TM » Topics » Increase Vehicles Functionality and Intelligent Transport Systems

This excerpt taken from the TM 20-F filed Jun 24, 2009.

Increase Vehicles Functionality and Intelligent Transport Systems

Toyota is striving to increase vehicle functionality that will increase the attractiveness of vehicles and the excitement of driving. Toyota is also working in various ways to comprehensively realize enhanced transport systems that are aimed to transport people and goods in a smooth and efficient manner and to build a safe transportation environment. ITS combines automotive technologies and information technologies in an effort to provide vehicle occupants with an array of information and enhanced safety features.

Increasing Vehicle Functionality — Information service functions. To Toyota, increasing vehicle functionality means advancing information service functions that integrate vehicles with telecommunication systems, and driving assistance functions that use communication technologies and sensing technologies to create vehicles with intelligent features. Information service functions can improve the convenience and enrich the driving experience by means of information communication technologies, which add new functions “connected” to the basic vehicle functions of “running, turning and stopping”. Examples include the following:

 

   

Advanced car navigation system with functions such as displaying maps and detailed information about the car parking space and the VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) that provides real-time information about road traffic such as congestion, accidents, traffic restrictions

 

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and parking. These car navigation systems play an important role in providing drivers with various types of information on safety, smooth traveling, comfort and convenience.

 

   

G-BOOK is the latest information network service that merges the latest network technologies and car multimedia, prior to the arrival of the ubiquitous network society. G-BOOK provides various types of information useful for driving a car as well as the safety and security services that detect unusual conditions in the vehicle, which supports a lifestyle using automobiles anytime and anywhere through a network. In 2005, Toyota started G-BOOK ALPHA and G-Link that is a telematics service exclusive to Lexus, which added various features including the traffic congestion forecast service. In 2007, Toyota launched G-BOOK mX, which has matured as a comprehensive telematics service and is built on the proven reliability and security of G-BOOK with the addition of services allowing drivers to use more convenient navigation systems such as “Map-on-Demand” — the world’s first technology for automatically updating map data and “Probe Communication Traffic Information” that provides drivers with highly precise information on traffic congestion.

 

   

HELPNET emergency call service is an emergency notification system that transmits necessary information such as the vehicle location either automatically or through the touch of a button in the event of a traffic accident or medical emergency and immediately contacts police and fire departments through the HELPNET Center. This system is integrated into G-BOOK and G-Link to improve the quality of services. HELPNET shortens the time taken to report after an emergency situation occurs, which contributes to decreasing the number of traffic accident fatalities and reducing the level of impact, preventing second disasters and easing traffic congestion.

Increasing Vehicle Functionality — Driving Assistance Functions. Toyota’s driving assistance functions offer functions that assist drivers with a view to lessen the burden of driving, enhance safety and provide pleasure of driving to everyone. Toyota is proceeding with enhancements with the view to commercialize various functions that assist the driver in sensing external information, avoiding danger and making appropriate maneuvers, all in line with the driver’s basic driving actions. These functions have started to be incorporated in some Toyota vehicles. Examples of driving assistance functions include the following:

 

   

“VDIM” (Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management) is a system that constantly monitors the driver’s operations and the vehicle’s situation and centrally manages the engine, the steering mechanisms and the brakes. By starting control even before the vehicle’s control limits are reached, the VDIM achieves a high level of ‘active safety’ and improves driving performance namely running, turning and stopping.

 

   

“Pre-crash Safety System” is a system that perceives the possibility of a crash with obstacles or the car in front by millimeter-wave radar sensor that can precisely detect objects even in bad weather condition. If it is determined to be unavoidable, it proceeds to activate safety devices at an early stage to reduce any damage caused by collisions. Toyota is also developing an advanced system that determines unavoidable collision at an earlier stage with a system using a front camera that better detects objects and a driver monitoring camera that detects facial orientation and the opening and closing of eyes.

 

   

“Adaptive Cruise Control” (with all-speed tracking function) allows the vehicle to keep a constant distance between itself and the preceding vehicle within a range of speed from zero to a preset speed, automatically slowing down and stopping if necessary to avoid collision. When the car in front speeds up, it allows the driver to accelerate, resuming the system.

