Tokyo’s new drone testing field set to boost logistics, training and R&D

Japan UAS Industrial Development Association (JUIDA) has shared details of the recently announced Itabashi Drone Field (Itabashi DF) testing ground, which is expected to contribute to developments across multiple sectors.

JUIDA, Mitsui Fudosan, Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate and Blue Innovation are working together on Itabashi DF, which will be Tokyo’s first logistics facility-integrated drone testing site.

Located within the Mitsui Fudosan Logistics Park-LOGIFRONT urban development-oriented logistics complex, Itabashi DF features a drone flight field that makes use of the site’s expansive grounds. In addition, testing areas will utilise the operational facilities, R&D zones are available for lease to drone businesses, and there will be a community space designed to facilitate networking among member businesses.

The site is designed to be used as a research and experiment site that meets various needs, such as last-mile delivery by drone, transportation of relief supplies in the event of a disaster, and infrastructure inspection. The drone takeoff and landing area includes two ports on the rooftop area. Users can also set up drone ports in the on-site parking lot and conduct experiments with their own drones.

In addition, the KDDI Smart Drone Academy Tokyo Itabashi School, the first of its kind in Tokyo, will be opened, providing a place to train engineers and operators who will support the drone industry.

There will be five netted courts where no flight application is required. The netted field for drones is approximately 14m high and is suitable for national qualification training exams.

Projects to be hosted at the site include self-location estimation methods and stable flight control methods for drones in non-GPS/indoor environments. Research and development will also be carried out on a versatile and scalable drone port that will contribute to longer-distance flight operations and fully automated operation. This drone port project has already been selected for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s Small and Medium Enterprise Innovation Creation Promotion Project.

“JUIDA and its partners aim to ensure that technologies validated at Itabashi DF can be applied to address various regional issues including operational efficiency, automation and disaster response,” the association said in a LinkedIn post.

The facility will be supervised and operated by JUIDA and Blue Innovation.