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TM » Topics » Intelligent Transport Systems

This excerpt taken from the TM 20-F filed Jun 25, 2007.

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.

Features of ITS include:

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

 

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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 whether a crash is unavoidable and if it is determined to be unavoidable, proceeds to activate safety devices at an early stage to reduce any damage caused by collisions. The possibility of colliding into obstacles or the car in front is measured by millimeter-wave radar sensor that can precisely detect objects even in bad weather condition. Toyota is also developing an advanced system that determines unavoidable collision at an earlier stage due to combination of the front camera and the driver monitoring camera.

 

  •  

“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.

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

 

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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 various systems that used to be merely concepts into a reality.

 

  •  

ETC, which is a system in which an on-board unit communicates with the gate to pay the toll by having it charged to a credit card when a vehicle passes through tollgates, thus eliminating the need for the vehicle to stop for payment. This has the effect of alleviating traffic congestion near the tollgate and will lead to lower emissions and reduced fuel consumption.

 

  •  

IMTS (Intelligent Multimode Transit System) is a system that combines the advantage of rail and bus transport to provide a new transportation system for medium level distances and loads. On main roads, the IMTS buses run in automated platoons on dedicated roads, while on ordinary roads, each bus is manually driven. At the “Expo 2005 Aichi Japan”, IMTS buses with cutting edge design were used as on site transportation.

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 26, 2006.

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 vehicles in a smooth and efficient manner and to build a safe transportation environment. Intelligent transport systems combine automotive, information and telecommunications technologies in an effort to provide vehicle occupants with an array of information and enhanced safety features.

Features of intelligent transport systems include:

Increasing Vehicle Functionality — Information service functions. To Toyota, increasing vehicle functionality means advancing information service functions that integrate vehicles with telecommunication systems and driving assist functions that use communication technologies and sensing technologies to create vehicles with intelligent features. Information service functions add to the basic vehicle function of traveling, turning and stopping. The function of connecting is made possible by the use of communication technologies, which in turn enriches the driving experience and improves the convenience of driving. Examples include the following:

 

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

 

  •   G-BOOK is an information network service that merges the latest network technologies with car multimedia, preparing for the arrival of the ubiquitous network society. G-BOOK supports the driver and the vehicle anytime, anywhere via a network, for example, by providing various types of information useful for driving as well as a safety and security service that detects unusual conditions in the vehicle. In 2005, Toyota launched the G-BOOK ALPHA service, which added various features including a traffic congestion prediction service in an effort to further develop telematics.

 

  •   Emergency call service (the “HELPNET”), is a system that either automatically or by manual button control sends necessary information, such as vehicle position and other information to emergency response numbers via a HELPNET operations center when a traffic accident or other emergencies occur. By shortening the time between the occurrence of an emergency and the reporting, it decreases traffic fatalities, reduces the adverse effects of injuries, lessens secondary casualties and alleviates traffic congestion.

Increasing Vehicle Functionality — Driving Assist Functions. Toyota’s driving assist functions offer functions that assist drivers with a view to lessen the burden of driving, enhance safety and stimulate excitement in their driving. Toyota is proceeding with enhancements and the commercialization of 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. Examples include the following:

 

  •   “Night View” is a system that supports the driver’s vision at night. By utilizing infra-red 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.

 

  •  

“Lane Keeping Assist System” is a system that uses a camera to detect the white lane markers on the road surface ahead while driving on the highway. While this system does not automatically keep the

 

22

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vehicle within the lane and the driver must still operate the steering wheel, the system assists the driver’s operation of the steering wheel by warning a deviation from the lane and by controlling the motorized 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.

 

  •   “Pre-crash Safety System” is a system that perceives whether a crash is unavoidable and if so, proceeds to activate safety devices at an early stage to reduce any damage caused by collisions.

 

  •   “Intelligent Parking Assist” is the world’s first parking assist system that enables the vehicle to be automatically steered when it is being backed into a garage or being parallel-parked.

 

  •   “Radar Cruise Control with Low-Speed Tracking Mode” is a system that enables vehicles to follow vehicles ahead maintaining a distance within a preset speed. The low-speed tracking mode controls the accelerator and the brake to maintain the distance from the vehicle ahead at a speed specified by the driver when the vehicle is traveling at low speed (approximately 30km/h or slower) on a congested highway. If the system determines that it is necessary to stop the vehicle, it issues a warning, notifying the driver of the need to apply the breaks. Should the driver fail to apply the breaks in time, the system automatically stops the vehicle momentarily to maintain the necessary distance from the vehicle ahead.

 

  •   “VDIM” (Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management) (including “VSC” Vehicle Stability Control functions) is a system that constantly monitors the driver’s actions and the vehicle’s state 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 assists with the traveling, turning and stopping operations, thus achieving a high level of preventive safety.

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 intelligent transport systems are making various systems that used to be merely concepts into a reality. Examples include the following:

 

  •   ETC is a system in which an on-board unit communicates with the gate to pay the toll by having it charged to a credit card when a vehicle passes through tollgates, thus eliminating the need for the vehicle to stop for payment. This has the effect of alleviating traffic congestion near the tollgate and will lead to lower emissions and reduced fuel consumption.

