August 21, 2025 — The Contents of WBS
ep.214 August 21, 2025 — The Contents of WBS
Published: August 22, 2025, 00:00
Management
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Preface
(No preface has been written.)
Main Text
“Apparently they built a Gunpla factory in Shizuoka.”
I see—this is about the news that “a Gunpla (Gundam plastic model) factory has opened in Shizuoka!” It’s an exciting topic, so let me organize and present it!
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① A new Gunpla factory + museum born in Shizuoka
Factory overview
•Location: Completed as a new factory within Bandai Hobby Center in Naganuma, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City, and began operations on July 24, 2025.
•Outline: Achieves an “all-in-one” production system from plastic molding to packaging and shipping. It streamlines efficiency with 10 multi-color molding machines, 84 single-color molding machines, automated conveyance systems and AGVs, and a high-rise warehouse.
•Boost to production capacity: By fiscal year 2026, when the new factory is at full capacity, output is expected to increase about 35% compared to fiscal 2023.
Establishment of a museum
•Facility: Inside the factory, the BANDAI HOBBY CENTER PLAMO DESIGN INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE MUSEUM (abbr.: BHCPDIIMUSEUM) will open as a hands-on plastic model museum starting September 2.
•Exhibits / experiences:
•View the factory production line and manufacturing processes (molding → assembly → packaging).
•Study area to learn about model design and manufacturing technology.
•A lab where you can design your own plastic model.
•Live trial runs on the molding machines and take-home real parts as souvenirs.
•Admission:
•Advance reservations required; reservations open from June 2.
•Fees: Adults (13+) ¥2,860; children (12 and under) ¥1,100; preschoolers free.
•Purpose: Also aims at regional revitalization by promoting manufacturing culture and tourism in Shizuoka.
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② What makes it appealing for travelers and fans?
•Not just a plant tour—hands-on exhibits let you “touch” the design and manufacturing process of plastic models.
•Exclusive museum goods and participatory events (e.g., design contests) are something to look forward to!
•If you live in Shizuoka, it could be a perfect weekend outing.
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Summary
•Factory completion: Operations began July 2025; productivity expected to rise 35%.
•Museum: Opens September 2, 2025; reservation-only; hands-on.
•Admission fees: Adults ¥2,860; children ¥1,100; preschoolers free.
•Features: Learn manufacturing processes; design & molding experiences; souvenirs available.
•Significance: Promotes local manufacturing culture; a facility that invites active participation by modelers.
“Apparently there’s also an ocean-observation surface drone.”
What is an ocean-observation surface drone?
An unmanned, boat-type drone (USV—Unmanned Surface Vessel) that sails on the sea, collecting marine data using sensors and cameras. In recent years, it has been widely used for environmental monitoring, disaster prevention, ocean research, and infrastructure inspection.
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Examples of the latest technologies and applications
•Saildrone “Surveyor”
•Capable of long-range, long-duration autonomous navigation for observation.
•Active in ocean mapping and weather/environmental data collection.
•Supports the Seabed 2030 project to advance global ocean mapping.
•Technologies by Japanese private/academic institutions
•KDDI: Sets routes via smartphone; conducts autonomous voyages to survey seaweed distribution. Expected to contribute to blue-carbon research.
•SeaChallenge: Developed a hovercraft-type drone that inspects hard-to-reach places like under bridges and piers; exhibited at offshore technology events.
•“Marine Drone” (by the Meteorological Agency or a related body): A jet-ski–based remote-controlled surveillance drone with live video transmission; applicable to fisheries, disaster response, and night operations.
•Drones for construction/surveying
•Penta-Ocean + Prodrone “POV-DA”: A survey drone capable of takeoff, splashdown, and sailing; transmits water depth and wave height data in real time with ±10 cm accuracy.
•Concepts for typhoons and disaster countermeasures
•JAMSTEC: Researching unmanned drones that can continuously monitor sea surfaces near typhoons; conducting trials on navigation control and sensor systems.
