Joe Raedle, Getty Images
Industryweek 9388 090815toyotasmartstanfordmit

Toyota Shifts into Gear with Smart Cars

Sept. 8, 2015
The company will focus first on the elimination of traffic deaths, with the ultimate goal of 'helping improve quality of life through enhanced mobility and robotics.'

SAN FRANCISCO — Toyota plans to invest $50 million into building artificial intelligence into cars, an indication it could be joining the race to develop driverless vehicles.

The joint research with Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will take place over the next five years, Toyota Motor Corporation said, emphasizing its interest in technology that could be used by people as they grow old or become less able to drive safely.

“We will initially focus on the acceleration of intelligent vehicle technology, with the immediate goal of helping eliminate traffic casualties and the ultimate goal of helping improve quality of life through enhanced mobility and robotics,” Toyota’s research and development chief Kiyotaka Ise said in a statement.

Lab efforts will be directed by former U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency program manager Gill Pratt, who headed a recent contest for robots that could be used to help emergency workers in disaster situations.

Google and several major car makers have been pursuing autonomous vehicle technology, and while the Japanese automobile giant did not mention making cars that drive themselves, it did promise work on “intelligent vehicle technology.”

A Stanford lab led by professor Fei-Fei Li will work with Toyota and MIT to use computer vision, machine learning and large-scale data analysis to enable vehicles to navigate complex traffic situations.

“Our team will work to help intelligent vehicles recognize objects in the road, predict behaviors of things and people, and make safe and smart driving decisions under diverse conditions,” Li said.

The joint research will also look at applying innovation breakthroughs in robots, according to Pratt, who said the collaboration “will address extremely complex mobility challenges using ground-breaking artificial intelligence research.”

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2015

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Gain a competitive edge with real-world lessons on private 5G networks

Nov. 16, 2023
The use of private networks in manufacturing applications is rapidly growing. In this paper, we present valuable insights and lessons learned from the field with the goal of enhancing...

Why DataOps may be the key to unlocking the full potential of digital transformation

Nov. 3, 2023
Read the 2023 market survey conducted by IndustryWeek

Complexity Reverberates Across Manufacturer Operations

Aug. 21, 2023
Design complexity and revenue disruptions overshadow machine builders’ progress in planning and execution. In this research report conducted by IndustryWeek, learn how implementing...

Navigating Disruption: A Leader’s Guide to Strategy Under Uncertainty

Nov. 1, 2023
AI, sustainability, digital--industrials are facing disruptive forces that are redefining what it takes to win. What got your company where it is today won’t get you where you...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!