The 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) will host the debut of the Toyota Research Institute’s (TRI) Platform 3.0, the next-generation automated research vehicle.
Based on the Lexus LS600h L, it meshes the newest technology with style while accommodating the automated technology needed within the LS model’s design.
Dr Gill Pratt, TRI CEO and Toyota Motor Corporation Fellow, commented, "To elevate our test platform to a new level, we tapped Toyota's design and engineering expertise to create an all-new platform that has the potential to be a benchmark in function and style."
Elevating perceptions of capabilities to be an industry pace-setter in automated vehicles, blending the required sensing equipment seamlessly into the vehicle and allowing the automated technology to be scaled up easily by packaging it into the vehicle in an easy to reproduce manner were the three main goals of the project.
Platform 3.0 contains a more defined sensor configuration and level of performance which makes it one of the most perceptive automated driving test cars on the road. The Luminar LIDAR system has been improved to track the full 360-degree perimeter of the car. This was accomplished with the inclusion of four high-resolution LIDAR scanning heads which are able to accurately detect objects around the vehicle, including dark objects which have previously been problematic.
Located low down in each front quarter panel and on the front and rear bumper of the vehicle are shorter-range LIDAR sensors. These are capable of detecting low-level and smaller objects such as children or debris which are near the car.
CALTY Design Research and engineers at Toyota Motor North America Research and Development (TMNA R&D) were tasked with creating a compact package able to flawlessly conceal the numerous sensors and cameras.
A new rooftop weather and temperature-proof panel wascreated to make use of the space in the sunroof compartment to reduce the overall height. This allows the equipment to tie-in with the vehicle and the LIDAR sensor, which has been a dominant feature of previous test vehicles, has been replaced.
Also addressed was the computational architecture required for operating the automated vehicle components which were previously housed in the boot space. These have been condensed into a small box adorned with an LED-lit TRI logo.
Production of Platform 3.0 is due to begin shortly which will be built by the Prototype Development Centre at TMNA R&D headquarters in York, Michigan from stock Lexus LS models.
Production numbers are to be kept intentionally low to accommodate the speed at which TRI are updating the test platform; three major updates have already occurred in less than a year with no sign of development slowing.
Of the vehicles built, some will be assembled with a dual cockpit control layout which will be used to test TRI’s Guardian approach to automated driving. Tests will occur where control of the vehicle will be transferred between the test driver and the automated system. The vehicle on display at CES will be a single cockpit vehicle which will be used to test Chauffer, TRI’s approach to fully autonomous vehicles.
Both Guardian and Chauffer test vehicles will use the same technology, amount of sensors and cameras as well as similar software.
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