 

   

“Lane Keeping Assist System” is a system that uses a camera to detect the white or yellow lane markers on the road surface ahead while driving on the highway. The system assists the driver’s operation of the steering wheel by warning a deviation from the lane and by controlling electric power steering, in order to help keep the vehicle traveling between the lane markers. This system does not automatically control the steering to maintain travel between lane markers, but requires the steering of the driver.

 

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“Intelligent Parking Assist” is the world’s first parking assistance system that enables the vehicle to be automatically steered by electronic steering when backing into a parking spot or when parallel-parking. The driver presets the parking position on the display monitor. Toyota is also developing a system that allows the driver to set the parking position more easily, using a spatial cognition feature that detects the parking space through ultrasonic sensors.

 

   

“Night View” is a system that supports the driver’s vision at night. By utilizing infrared rays, pedestrians, vehicles and other objects within and beyond the range of the headlights are displayed clearly and the driver’s range of vision is widened. In addition, Toyota is developing a system that brackets pedestrians in yellow in the Night View screen and prompts attention.

Enhancing Transport Systems. Enhancing transport systems requires addressing various factors that are pertinent not only to cars but also roads, people and public transport systems in order to ensure the smooth and efficient movement of people and vehicles and to build a safe transportation environment. Although the scope of enhancing transport systems is wide, recent advances in information technology and ITS are making it possible to develop various systems that used to be mere concepts, in addition to systems such as the VICS and the ETC (Electronic Toll Collection System) which are already standard in Japan. An example of enhancing transport systems is the following.

 

   

“Infrastructure Cooperative Driving Support Safety System” is a system developed to decrease the incidence of traffic accidents that are difficult to prevent with only the existing safety equipment. It utilizes communication between the vehicle and the road, the vehicle and other vehicles and the vehicle and pedestrians, providing information to the driver and prompting attention with sound.

Toyota is committed to developing new ITS products. Toyota believes that intelligent transport systems will become an integral part of its overall automotive operations and enhance the competitiveness of its vehicles. As familiarity with and demand for ITS products grows, Toyota expects an increasing number of ITS products to become commercially available and achieve general acceptance each year.

This excerpt taken from the TM 20-F filed Jun 25, 2008.

Increase Vehicles Functionality and Intelligent Transport Systems

Toyota is striving to increase vehicle functionality that will increase the attractiveness of vehicles and the excitement of driving. Toyota is also working in various ways to comprehensively realize enhanced transport

 

23


Table of Contents

systems that are aimed to transport people and goods in a smooth and efficient manner and to build a safe transportation environment. ITS combines automotive technologies and information technologies in an effort to provide vehicle occupants with an array of information and enhanced safety features.

Increasing Vehicle Functionality — Information service functions. To Toyota, increasing vehicle functionality means advancing information service functions that integrate vehicles with telecommunication systems, and driving assistance functions that use communication technologies and sensing technologies to create vehicles with intelligent features. Information service functions can improve the convenience and enrich the driving experience by means of information communication technologies, which add new functions “connected” to the basic vehicle functions “running, turning and stopping”. Examples include the following:

 

   

Advanced car navigation system with functions such as displaying maps and detailed information about the car parking space and the VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) that provides real-time information about road traffic such as congestion, accidents, traffic restrictions and parking. These car navigation systems play an important role in providing drivers with various types of information on safety, smooth traveling, comfort and convenience.

 

   

G-BOOK is the latest information network service that merges the latest network technologies and car multimedia, prior to the arrival of the ubiquitous network society. G-BOOK provides various types of information useful for driving a car as well as the safety and security services that detect unusual conditions in the vehicle, which supports a lifestyle using automobiles anytime and anywhere through a network. In 2005, Toyota started G-BOOK ALPHA and G-Link that is a telematics service exclusive to Lexus, which added various features including the traffic congestion forecast service. In 2007, Toyota launched G-BOOK mX, which is matured as a comprehensive telematics service and built on the proven reliability and security of G-BOOK with the addition of services allowing drivers to use navigation systems more convenient such as “Map-on-Demand” — the world’s first technology for automatically updating map data and “Probe Communication Traffic Information” that provides drivers with highly precise information on traffic congestion.

