Toyota’s Highway Teammate, a Lexus GS sedan with automated driving capability, went on a test drive on Tokyo’s Shuto Expressway. The test drive consisted of trials covering functions like entering and exiting highways, switching lanes and manipulating speed.
Highway Teammate is the physical manifestation of Toyota’s Mobility Teammate Concept which focuses on the evolution of the driver-car relationship with the aid of artificial intelligence. Highway Teammate uses recognition and decision-making processes to evaluate road conditions and make decisions during highway driving. As with other semi-automated vehicles, the Highway Teammate requires driver intervention. The driver can switch to automated driving after entering a highway after which the car will use sensory and database information to maneuver itself.
Multiple external sensors enable the system to recognise nearby vehicles and hazards. A road map database allows the autonomous vehicle to pinpoint its location and select appropriate routes to the destination. Toyota’s Mobility Teammate Concept centres on safety, efficiency and freedom – an approach which recognises the need for automated driving technologies while still keeping in mind the driving experience for the user. The company has been involved in the research and development of automated driving technologies since 1990s and aims to commercially launch vehicles with autonomous driving functions by 2020.
In the wake of twelve new products launched in 2015, Toyota has retained its title of the most valuable automotive brand in the world according to Interbrand’s 2015 “Best Global Brands” annual report.