaboration with Aichi Prefecture, Nishio City, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, began a demonstration experiment (hereinafter referred to as the "Project") aimed at commercializing long-term drone logistics on the remote island of Sakushima. This project will be implemented over the next month as part of the "Aichi Mobility Innovation Project (*1)" in collaboration with the "Smart Island Promotion Demonstration Survey (*2)". This project is being promoted primarily by three companies: Prodrone Co., Ltd., Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., and Nagoya Railway Co., Ltd.
In this project, Prodrone will be used as a sea route between Isshiki Fishing Port and Sakushima. Logistics drone PD6B-Type3 The aim is to realize a next-generation logistics model that connects the air and roads by transporting cargo, and autonomous delivery robots and self-driving cars working together on the island. By cooperating with different forms of mobility such as drones, automatic delivery robots, and self-driving cars, we will verify Japan's first smart logistics model using a 3D transportation network.
This year, we have newly installed a drone-linked traffic light system on the island. We introduced a system in which the signal changes to yellow when the drone approaches within 50 meters, and turns red when it gets even closer. This allows us to integrally manage the safety of airspace and ground transportation, promoting a new approach to linking the sky and roads in real time.
We have also started using a winch-type baggage attachment/detachment system to safely deliver baggage from the sky without having to land the drone. This will evolve drone delivery into a more familiar social infrastructure.
The project, conducted last year, confirmed the effectiveness of regular delivery to remote islands using drones, while also clarifying issues such as last-mile delivery, operational costs, and load limitations. This year, based on these results, we will take on the commercialization phase with the aim of building a sustainable business model.
Over the next month, we will carry out multiple drone deliveries and automatic robot deliveries while changing the weather and operating conditions, and proceed with commercialization verification including operational costs, safety, and public acceptance.
Automated delivery robot responsible for the last mile
Shunsuke Toya (Prodrone Co., Ltd. President and Representative Director) Comments
This Sakushima demonstration is an important step toward realizing Aichi Prefecture's ``Aichi Model 2030, where the sky and roads are connected.'' Prodrone hopes to support the sustainability of living infrastructure in remote islands and mountainous areas through the social implementation of drone logistics.
This time, we aim to establish a safe and efficient operation model by introducing a newly developed "winch-type luggage loading/unloading system" and "drone-linked traffic lights." We hope that our efforts on Sakushima will lead to the realization of a future smart logistics society.
Stakeholders and self-driving robots and drones
Mr. Masaaki Shibayama, Advisor, Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, Aichi Prefecture
Nishio City Deputy Mayor Yoshihide Kondo
Mr. Yuma Sakamoto, Assistant Director, Remote Islands Promotion Division, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Nagoya Railway Co., Ltd. Business Creation Manager Ken Ishigai
Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. Chubu Branch Branch Manager Mari Iwami
Sugi Pharmacy Co., Ltd. Chubu Sales Department Nishio East District Supervisor Kosuke Mabuchi
Takayuki Morikawa, Professor Emeritus, Mobility Society Research Institute, Institute for Future Society Creation, Nagoya University
■ Overview of demonstration experiment• Implementation period: November 5, 2025 (Wednesday) to early December (planned)
• Location: Between Sakushima and Isshiki Fishing Port, Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture
• Purpose: Verification of long-term commercialization of logistics services using drones
• Main collaborating organizations: Aichi Prefecture, Nishio City, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Nagoya Railway Co., Ltd., Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., Sugi Pharmacy Co., Ltd., Nagoya University, Rivera Co., Ltd.
■Flight routeTakeoff and landing: Near Isshiki Port, Nishio City - Sakushima (vacant land owned by Nishio City)
Distance: Approximately 10km (mainly flying over the venue)
[Takeoff and landing site on the mainland side (① Near Isshiki Port, former pumping station site)]
[Remote island side takeoff and landing location ② Oura Beach ③ Kleingarten)]
Remote island side: 2 landing sites established on Saku Island
■Automatic delivery robot, autonomous vehicle driving route
Red: Self-driving car, Blue: Automatic delivery robot (east/west region)
■Business implementation structure (Aichi Mobility Innovation Project)
Company or organization name Role
Prodrone Co., Ltd. (Tenpaku-ku, Nagoya City) Business management, aircraft provision, etc.
Nagoya Railway Co., Ltd. (Nakamura Ward, Nagoya City) Coordination with related parties, operation, etc.
Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (Tokyo) Safety management, operation, etc.
Sugi Pharmacy Co., Ltd. (Obu City, Aichi Prefecture) Materials cooperation for daily necessities delivery
Nishimikawa Agricultural Cooperative Association (Nishio City) Materials cooperation for the delivery of daily necessities
Nishio City Stakeholder coordination
■Project implementation structure (smart island promotion demonstration survey work)
Company or organization name Role
Prodrone Co., Ltd. (Tenpaku-ku, Nagoya City) Business management, aircraft provision, etc.
Aichi Prefecture: Coordination with related parties, consideration of measures
Nishio City Consideration of remote island issues, coordination of related parties, and operation of self-driving vehicles
Libera Co., Ltd. (Tokyo) Provision of logistics and movement management systems, operation management
Nagoya University (Chikusa Ward, Nagoya City) Provision of self-driving cars and operation support
Research Institute for Regional Affairs (Naka Ward, Nagoya City) Considering future development policy
*1) What is Aichi Mobility Innovation Project?
The Aichi Mobility Innovation Project ``Aichi Model 2030, where air and roads connect'' is a project promoted by Aichi Prefecture that aims to socially implement next-generation air mobility such as drones and flying cars, as well as build a new mobility society ``Aichi Model'' through simultaneous control with land mobility such as self-driving cars, and turn next-generation air mobility into a core industry. https://a-idea.jp/soramichi/ *2) What is the Smart Island Promotion Verification Survey?
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is promoting efforts to realize "smart islands" by implementing new technologies such as ICT and drones in order to resolve issues faced by remote island regions. This project has been selected as a Smart Island survey implementation area for FY2020. https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/kokudoseisaku11_hh_000130.html [Reference URL]
・ “Aichi Mobility Innovation Project “Aichi Model 2030 Connecting the Sky and Roads” We will conduct a long-term commercialization study of logistics services using drones! ~ Verification of realizing a smart island where drones and self-driving cars cooperate ~” (Aichi Prefecture Press Release October 16, 2025) “Aichi Mobility Innovation Project” selected for drone logistics demonstration project on remote islands - Aiming for early social implementation of sustainable drone logistics - (June 3, 2025) “First in Japan! Continuous Level 3.5 operation for one month, demonstration of frequent delivery between mainland and remote islands using drones” (October 8, 2024) “Information on demonstration experiment route for delivery to multiple destinations using drones over rivers” (November 24, 2024) ■About Prodrone Co., Ltd.With the vision of "becoming the most trusted drone company in the region," we aim to build a drone ecosystem in the Chubu region. A multicopter that has started mass production with a maximum recommended payload of 20 kg. "PD6B-Type3" and long-distance flight (100km tested). "Prodrone GT-M" We provide a one-stop service for everything from development to sales of industrial drones.
This article has been automatically translated into English using AI. The original content is written in Japanese. While we strive for accuracy, the translation may not fully capture the nuance of the original.
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