Toyota and NTT Join Forces in $33 Billion AI-Driven Autonomous Driving Venture
1min read Toyota Motor Corporation and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) have announced a strategic partnership, investing approximately $33 billion to develop advanced automotive software utilizing artificial intelligence (AI). This initiative aims to enhance the safety and reliability of autonomous driving systems by predicting and mitigating potential traffic incidents. The companies plan to introduce this technology by 2028 and make it available not only to their own vehicles but also to other automakers globally.
The collaboration focuses on creating a sophisticated AI-based platform capable of achieving high-level autonomous driving, specifically targeting Level 4 (L4) and Level 5 (L5) automation. L5 represents the pinnacle of autonomous driving without human intervention, while L4 requires minimal human input. Japan has recently paved the way for L4 vehicles, adjusting its road traffic laws to accommodate this advancement.
Toyota and NTT's system intends to employ cameras, sensors, and other data collection tools to create a virtual depiction of real-time driving conditions and surroundings. Multiple AI units will analyze this data continuously, and if a potential accident is predicted, the system will automatically adjust the vehicle's controls, guiding the steering and brakes to avoid it.
The effective operation of such an intricate system necessitates rapid, large-scale data transmission, a requirement that will leverage NTT's Integrated Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) technologies. This technology replaces electrical signals with optical ones, significantly enhancing communication speed and efficiency.
This partnership is particularly significant as it positions Toyota and NTT to catch up with industry leaders like Tesla and some Chinese competitors in the field of advanced autonomous driving technology. Their history of collaboration, which includes the development of 5G connected cars in 2017 and participation in smart city initiatives in 2020, provides a solid foundation for this ambitious project.
The move signals a proactive approach by Japanese automakers to secure a foothold in the burgeoning market for sophisticated, AI-driven automotive solutions. The expected outcome promises not only to elevate the standard of automation in Toyota vehicles but also to facilitate widespread adoption of autonomous driving technologies, making roads safer and transportation more efficient worldwide.