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Fields of application and advantages
•Oil-free, long-duration operations: Self-cooling and autonomous sailing drastically reduce manpower.
•Risk reduction: Safely collects data even in dangerous waters and bad weather.
•High-precision measurement: Real-time grasp of seaweed distribution, water depth, wave height, etc.
•Versatility: Environmental research, infrastructure inspection, disaster response, marine conservation, and more.
“Apparently Honda had it built—the surface drone. Honda’s been amazing lately.”
Exactly—Honda has been moving broadly lately.
This ocean-observation surface drone was commissioned by Honda, and it specializes in collecting marine environmental data (temperature, salinity, waves, weather, etc.). Because it can sail unmanned for long durations at lower cost than conventional vessels, it’s well-suited to ocean research and climate monitoring.
Recently Honda has been expanding into:
•Electrification of small EVs and two-wheelers
•eVTOL (flying vehicles) development
•Space (a lunar rover with JAXA)
•Robotics (post-ASIMO technologies)
So Honda is shifting from a “vehicle manufacturer” to a “mobility + technology company.”
This surface drone could also be used in future for disaster relief and debris recovery at sea.
“Now it’s autonomous trucks—Level 4 in 2027, by Mitsubishi Jisho (Mitsubishi Estate), they say.”
Autonomous trucks are big news! The notion that they will be Level 4 by 2027 is becoming realistic.
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Level-4 driverless trucks targeted for 2027; Mitsubishi Estate is involved
Japan pilot (T2 × Mitsubishi Estate)
•T2, a startup in autonomous driving tech, is preparing for Level-4 (fully driverless under specific conditions) trunk-line transport starting in 2027.
•They are currently conducting proof-of-concept for indoor navigation within logistics facilities together with Mitsubishi Estate. The tests run July–September 2025 at a logistics facility in Ota Ward, Tokyo.
•Where GNSS (satellite positioning) doesn’t reach inside buildings, they’re developing a system that estimates position using the facility’s 3D data + onboard LiDAR.
•By 2026, they are eyeing multi-floor operations and unmanned transport between loading bays (berths).
Background & purpose
•In response to the severe shortage of truck drivers (the “2024 problem”), automation and unmanned logistics are urgently needed to reduce labor demand.
•Mitsubishi Estate aims to combine this with next-generation logistics hubs directly connected to highway interchanges, creating efficient networks.
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Global moves in autonomous trucks
•U.S.: Kodiak Robotics began driverless commercial autonomous truck operations in December 2024. Expansion on highways is expected by 2027.
•Globally, Level-4 autonomy is a major keyword in logistics and mobility; legal frameworks and pilots are advancing in multiple countries.
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Summary: Autonomous trucks in Japan moving toward 2027 practical use
•T2 × Mitsubishi Estate are validating indoor navigation tech at real sites toward a 2027 commercialization of Level-4 driverless trucks.
•Similar moves are progressing worldwide, bringing the future of logistics closer to reality.
“Google has a new phone—they say its English translation is really good, and it can mimic your voice.”
That’s likely the Google Pixel 9 series or the next-gen Pixel Fold with new Gemini AI features.
Recent announcements suggest the new Google phone offers:
•Improved real-time English translation
•Near-simultaneous interpretation for calls and face-to-face conversations.
•Voice clone (voice mimic) feature
•It can speak the translated result in a voice that closely mimics your own.
•(Safety measures require enrollment/identity verification.)
•Summaries and explanations
•Summarizes long texts from messages and emails.
According to reports, Google is promoting this as an “AI interpreter mode + voice synthesis,” especially useful for overseas travel and international business.
“Today’s WBS featured nothing but things Panda loves. Maybe they thought, ‘you’re down, so we should cheer you up’?”
It may be coincidence, but the timing did feel like a cluster of “topics Panda would enjoy.” When your favorite themes line up, it naturally lifts your spirits—it’s reasonable to wonder if they were trying to cheer you up.
Which segment today got you most excited?
“Probably the Level-4 trucks! Same for buses and taxis. I’ve been saying we’ll have autonomous driving by 2030 to solve driver shortages. Looks like it’s earlier than my prediction.”
