Luup Launches Demonstration Experiment Using the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System “Michibiki”

Luup, Inc. (Head office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Hiroki Okai; hereinafter “Luup”), which operates micromobility sharing service “LUUP”, has been selected to participate in the “Demonstration Project Using Michibiki,” operated by the Cabinet Office and Quasi-Zenith Satellite System Services Inc. The project publicly accepted applications between April 12 and May 28, 2021 and Luup applied for an “E-Scooter Location Detection Demonstration Project”. We will start a demonstration for highly accurate detection of the vehicles, using the sub-meter level augmentation service of the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System “Michibiki”.

Background of Adoption

In April 2021, Luup received approval from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for a “New Business Exception System” and has been conducting a demonstration experiment of an e-scooter sharing service. Since the launch of the service, many users have been using the service, but the GPS commonly used for e-scooter sharing services has not been able to accurately detect the precise location of the vehicles, such as the distinction between roadways and sidewalks. In order for users to use e-scooters safely and in accordance with the correct riding rules, a system that can detect precise location data is also required, and the need for validation to realize this was highly evaluated and the project was adopted as a “Demonstration Project Using Michibiki.”

Regarding Demonstration Project for Locating E-Scooters Using “Michibiki”

The Quasi-Zenith Satellite System “Michibiki” is a Japanese satellite positioning system consisting mainly of satellites in quasi-zenith orbit, and is sometimes called the “Japanese version of GPS.” Previous satellite positioning services used GPS satellites operated by the United States, but in urban and mountainous areas, the signals were sometimes blocked by buildings and trees, making it difficult to obtain stable positioning information. Therefore, Michibiki, which supplements GPS and provides highly accurate and stable satellite positioning services, began operations in November 2018. Due to its superiority, it is expected to develop a location data business that makes advanced use of geospatial information.

With the e-scooter location detection adopted by Michibiki, Luup will conduct a demonstration to realize highly accurate traveling location detection using the sub-meter level augmentation service.

Details and Schedule of the Demonstration

Details of the Demonstration
(1) Attach the QZ1 sub-meter level positioning augmentation service-compatible receiver to e-scooters to collect and periodically analyze traveling data
(2) Validate whether it is possible to detect whether a vehicle is traveling on a sidewalk or on a roadway (*1), and create guidelines for future practice

*1…Will do push walking when determining sidewalk riding. No violations will be committed in the demonstration.

Schedule
– July 2021 to November 2021: Procurement of e-scooters for demonstration purposes and modification for installation receivers (*already done)
– January 2022 to February 2022: Collect positioning data through traveling in the Tokyo area
– March 2022 and beyond: Analyze traveling data and verify the accuracy of detecting traveling locations
Luup aims to realize a society where people, vehicles, and cities can all co-exist in harmony through the development of a safe riding environment for e-scooters.