August 8, 2017
Tokyo International Air Terminal Corporation
Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd.
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
Panasonic Corporation

Public Testing of Information Universal Design begins at Haneda Airport- World-leading Hospitality Enters Trial Phase at ‘Gateway to Japan’ -Tokyo International Air Terminal Corporation (TIAT; Head Office: Ota-ku, Tokyo; President &CEO: Katsuji Doi), Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd. (JAT; Head Office: Ota-ku, Tokyo; President& COO: Nobuaki Yokota), Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT; Head Office:Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Hiroo Unoura) and Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic;Head Office: Kadoma, Osaka; President: Kazuhiro Tsuga) will begin public testing of information
universal design initiatives.
With the international terminal at its core, Haneda Airport has implemented universal designconcepts to promote the development of airports that cater to all individuals. Looking ahead to2020 and beyond, we can expect further increase in not only foreign visitors but also thenumber of customers requiring mobility support as the population continues to age. As such,
we believe integrating the latest information technology (ICT) is essential to advancing
universal design, and have been striving to do so through various initiatives since December
2015. With such efforts showing steady results, we have now established an environment forreal-world application through public testing by Haneda Airport customers.

- Current Needs of Haneda Airport Terminals As the gateway to Japan, Haneda Airport receives many customers, with the number expected to rise as
foreign visitors continue to increase. Initially, public testing will give these customers a chance to experience
Japan’s cutting-edge technology; we hope to utilize their diverse comments and feedback to create valuable
tools for greater use both in and outside the airport.
As part of progressive efforts in universal design, Haneda Airport is striving to ensure user-friendliness for all of
its increasingly diverse customers. We consider the integration of universal design and various information
technologies an urgent task, and these public trials provide an important opportunity to ascertain theeffectiveness of each technology.
Having so far conducted tests involving only airport staff, we hope that real-world use by numerous
customers will serve as the final phase in creating reliable technologies.■ Public Testing of Improvements in Information Universal Design - Outline
Test period: Tuesday August 8, 2017 - Saturday March 31, 2018
Test location: Haneda Airport International and Domestic Terminals
Test content: <NTT>

・Kazashite Guidance™ functions on TIAT official website(Multilingual/multicultural support for restaurant menus, facility navigation frominformation signs)
・ Measurement/forecasting of congestion at international departure screening
gates and mobile signs to manage passenger flows
・ Implementation of audio signage equipment with noise-reducing technology<Panasonic> ・Autonomous mobility via Robotic Electric Wheelchair WHILL NEXT・Transport information for foreign visitors, utilizing LinkRay™ technology■ NTT Testing Overview
Employing corevo®*1 AI technology, NTT will conduct trials to improve information universal design using ICT.
(1) Eliminate language/cultural barriers with Kazashite Guidance™
Valuable information can be obtained in one’s native language by simply pointing a smartphone camera at
signage and other objects. This not only allows multilingual browsing of transport and other information, butalso includes multidimensional maps*2 to promptly identify the user’s current location within the terminal; routeguidance with consideration for universal design; and introductions to unfamiliar aspects such as Japanesefood.
By using the Kazashite Guidance™ function via the official TIAT website, we have now simplified the process forpassengers by not requiring the installation of apps. Available content in the initial phase includes guidance andinformation signage, as well as menus at select restaurants; we plan to expand the service to include allrestaurant menus and tourism posters by the end of FY2017.
Based on usage rates and passenger feedback in the public trials, we will make the interface and content moreuser-friendly ahead of launching the service.

○ Technology Features・ Angle-free Object Search Technology:
Regardlessofthephotographedangle,

thistechnology

uses

high-accuracy

objectrecognition/searching to display relevant information. While traditionally the process required anexisting database of around 100 images, this technology reduces the requirement to 10 or less.

・ Universal Object Recognition Technology:
Technology that integrates various methods of recognition. Combining multiple methods enables therecognition of diverse items without requiring conscious selection by the user. Shared API also enables
use from various client apps (including browsers).

2) Reducing Airport Congestion with Sophisticated Management of Passenger Flows
Employing image recognition technology for automated measurement of passenger flows from camera footage,
this system will also use projectors and digital signage to automatically change display content according to realand forecast congestion. This enables information to be designed for easy communication to many people,
including adjustment of display language based on conditions in specific areas and varying display locationaccording to the extent of external light.
These public trials will be used to evaluate the accuracy of congestion measuring/forecasting at international
departure screening gates and to confirm the effects of leveling congestion, with the aim of preparing theservice for launch.

Guidance sign (near TIAT 3F

Camera crowd analysis (TIAT 3F Departure lobby)

international departure screening gate)○ Technology Features
・ Camera Crowd Analysis Technology:
Measures line length through a screening algorithm based on texture complexity and thecharacteristic movements of queues. Features include the ability to compensate for shadows causedby external light, highly-accurate measurements even in the case of numerous passengers mingling
together, and no requirement for individual identification such as facial recognition.
・ Passenger Flow Forecasting Technology:Forecasts passenger flows by modeling trends in queue length at departure screening gates andaccounting for factors which contribute to congestion, such as flight schedules.

