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toyota

New mobility ecosystem from Toyota

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Toyota‘s new mobility service business alliance and e-Palette concept vehicle have been designed to meet the demands of future multi-mode transportation and business applications.

The e-Palette Alliance will leverage Toyota’s proprietary Mobility Services Platform (MSPF) to develop a suite of connected mobility solutions and a flexible, purpose-built vehicle.

The alliance will create a broad-based ecosystem of hardware and software support designed to help a range of companies utilize advanced mobility technology to better serve customers.

[Read more…] about New mobility ecosystem from Toyota

Infineon receives quality award from Toyota’s Hirose Plant

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Infineon Technologies AG has received an award from Toyota for continuously outstanding product quality.

The auto maker’s Hirose plant presented its Honour Quality Award to the Munich-based chip maker for its CAN transceivers – devices that enable various electronic control units (ECU) in the car to exchange data.

Achieving zero defects in automotive electronics is becoming increasingly important in light of many new functionalities such as automated driving.

[Read more…] about Infineon receives quality award from Toyota’s Hirose Plant

Toyota’s basketball robot is why humans should give up and go home

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If you find being confronted by a 7-foot human basketball player somewhat intimidating, wait ’til you see the new Toyota basketball-playing robot. 

Luckily, the 6-foot-3-inch monstrosity doesn’t move around at all and only throws the ball into the hoop – but it does so with 100 per cent accuracy. (See video below.)

According to Asahi Shimbun via CNBC, ZDNet and others, the robot – named “Cue” for some reason – threw 200,000 hoops with almost perfect accuracy.  [Read more…] about Toyota’s basketball robot is why humans should give up and go home

Toyota Motor Europe and Dassault Systèmes collaborate on ‘next-generation digital marketing’ system

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Dassault Systèmes and Toyota Motor Europe have signed a three-year contract to collaborate on an optimised digital production process to create next-generation digital marketing solutions for all new car launches in Europe.

These solutions will feature localised and personalised content targeting consumers seeking new, customised experiences in the car buying journey.

With Dassault Systèmes’ “Virtual Garage” industry solution experience, Toyota Motor Europe can leverage 3DExcite high-end visualisation applications for automated and integrated digital marketing asset production processes.  [Read more…] about Toyota Motor Europe and Dassault Systèmes collaborate on ‘next-generation digital marketing’ system

Toyota launches tiny humanoid robot that fits into the palm of your hand

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Toyota has launched a tiny robot small enough to fit into the palm of your hand. 

The KiRobo Mini is clearly the company’s way of taking a break from making cars, and is now on sale in Japan.

According to Nikkei, the little robot “can talk, learn, and serve up information on your car and home”.  [Read more…] about Toyota launches tiny humanoid robot that fits into the palm of your hand

Toyota unveils its third-generation humanoid robot T-HR3

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Company says new robot is enabled through advanced torque servo module and master maneuvering system

Toyota has revealed the third generation of its humanoid robot, the T-HR3, designed and developed by its Partner Robot business unit. 

The company’s aim seems to be to market the robot for use in the home, perhaps for elderly care or companionship, but says it can also be applied in industrial sectors such as healthcare, construction and disaster recovery. (See video below.)

Toyota says its latest robotics platform will explore new technologies for safely managing physical interactions between robots and their surroundings, and it features a new remote maneuvering system that mirrors user movements to the robot.

Toyota says the T-HR3 reflects the company’s broad-based exploration of how advanced technologies can help to meet people’s unique mobility needs.  [Read more…] about Toyota unveils its third-generation humanoid robot T-HR3

Toyota investing $400 million to manufacture hybrid powertrain in the US

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Toyota is to build hybrid powertrains at plants in the US for the first time.

The company claims it has “just upped the stakes” to remain the top manufacturer of hybrid vehicles worldwide.

Its investment in the US will total $373.8 million, spread across five US manufacturing plants.  [Read more…] about Toyota investing $400 million to manufacture hybrid powertrain in the US

Toyota shows off its progress in robotics, autonomous cars and artificial intelligence

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Toyota Research Institute has been demonstrating its progress in the development of automated driving technology and other project work to the investor community this week.

Dr Gill Pratt, CEO of TRI, says: “In the last few months, we have rapidly accelerated our pace in advancing Toyota’s automated driving capabilities with a vision of saving lives, expanding access to mobility, and making driving more fun and convenient.

“Our research teams have also been evolving machine intelligence that can support further development of robots for in-home support of people.” [Read more…] about Toyota shows off its progress in robotics, autonomous cars and artificial intelligence

Denso creates consortium for network and computing infrastructure of automotive big data

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Denso, the main supplier of automotive components to Toyota, is part of a new consortium which will develop infrastructure for driving data.

As well as Denso, other companies in the consortium are Ericsson, Intel, NTT, NTT Docomo, Toyota InfoTechnology, and Toyota Motor.

Together, the companies have initiated the formation of the Automotive Edge Computing Consortium.  [Read more…] about Denso creates consortium for network and computing infrastructure of automotive big data

China’s electric car market given a jump-start by government and looks set to boost lithium industry

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The market for electric cars in China is huge already and it’s growing at almost an exponential rate annually. 

Commentators in the country include electric cars in the category called “new energy vehicles”, which also refers to hybrid energy vehicles, and are saying the market will be further accelerated as a result of government backing.

Edward Tse, CEO of Gao Feng management consultancy, says: “With the issuance in April 2017 of the Automotive Industry Mid to Long Term Development Plan, the Ministry for Industry and Information Technology provides guiding principles for the development of China’s auto industry for the next decade.  [Read more…] about China’s electric car market given a jump-start by government and looks set to boost lithium industry