Toyota testing autonomous technology
In the automotive industry, the new product to perfect is autonomous driving. Basically, the company who can successfully sell and manufacture these cars will be on top of the game and spearhead a new movement. This race includes manufacturers like Mercedes, Google, and Tesla. However, one huge company refuses to build a fully autonomous vehicle, protecting the right of human drivers from this movement.
That’s right, good ol’ Toyota is refusing to head into this new era and against a completely autonomous vehicle. Toyota’s deputy chief, Seigo Kuzumaki states “Toyota’s main objective is safety, so it will not be developing a driverless car.” In addition, Toyota believes the human is the superior fusion of senses and action, because ultimately humans are in control of the vehicle and can act accordingly to situations.
In addition, Toyota’s engineer of future transportation Ken Laberteaux, claims that autonomous vehicles could increase pollution not decrease. Explaining that “US history shows that anytime you make driving easier, there seems to be this inexhaustible desire to live further from things.”
All in all, it appears that while most companies are vigorously fighting to keep that competitive edge in the automotive technology, Toyota is taking a more subtle approach.
While Toyota claims they will not build a fully autonomous vehicle, they do support the technology. Released last year, Toyota’s Automated Highway Driving Assist will help drivers on long road trips. This technology will assist and control in brakes, steering, and throttle as long as the driver is paying attention and alert. Using infrared eye measurements on the driver, alertness and attention can be measured. In addition, Lexus already uses pre-collision assist which uses sensors to predict a collision and preparing the vehicle for impact.
Overall, it is clear that Toyota is not racing to completely build an autonomous car, however they are picking and piecing autonomous technology into cars to create a hybrid car that keeps the human driver in complete control while offering the autonomous option for assistance.
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