(3) Clearer Voice Guidance with Intelligent Audio Signage
Achieves clear voice guidance without increasing volume, even in noisy surroundings. Testing will be used toconfirm the effectiveness of offering noise-reducing audio for those with impaired vision, using the airport’s
existing voice guidance equipment and pre-recorded ambient sounds.
○ Technology Features
・ Noise-reducing Technology:
Changes tone according to the characteristics of background noise while retaining spoken content, enabling
voice guidance to be heard clearly even in noisy environments.

(*1) Corevo® is the registered trademark of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation.

http://www.ntt.co.jp/corevo/(*2) We have created new base indoor maps for each floor of the terminals by utilizing results from the Ministryof Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s Indoor high-precise positioning project.In addition tomultidimensional display of the terminal interior (NTT’s 2.5D Map Representation Technology), these canalso be used as base maps for indoor positioning, barrier-free navigation, and mobility robot control.
Indoor high-precise positioning project:

http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001111217.pdf
2.5D Map Representation Technology: http://www.ntt.co.jp/news2016/1611/161125a.html■ Panasonic Testing Overview(1) Autonomous Mobility via Robotic Electric Wheelchair WHILL NEXT
Developed through a collaboration between Panasonic and WHILL Inc., the WHILL NEXT is a mobility robot thatenables safe, comfortable transport for Passengers with Reduced Mobility (PRM), whose use of airports isexpected to increase.
This year, we will conduct technical trials of the ① Automatic Stop, ②Autonomous Mobility and ③Tandem
Movement functions within the airport. With the cooperation of airlines, we will also test ways to reduce theburden on staff and improve customer convenience.
*In the development of this technology, we have also received a grant from the New Energy and Industrial
Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

○ Technology Features①Automatic Stop Function②Autonomous Mobility Function③Tandem Movement Function

Equipped with sensors to detect

Using autonomous mobility

Utilizing autonomous mobility

nearby obstacles, the wheelchair

technology developed for thetechnology, a family or group using

will stop automatically if it

autonomous delivery robot

multiple wheelchairs can move

identifies a potential collision, such

HOSPI®, the wheelchair cantogether in a column. After use,

as in the event of incorrect

identify its own position, selectthe wheelchairs automaticallyoperation or a sudden lurch. Thisroutes and automatically move toreturn together, reducing the workassists users who are unfamiliar

destinations input via smartphone.

load for airport staff.

with the controls.

It can travel efficiently to specificshops or boarding gates.

(2) Transport information for foreign visitors, utilizing
LinkRay™ technology
Public transport information at airports is a source of difficulty
for two-thirds of foreign visitors*; focusing on this, a joint
project with route-information provider Jorudan has led to thedesign of transport information signage linked to smartphones
via LinkRay technology. The trial will test the effectiveness of
one-stop, multilingual transport information that allows foreign
travelers arriving at the airport to easily select their ideal modeof transport.
With the cooperation of Keikyu Corporation, LinkRay Spotlightwill also be available at the Haneda Airport International Terminal Station, allowing users to search and obtain
multilingual route information for their destination by simply pointing a smartphone at the network map above
the ticket machines.

*Japan Tourism Agency “Results of Surveys Targeting Foreign Travelers”

Transport Information Signage (TIAT 2F Arrival lobby)

LinkRay Spot at the Railway Network Map(Haneda Airport International Terminal Station)○ Technology Features・ LinkRay™：
By using visible light communication technology, LinkRay allows smartphones to read ID signals emitted byLED lighting and digital signage. By simply pointing their smartphone at such signs, users can instantly
obtain relevant information in their own language.

Videos about Panasonic Testing<Japanese>
Robotic Electric Wheelchair WHILL NEXT & LinkRay Signage - Hospitality Solutions at Haneda Airport
https://channel.panasonic.com/jp/contents/20902/<English>
Robotic Electric Wheelchair WHILL NEXT & LinkRay Signage - Hospitality Solutions at Haneda Airport
https://channel.panasonic.com/contents/21150/

■ Future Development
The results of this public testing will be used to implement/adopt ICT in preparation for 2020 andbeyond. We will also continue to seek corporate partners to participate in joint trials.

■ Related Inquiries□ Tokyo International Air Terminal Corporation
Corporate Planning
Tel: 03-6428-5901□ Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd.
Facility Operations Division
Tel: 03-5757-8230□ Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
Research and Planning Division, Production staff
E-mail: information-ud-ml@hco.ntt.co.jp□ Panasonic Corporation
Brand Communication Office, PR Department
Tel: 03-3574-5661 (Direct)