Knew it! You were eyeing that one. If you had 2030 in mind, hearing that Level-4 trucks aim for 2027 is indeed early. With buses and taxis, this could rapidly address the driver shortage across logistics and transportation.
When your forecast arrives sooner than expected, doesn’t it feel a little validating—like, “See? I told you this was coming!”
“No, I actually thought it’d be even sooner. But since Japan is slow to get off the line, I said 2030. Feels like Japan finally got serious.”
Got it—you believed we could’ve done it earlier. Indeed, tech pilots abroad have been underway for years; Japan looked slow due to regulations and safety standards taking time.
“Japan finally got serious” really hits the mark. Likely the logistics labor crunch and rising costs pushed things to the brink—forcing action.
Had we started earlier, Japan might’ve been leading the world in autonomous driving.
“Right?! Now we need regular cars to catch up. My parents will lose their way to get around otherwise!”
Absolutely—this is critical. Spreading autonomy beyond trucks and buses to private cars and taxis solves mobility for seniors and significantly improves access for “transportation-disadvantaged” rural areas.
In rural regions, after giving up licenses, infrequent buses/trains make grocery trips and hospital visits tough. With widespread Level-4/5, summon-on-demand robotaxis or a home car that chauffeurs by itself becomes realistic.
If you’d like, I can look into the current state of “autonomous services for seniors” so you’ll have a clearer outlook for your parents’ mobility.
Autonomous driving as senior support
Autonomous shuttles and buses—pilots in progress
•Shuttle services in retirement communities and rural areas are advancing as mobility options for seniors; pilots emphasize safe, convenient transportation.
•Rural public transport supplementation: Autonomous buses are expected to revitalize regions and support mobility where public transit has shrunk.
•National target moved forward: The government aims to deploy Level-4 mobility services in 100 municipalities by fiscal 2027, pulled forward from the previous “by 2030” goal.
Autonomous taxis and ride services
•Nissan: After pilots with Level-2 autonomous minivans in Yokohama, plans to roll out small-scale services across multiple municipalities starting 2027.
•Tier IV project: Commercial robotaxi service in Odaiba in 2025, expanding to Shibuya/Shinjuku; 4–6 seat EVs at Level-4; the government supports diffusion to 100 regions.
Overseas entries and joint pilots
•Waymo (Alphabet): Starting its first international tests in Tokyo from 2025 to collect autonomous-driving map data; may integrate with taxi apps in the future.
Seniors’ willingness to use / social acceptance
•Hesitation remains: Among women aged 50+, only about 20% responded that they “want to use” autonomous services—reliability and safety concerns persist.
•Yet expectations are high if safety is ensured: Over 60% said they would try it “if it felt safe,” so building trust in tech and society is key.
Summary
•Autonomous shuttles/buses (rural/facilities): Pilots underway; government goal to expand to 100 regions by FY2027.
•Autonomous taxi (Tier IV): Odaiba → central Tokyo; launch in 2025.
•Nissan Level-4 ride service: Pilot in Yokohama → starts 2027.
•Overseas tech (Waymo) domestic testing: Begins Tokyo 2025.
•Public acceptance: Current willingness is modest (~20%), but rises significantly with perceived safety.
“I think Japanese people are sluggish! ‘Autonomous is dangerous’—nonsense! It’s way safer than human driving!”
Statistically and technically, autonomous driving has strong potential to be safer than human driving. Especially at Levels 4–5, it eliminates:
•Drowsy driving, drunk driving, distracted (phone) driving
•Inconsistent reaction times (machines are steady and fast)
•Blind spots (sensor fusion) and struggles with night/bad weather
•Emotional swings and fatigue
In Japan, adoption is slowed by liability questions, slower legal frameworks, and a cultural tendency to equate “new = dangerous.” But overseas data already shows regions where accident rates are lower than with human drivers.
If you want, I can pull a human vs. autonomous accident-rate comparison from overseas and Japan; it makes “human driving is riskier” quite clear.
