Toyota Touts “Co-Pilot” Approach to Autonomous Cars

Toyota Motor Corp. says advanced safety technologies should enhance a driver's skills but not necessarily take over the driving function itself.

Toyota's Lexus unit is demonstrating its safety research vehicle at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The company acknowledges that the systems it is developing could drive a car unaided. But Toyota insists that the driver must always be fully engaged, with automated safety technologies acting as an "always-attentive co-pilot."

The Lexus test car is equipped with a 360 laser unit on the roof that scans for objects within 70 meters (230 feet) of the vehicle. A front-facing and two side-facing high-definition color cameras detect objects 150 meters (490) feet away.

Additional radar units on the front and both sides monitor the location and speed of objects at intersections. An array of sensors monitor such factors as the car's speed, acceleration, distance traveled and turning angle.

Toyota's research, which it dubs integrated safety management, addresses all aspects of driving, starting with the parked vehicle. Some systems provide crash avoidance capabilities. Others deal with crash mitigation and after-crash rescue and response.