LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota is launching
a major initiative to accelerate the way society will live, work
and play in the interconnected and smart cities of the future. At
CES 2020, Toyota is providing a glimpse into this future via a
360-degree immersive experience of the "Woven City" along with a
variety of advanced mobility vehicles and products. As part of its
transition from a transportation company to a mobility company,
Toyota has announced its intent to build the Woven City, at a
175-acre site at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan. In addition to the featured
display, Toyota is showcasing two additional technology offerings.
The first, Toyota AI Ventures, which is Toyota's US-based venture
capital firm, is issuing a "Call for Innovation" for startups to
apply for funding. The second is Toyota IP Solutions, a new patent
licensing program, that offers access to Toyota's impressive array
of intellectual properties in a variety of areas, including:
bio-active materials, nanoparticle processing, multi-dimensional
paints and electronics thermal management.
Overview of Woven City
Visitors to the Toyota display walk into a circular theater and
are immediately immersed into what life will be like in Woven City
when it is completed. Viewers will see striking visuals of a living
and working environment that embraces and interweaves both nature
and technology. Automated technology moves freely and safely
throughout the city and serves to liberate the residents from basic
tasks. The city is planned to be fully sustainable, with
buildings made mostly of wood to help minimize the carbon footprint
and using traditional Japanese wood joinery, combined with robotic
production methods. The rooftops will be covered in photo-voltaic
panels to generate solar power in addition to power generated by
hydrogen fuel cells. Toyota plans to weave in the outdoors
throughout the city, with native vegetation and hydroponics.
Overview of Mobility Products
The Toyota display includes examples of the types of mobility
products that may be found throughout Woven City. They include:
e-Palette, Micro-Palette, LQ, Walking Area BEVs and HSR.
e-Palette
- Toyota's first battery electric vehicle developed specifically
for Mobility as a Service (MaaS) applications. The vehicle will
feature automated driving capability. In addition, it offers a
low-floor and open concept interior, providing endless
configuration options.
Micro-Palette
- Autonomous delivery robot that utilizes omni-directional wheels
for maximum maneuverability. It is intended to be a multi-use
device for product and package handling. It allows for truck to
doorstep delivery, warehouse inventory movement,
building-to-building transport of goods and neighborhood delivery
of products.
LQ
- A next-generation, battery electric advanced technology concept
vehicle with automated level 4 SAE driving capability
- Features a new artificial intelligence system called "Yui" that
learns from the driver and provides a personalized mobility
experience based on driving preferences and tastes
Walking Area BEVs
- Three types for different applications: standing BEV, sitting
BEV and wheelchair-link BEV
- Standing BEV allows for travel along pedestrian pathways
supporting short trips and last-mile needs.
- The sitting-type and wheelchair-link personal mobility devices
are designed for those who have difficulty walking and those in
wheelchairs
HSR
- Robot designed to support basic needs. It uses automated
functionality and AI technology to learn surrounding environments
and to recognize objects and avoid obstacles. It has voice control
capability to allow for simple commands.
Overview of TAIV Call to Action and Display
The Toyota AI Ventures team is on-site to launch a global "call
for innovation" today at CES 2020 to find and fund early-stage
startups building solutions for smart and connected cities. The
call invites qualified entrepreneurs from around the world to apply
for an opportunity to receive between $500,000 and $2
million in funding from Toyota AI Ventures.
Toyota AI Ventures' exhibit will also feature three of its
portfolio companies:
Intuition Robotics, May Mobility, and Perceptive Automata.
Overview of Toyota IP Solutions and Display
The IP Solutions team is showcasing their new program to license
its Intellectual Property to interested parties. The program helps
promote and serves as an access point for the licensing of patents
to US and global companies. Toyota has extensive research and
development programs that have amassed a wide scope of patents.
Interested parties can benefit from Toyota's development investment
averaging over $1 million per hour,
every hour, daily.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in
the U.S. and North America for
more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable,
next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus
brands. During that time, Toyota has created a
tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class
design, engineering, and assembly of more than 38 million cars and
trucks in North America, where we
have 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in
Alabama (10 in the U.S.), and
directly employ more than 47,000 people (over 36,000 in the
U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly
1,500 in the U.S.) sold 2.8 million cars and trucks (2.4 million in
the U.S.) in 2018.
Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights
the way it partners with community, civic, academic and
governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing
mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move,
anything is possible. For more information about Toyota,
visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
MEDIA CONTACT
Nathan
Kokes
Toyota Motor North America
469-292-3103
nathan.kokes@toyota.com
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America