Toyota won't allow its BEVs to become commodities. Amid calls for a shift to electric vehicles, the company's latest technologies brim with the passion of engineers who love cars.
Supporting designer ideas with AI
Attractive design is another key part of creating cars that users fall in love with. Toyota is also harnessing artificial intelligence to help designers come up with more innovative ideas.
The job of designers is to produce beautiful forms while fully accounting for aerodynamics and other technical considerations.
Changes to a vehicle’s exterior design affect its aerodynamics. In the past, finding an optimal solution that balances these two factors required a great deal of time.
Toyota’s in-development AI system is trained on technical analysis data and can generate design images that don’t compromise in areas such as aerodynamic performance.
The AI’s ability to rapidly produce numerous images cuts down the hours designers spend on factoring in aerodynamics and other performance requirements, doubling the time they have for perfecting the ideal design.
Arene and advanced AI create unparalleled interiors
At the same time, cutting-edge AI technology is being used to elevate the in-car experience. A voice recognition system being built by Toyota can process commands both in the cloud and via onboard equipment, enabling fast responses.
What’s more, the system is capable of handling things like multiple requests or changes of mind, resulting in agile, responsive interactions that feel more like chatting with a human operator than merely voicing your wishes.
In addition, users can control over 200 vehicle functions with Toyota’s state-of-the-art software platform, Arene OS.
Drivers can adjust the air conditioning—“It’s too hot, turn it down to X degrees”—or windows—“Roll all the windows down a little”—without taking their hands off the wheel.
The company is aiming for release with the next generation of global mass-market models, with updates available Over the Air (OTA*).
*Wireless data transmission technology that, just like smartphones, enables online software updates.
The engineers’ tireless endeavor
According to some, the shift to BEVs will commoditize cars.
And yet, the innovative technologies showcased in this article brim with the passion of car-loving engineers determined to ensure that Toyota’s BEVs do not end up as commodities.
Vice President Nakajima sees BEVs created by carmakers as a form of mobility that inspires affection.
“While some of these technologies may still be self-serving, we hope that having people experience them will provide feedback for further development. We will continue working hard to find the right answers.”
The workshop venue glowed with the fruits of Toyota’s tireless carmaking endeavor.