Integration expected as soon as 2020.
Japanese automotive giant Toyota is hard at work on artificial intelligence, with the carmaker expected to roll out AI-powered systems and solutions into its road cars as soon as 2020. And to demonstrate how it intends to do so, the company will be bringing no less than three ‘mobility’ concepts to the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show.
There’s the Concept-i (which is a car, that we saw back in January at the Consumer Electronics Show), the Concept-i Ride (which is a smaller, Smart ForTwo-ish car), and the Concept-i Walk (which is a sidewalk-cruising mobility solution, similar to a Segway) that demonstrate how Toyota envisions the future of mobility. The Concept-i trio aims to improve mobility for all, including those whose mobility may be impaired, thanks to ingenious engineering solutions that ensure that these vehicles can truly be enjoyed by all.
The four-seater Concept-i, the biggest of the three, uses artificial intelligence to assess the well-being of the passengers within it, and adjusts itself accordingly. It will change things like its driving style (in full-autonomous mode), the climate control, and even the seat settings to reduce fatigue and improve wellbeing.
Toyota suggests that these systems are being tested now to be worked into cars at the beginning of the next decade, which suggests that eventually this tech will filter down into more mass-market models sooner rather than later.
The Concept-i… vehicle will be supplemented by the Concept-i Ride, a small urban commuter vehicle that aims to simplify and ease the stresses of urban travel. The Ride features gull-wing doors and a 150km range on a single charge, perfect for urban travel, with an interior commodious enough to enable wheelchair users to come aboard.
The final piece of Toyota’s mobility puzzle is the Concept-i Walk, which is a last-mile solution that can travel 10km-20km on a charge. The Walk rides on three wheels and can rotate on the spot for maximum manoeuvrability. There are sensors in the handles of the Concept-i Walk, along with Toyota’s AI Agent that will warn the driver of any impending peril based on the data it collects.
The Toyota Concept-i products are truly ‘total mobility solutions’ as it were, taking account of almost all of the various needs presented to it by a myriad of potential users, and aims to understand and learn from humans to make its processes more efficient, and safer. All the vehicles will be on display at the Tokyo motor show next week, where we expect to be able to bring you more information on these innovative new wheels.
For more information on Toyota, check out our Showroom.