 

   

HELPNET emergency call service is an emergency notification system that transmits necessary information such as the vehicle location either automatically or through the touch of a button in the event of a traffic accident or medical emergency and immediately contacts police and fire departments through the HELPNET Center. This system is integrated into G-BOOK and G-Link to improve the quality of services. HELPNET shortens the time taken to report after an emergency situation occurs, which contributes to decreasing the number of traffic accident fatalities and reducing the level of impact, preventing second disasters and easing traffic congestion.

Increasing Vehicle Functionality — Driving Assistance Functions. Toyota’s driving assistance functions offer functions that assist drivers with a view to lessen the burden of driving, enhance safety and provide pleasure of driving to everyone. Toyota is proceeding with enhancements with the view to commercialize various functions that assist the driver in sensing external information, avoiding danger and making appropriate maneuvers, all in line with the driver’s basic driving actions. These functions have started to be incorporated in some Toyota vehicles. Examples of driving assistance functions include the following:

 

   

“VDIM” (Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management) is a system that constantly monitors the driver’s operations and the vehicle’s situation and centrally manages the engine, the steering mechanisms and the brakes. By starting control even before the vehicle’s control limits are reached, the VDIM achieves a high level of ‘active safety’ and improves driving performance namely running, turning and stopping.

 

   

“Pre-crash Safety System” is a system that perceives the possibility of a crash with obstacles or the car in front by millimeter-wave radar sensor that can precisely detect objects even in bad weather condition. If it is determined to be unavoidable, it proceeds to activate safety devices at an early stage to reduce any damage caused by collisions. Toyota is also developing an advanced system that

 

24


Table of Contents
 

determines unavoidable collision at an earlier stage with a system using a front camera that better detects objects and a driver monitoring camera that detects facial orientation and the opening and closing of eyes.

 

   

“Adaptive Cruise Control” (with all-speed tracking function) allows the vehicle to keep a constant distance between itself and the preceding vehicle within a range of speed from zero to a preset speed, automatically slowing down and stopping if necessary to avoid collision. When the car in front speeds up, it allows the driver to accelerate, resuming the system.

 

   

“Lane Keeping Assist System” is a system that uses a camera to detect the white or yellow lane markers on the road surface ahead while driving on the highway. The system assists the driver’s operation of the steering wheel by warning a deviation from the lane and by controlling electric power steering, in order to help keep the vehicle traveling between the lane markers. This system does not automatically control the steering to maintain travel between lane markers, but requires the steering of the driver.

 

   

“Intelligent Parking Assist” is the world’s first parking assistance system that enables the vehicle to be automatically steered by electronic steering when backing into a parking spot or when parallel-parking. The driver presets the parking position on the display monitor. Toyota is also developing a system that allows the driver to set the parking position more easily, using a spatial cognition feature that detects the parking space through ultrasonic sensors.

 

   

“Night View” is a system that supports the driver’s vision at night. By utilizing infrared rays, pedestrians, vehicles and other objects within and beyond the range of the headlights are displayed clearly and the driver’s range of vision is widened. In addition, Toyota is developing a system that brackets pedestrians in yellow in the Night View screen and prompts attention.

Enhancing Transport Systems. Enhancing transport systems requires addressing various factors that are pertinent not only to cars but also roads, people and public transport systems in order to ensure the smooth and efficient movement of people and vehicles and to build a safe transportation environment. Although the scope of enhancing transport systems is wide, recent advances in information technology and ITS are making it possible to develop various systems that used to be mere concepts, in addition to systems such as the VICS and the ETC (Electronic Toll Collection System) which are already standard in Japan. An example of enhancing transport systems is the following.

 

   

“Infrastructure Cooperative Driving Support Safety System” is a system developed to decrease the incidence of traffic accidents that are difficult to prevent with only the existing safety equipment. It utilizes communication between the vehicle and the road, the vehicle and other vehicles and the vehicle and pedestrians, providing information to the driver and prompting attention with sound.

Toyota is committed to developing new ITS products. Toyota believes that intelligent transport systems will become an integral part of its overall automotive operations and enhance the competitiveness of its vehicles. As familiarity with and demand for ITS products grows, Toyota expects an increasing number of ITS products to become commercially available and achieve general acceptance each year.

EXCERPTS ON THIS PAGE:

20-F
Jun 24, 2009
20-F
Jun 25, 2008

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