Toyota unveils autonomous car

Toyota is developing an autonomous or self driving car to create what they are calling a virtual "co-pilot". Showing off a modified Lexus at CES this week, Toyota says the car has sensors and automated systems to observe, process and respond to its surroundings.


Wheels.ca reports:


“For Toyota and Lexus, an autonomous vehicle does not translate to a driverless vehicle, but rather a car equipped with an intelligent, always-attentive co-pilot whose skills contribute to safer driving,” Mark Templin, head of U.S. sales for Lexus, said yesterday at a show presentation. “The driver must be fully engaged.”

"Toyota, Asia’s largest automaker, and competitors already offer cars with features including cruise control that monitors and maintains a safe distance from vehicles ahead, sensors to warn of swerving out of a lane, and automated braking triggered when a vehicle doesn’t slow enough to avoid impact.

Improvements in such areas, rather than cars that fully drive themselves, are Toyota’s near-term priority. Toyota is doing the research at the Higashi-Fuji technical centre in Japan."

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