The Toyota Research Institute (TRI) has launched its new autonomous advanced safety research vehicle.
The company says it has been working on autonomous vehicles in the United States since 2005.
“This new advanced safety research vehicle is the first autonomous testing platform developed entirely by TRI, and reflects the rapid progress of our autonomous driving programme,” says TRI chief executive Gill Pratt.
It uses a mix of technology, including radar and camera sensor array, to navigate so it doesn’t have to rely on high-definition maps.
The car is designed to be a flexible, plug-and-play test platform that can be upgraded continuously and often.
“Basically, it is a smart vehicle designed to get smarter over time,” says Pratt.
“It will learn individual driver habits and abilities and will benefit from shared intelligence from other cars as data gathering, sharing and connectivity technologies advance.”
Toyota unveiled the vehicle at the Prius Challenge, which brings together a select group of entrepreneurs, technologists and Silicon Valley automotive enthusiasts to engage with TRI while having some fun at the Sonoma Raceway in California.
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