It’s no secret that the development of autonomous vehicles has gained traction over the years. With advancements in technology many of the world’s automakers are investing large amounts of money into this technology in an effort to get ahead of the curve. Toyota spends $10 billion a year on research, money that has improved the driving experience to be sure, but the brand sees the writing on the wall and recently made a significant investment into autonomous technology to catch up to its competition.
60-year-old Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda will now spend $1 billion for a new Toyota Research Institute to focus on autonomous cars and robotics. While money is important, great minds are also needed to push the research forward. Toyota has picked up partnerships with Stanford, the University of Michigan, and MIT to brainstorm possible capabilities. One such technology, called “guardian angel”, looks to find the best evasive strategies in an instant if trouble looms.
AI or artificial-intelligence is being explored too. Imagine an inward-looking camera that assesses drivers’ alertness. That’s the real deal, Stanford researchers working with Toyota are currently testing such technology. Defensive driving remains an area of interest with these researchers and they continue to look at software or 3-D vision to identify risk. The most intriguing research may be back-and-forth communication between multiple vehicles of potential hazards. Pretty neat right?
Toyota’s investment of both money and intellect aims to keep the automaker as a top dog seller. In May the CEO urged all his employees to embrace the “momentous change” associated with automated driving and robotics. This shift could prove transformative and we’re anxious to see what Toyota releases in the future.
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