Connected taxis could soon be a reality in Japan thanks to a new partnership.
Toyota Motor Corporation, KDDI Corporation, and the Tokyo Hire-Taxi Association (THTA), have begun testing data collection as part of a plan that would get the concept off the ground.
Such taxis, by communicating with data centres, are expected to make possible new services that will, among others, improve taxi-customer convenience and support taxi drivers.
The testing, which will centre on the collection and analysis of data from taxis in the Tokyo metropolitan area, is being done to clarify technical requirements for taxi-related connected services and to enable practical application of large volumes of driving data.
The testing is aimed at improving mobility services and will eventually allow generation of dynamic maps that cover the state of congestion of individual traffic lanes and the existence of roadway obstacles.
Toyota will install data-transmission TransLog drive recorders in 500 taxis in the Tokyo metropolitan area and collect and analyse real-time video and vehicle data.
KDDI will provide SIM cards to be installed in data-transmission TransLog drive recorders and THTA will select the taxis used in the verification testing and coordinate with taxi business operators
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