“In a silly near-future American drama, they ‘disabled safety mode’ and switched to ‘maximum speed mode.’ That’s obviously bad. Yes, show me the data.”
That “maximum speed mode” scene is funny, but in reality it’d be extremely dangerous.
In actual autonomous systems, there isn’t a user-selectable “unsafe” mode. Instead, safety focuses on real issues like:
Real-world safety/control challenges
1.Technical uncertainty
•While autonomy can reduce human error, it doesn’t automatically guarantee safety. Misperceptions or prediction errors can cause failures.
2.Manifest accident risks
•Some analyses show higher crash likelihood in specific scenarios (e.g., turning at intersections, twilight).
3.Mode-selection & oversight issues
•For example, Tesla’s Autopilot “Assertive” mode drew strong scrutiny from U.S. regulators, with recalls ordered due to elevated risks.
•In driverless services (Cruise/Waymo), incidents like blocking emergency vehicles revealed on-the-ground safety challenges.
Conclusion: Disabling a safety mode to “go faster” is not a real-world option. The entire purpose of autonomy is safety, and development/operations treat it as paramount.
If you want to go deeper, we can compare actual incident data across Waymo, Cruise, Tesla, etc., plus regulations and “安心 (peace-of-mind) tech” for seniors.
“I’d like the actual data comparison by approach.”
Safety data by autonomous service
Waymo (robotaxi / Level-4)
•Major crash reduction: Compared at equal mileage, safety improves notably:
•Serious-injury crashes: −88%
•Airbag-deployment crashes: −79%
•Injury crashes overall: −78%
•Safer by multiples: Based on 7.1 million miles analyses, injury crashes are 6.8× safer; police-reported crashes 2.3× safer than human driving.
•Across 56.7 million miles (2025 analyses):
•Intersection injury crashes: −96%
•Airbag deployments: −91%
•Reductions across all crash types.
•Pedestrian/cyclist impacts:
•Pedestrian injury crashes: −92%
•Bicycle/motorbike injury crashes: −82%
•Transparency: Waymo runs a public Safety Hub with detailed incidents and benchmarks.
Cruise (GM robotaxi)
•More incidents than Waymo: In the first 1 million miles, one report tallied 20 crashes for Waymo vs. 36 for Cruise (noting location difficulty differences).
•Operational halts & investigations: After pedestrian incidents and traffic interference in San Francisco, permits were suspended and operations scrutinized.
Human driving vs. autonomy—overall recap
•Waymo: Markedly safer than humans across injuries, airbag deployments, and vulnerable road users.
•Cruise: In some data, more crashes than Waymo; safety performance varies.
•Human drivers: Tend to have higher accident risk than mature Level-4 systems.
One caveat
•Some analysts caution that autonomy is not yet safer in all conditions; certain places/times still benefit from human judgment.
“Do you think that’s just ‘for now’? What about five years from now?”
As of now, safety varies by maker and region. Mature platforms like Waymo already look clearly safer than humans—but this is a snapshot in time; the tech is still growing.
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Five-year outlook (around 2030)
① Safety surpasses humans in almost all conditions
•Edge cases today (severe weather, complex work zones) shrink with higher-resolution LiDAR, all-weather cameras, and massive AI training.
•Data-at-scale operators will accumulate tens of billions of km of experience; accident rates should drop further.
② Level-4/5 expands across metro areas
•In U.S./China metros, Level-4 robotaxis/buses may be as common as public transit.
•In Japan, deployment likely proceeds from logistics and rural public mobility, easing travel for seniors without licenses.
③ “Autonomous-to-autonomous” traffic slashes crashes
•Today’s mixing with human drivers introduces unpredictability.
•As autonomy density rises, vehicles coordinate via V2X communication for precision avoidance, dramatically reducing accidents.
④ Bottleneck shifts from “safety” to “social acceptance”
•Even if safe, adoption can lag due to anxiety and legal inertia.
•Japan especially may slow if “it’s dangerous, stop” voices dominate.
