# Seniors-Shuttling Autonomous Cars This Rural Driverless Shuttle Bus Trial Transports the Elderly By Alyson Wyers | Published 2017-09-13 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/driverless-shuttle-bus References: [venturebeat](https://venturebeat.com/2017/09/12/japan-trials-driverless-cars-to-help-rural-elderly-people-get-around/) In Japan, this driverless shuttle bus is helping the elderly in rural communities. The self-driving buses are being trialled in remote places like Nishikata, where the population is decreasing, public transport options are limited and taxis can be difficult to find, especially for [senior residents](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/uber-senior-accounts). If this month's trial is decided to be successful -- apt timing for the Nishikata annual rice harvest -- then vehicles like the six-seater Robot Shuttle could become the norm by 2020 in similar rural areas. The Japanese government would transform existing highway rest stops into hubs where older people could catch a ride to shopping, medical and banking services. The driverless shuttle bus trial is an example of how [autonomous driving technology](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/selfdriving-shuttle-service) can benefit large cities and remote rural locations. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.5/10 - Popularity: 72% | Activity: 56% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Rural-autonomous-transportation:** The driverless shuttle bus trial shows an opportunity for autonomous transportation to benefit rural communities. - **Eldercare-autonomous-services:** The self-driving buses focus on providing services for the elderly in remote areas, pointing to an opportunity for autonomous eldercare services. - **Highway-rest-stop-transformation:** The Japanese government plan to transform highway rest stops into service hubs for senior citizens demonstrates an opportunity to transform underutilized roadside facilities. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Transportation:** The self-driving shuttle buses exemplify the potential for autonomous driving technology to revolutionize transportation services for rural areas. - **Eldercare:** The focus on elderly care services in the rural community highlights the potential for autonomous technology to disrupt the elderly care industry. - **Roadside Services:** The transformation of highway rest stops into hubs for senior citizen services points to an opportunity to innovate and disrupt the roadside services industry. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Autonomous Interactive Shuttle Buses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coach-atoz-shuttle-bus.md) - [Autonomous Senior Citizen Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/project-black-box.md) - [AI-Powered Autonomous Buses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-buses.md) - [Autonomous Timber Transportation Shuttles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/timber-shuttle.md) - [Accessible Driverless Public Buses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-loop-prgram.md) - [Accesible Autonomous Transportation Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-mobility-service.md) - [Airport-Specific Autonomous Shuttle Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-shuttle-service.md) - [Child Mobility Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/selfdriving-ev.md) - [Senior Care Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aiden.md)