 

  •   IMTS (Intelligent Multimode Transit System) is a system that combines the advantages of rail and bus transport to provide a new transportation system for medium level distances and loads. On main roads, the buses run in automated platoons on dedicated roads, while on ordinary roads, each bus is manually driven. At the “Expo 2005 Aichi Japan”, 1.79 million visitors used the buses with cutting edge design as on-site transportation.

Toyota is committed to developing new intelligent transport system 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 intelligent transport system products grows, Toyota expects an increasing number of intelligent transport system products to become commercially available and achieve general acceptance each year.

This excerpt taken from the TM 20-F filed Jun 24, 2005.

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 vehicles in a smooth and efficient manner and to build a safe transportation environment. Intelligent transport systems combine automotive, information and telecommunications technologies in an effort to provide vehicle occupants with an array of information and enhanced safety features.

 

Features of intelligent transport systems include:

 

Increasing Vehicle Functionality — Information service functions. To Toyota, increasing vehicle functionality means advancing information service functions that integrate vehicles with telecommunication systems and driving assist functions that use communication technologies and sensing technologies to create vehicles with intelligent features. Information service functions add to the basic vehicle function of traveling, turning and stopping. The function of connecting is made possible by the use of communication technologies, which in turn enriches the driving experience and improves the convenience of driving. Examples include the following:

 

  •   Advanced car navigation system with functions such as displaying detailed information about the parking level on which the vehicle is traveling and the VICS system that provides real-time information about road traffic including congestion, accidents, traffic restrictions and parking. These car navigation systems will continue to play an important role in providing drivers with various types of information on safety, smooth traveling, comfort and convenience.

 

  •   G-BOOK is an information network service that merges the latest in network technologies with car multimedia, preparing for the arrival of the ubiquitous network society. G-BOOK supports the driver and the vehicle anytime, anywhere via a network, for example, by providing various types of information useful for driving as well as a safety and security service that detects unusual conditions in the vehicle.

 

  •  

Emergency call service (the “HELPNET”), is a system that either automatically or by manual button control sends necessary information, such as vehicle position and other information to emergency

 

22

Table of Contents
 

response numbers via a HELPNET operations center when a traffic accident or other emergencies occur. By shortening the time between the occurrence of an emergency and the reporting, it decreases traffic fatalities, reduces the adverse effects of injuries, lessens secondary casualties and alleviates traffic congestion.

 

Increasing Vehicle Functionality — Driving Assist Functions. Toyota’s driving assist functions offer functions that assist drivers with a view to lessen the burden of driving, enhance safety and stimulate excitement in their driving. Toyota is proceeding with enhancements and the commercialization of 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. Examples include the following:

 

  •   “Night View” is a system that supports the driver’s vision at night. Even when pedestrians, vehicles and other objects within and beyond the range of the headlights are difficult to see, it displays them more clearly and secures a wider range of vision for the driver.

 

  •   “Lane Keeping Assist System” is a system that uses a camera to detect the white lane markers on the road surface ahead while driving on the highway. While this system does not automatically keep the vehicle within the lane and the driver must still operate the steering wheel, the system assists the driver’s operation of the steering wheel by controlling the motorized power steering, in order to help keep the vehicle traveling between the lane markers.

 

  •   “Pre-crash Safety System” is a system that perceives whether a crash is unavoidable and if so, proceeds to activate safety devices at an early stage to reduce any damage caused by collisions.

 

  •   “Intelligent Parking Assist” is the world’s first parking assist system that enables the vehicle to be automatically steered when it is being backed into a garage or being parallel-parked.

 

  •   “Radar Cruise Control with Low-Speed Tracking Mode” is a system that enables vehicles to follow vehicles ahead maintaining a distance within a preset speed. The low-speed tracking mode controls the accelerator and the brake to maintain the distance from the vehicle ahead at a speed specified by the driver when the vehicle is traveling at low speed (approximately 30km/h or slower) on a congested highway. If the system determines that it is necessary to stop the vehicle, it issues a warning, notifying the driver of the need to apply the breaks. Should the driver fail to apply the breaks in time, the system automatically stops the vehicle momentarily to maintain the necessary distance from the vehicle ahead.

 

  •   “Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management” (“VDIM”, including VSC functions) is a system that constantly monitors the driver’s actions and the vehicle’s state 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 assists with the traveling, turning and stopping operations, thus achieving a high level of preventive safety.

 

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 intelligent transport systems are making various systems that used to be merely concepts into a reality. Examples include the following:

 

  •   ETC is a system in which an on-board unit communicates with the gate to pay the toll by having it charged to a credit card when a vehicle passes through the tollgate, thus eliminating the need for the vehicle to stop for payment. This has the effect of alleviating traffic congestion near the tollgate.

 

  •   Intelligent Multimode Transit System (“IMTS”) is a system that combines the advantages of rail and bus transport to provide a new transportation system for medium level distances and loads. On main roads, the buses run in automated platoons on dedicated roads, while on ordinary roads, each bus is manually driven.

 

23

Table of Contents

Toyota is committed to developing new intelligent transport system 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 intelligent transport system products grows, Toyota expects an increasing number of intelligent transport system products to become commercially available and achieve general acceptance each year.

 

EXCERPTS ON THIS PAGE:

20-F
Jun 25, 2007
20-F
Jun 26, 2006
20-F
Jun 24, 2005

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