Press release, 16 December 2025
NEC Corporation has completed the deployment of a new Vehicle Management Equipment (VME) system at Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) to support Level 4 autonomous drivingfor ground vehicles in restricted airport areas. This infrastructure, ordered by the East Japan Civil Aviation Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), is now operational and helping usher in the next generation of airport mobility technology.
The VME system includes specialized signal controls that communicate with autonomous vehicles and camera systemsthat monitor blind spots and relay video data to vehicle operators and supervisors. In December, airport ground operators — including Japan’s two largest airlines All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines — began using Level 4 autonomous towing tractors that are connected to this new infrastructure. These tractors help move baggage, cargo and other materials efficiently across restricted areas of the airport, where traditional traffic rules and close interaction with aircraft make automation particularly challenging.
Boosting automation in a busy airport environment
Airports are among the most complex mobility environments in the world. With aircraft, ground vehicles and personnel operating in close proximity, safety and smooth traffic flow are always top priorities. As inbound passenger demand grows, operators are looking for ways to reduce labor strain, improve efficiency and maintain high safety standards — especially in ground handling operations.
The new VME system helps solve these challenges by enabling automatic control of intersection signals and adding situational awareness through strategically placed cameras. Traditional human-to-human communication between drivers — long relied upon in airport ground traffic — is replaced or supplemented by digital signals and monitoring, allowing autonomous vehicles to safely coexist with human-driven vehicles.
For example, when autonomous tractors approach a restricted intersection, the VME’s signal equipment adjusts the lights and alerts vehicles so that both self-driving and crew-operated machines can proceed without conflict. In areas where visibility is limited, cameras feed real-time views to remote operators, helping ensure that autonomous driving systems can detect and respond to obstacles or people in blind zones.
A step toward next-generation mobility
NEC brings more than five decades of experience in airport systems and air traffic control to this deployment, working closely with airlines and autonomous vehicle manufacturers to tailor the system for the unique operational rules of restricted airport areas.
Level 4 autonomous driving — defined as full automation under specific conditions, where no driver intervention is needed — remains rare outside controlled test environments. Putting it into real use at a world-class airport is a notable milestone that could influence broader adoption in logistics hubs, seaports and other mission-critical infrastructure.
NEC says the system supports safer, more efficient ground operations while maintaining stringent safety standards — a key requirement in aviation and a potential blueprint for future autonomous mobility solutions in complex environments. Looking ahead, the company plans to continue leveraging digital technologies to help build a safer, more efficient and more connected mobility ecosystem.
