Tokyo Motor Show 2017: Toyota Showcases Future Mobility With Concept-i

Japanese auto giant Toyota had a host of new concepts to showcase at the ongoing Tokyo Motor Show. The new Concept-i series, which includes - the Concept-i, Concept-i Ride, and Concept-i walk - are part of Toyota's vision of future mobility that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and connected cars technology. With this, the company hopes to enable future cars to better understands, learn, and grow with the driver and thus makes driving more effortless and safer. In fact, Toyota showcased the Concept-i autonomous car early this year at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show, while Concept-i Ride and the Concept-i Walk were revealed early this month.

Toyota's Concept-i, Concept-i Ride, and Concept-i walk

Also Read: The Toyota Concept-i Showcased at CES 2017

Designed by Toyota's Calty Design Research Centre in Newport Beach, California, the new Concept-i car uses the power of an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system to anticipate people's needs and act accordingly. The powerful artificial intelligence system is able to connect the car to the person behind the wheel, gradually learning things like driving patterns, schedules, frequent stops and much more. For example, the Concept-i estimates emotion and level of alertness by reading the driver's expressions, actions, and tone of voice in a complex manner and also compares general information, news on the web or your social media or GPS activity and more to estimates the driver's preferences. Toyota plans to conduct road tests of vehicles equipped with some of the concept car's functions in Japan by around 2020.

The Toyota Concept-i Ride is designed make driving easy for wheelchair users

Also Read: Toyota Showcases The Concept-i Ride Ahead Of Tokyo Motor Show

A smaller extension of the Concept-i is the Concept-i Ride, which Toyota says has been designed for "user-friendly city mobility." Suitable for both regular drivers and wheelchair users, the Concept-i Ride comes with gull-wing doors, an electric universal sliding seat, and a joystick eliminates the steering wheel, accelerator and brake pedals, and the vehicle size enables wheelchair users to park and enter/exit a common parking space. Also, the AI Agent is positioned on the large-size display of the instrument panel and actively provides information that supports and enhances outings, such as the provision of information on barrier-free facilities.

Toyota Concept-i walk

The series also includes the Concept-i walk a personal mobility that can be used for travelling inside a building structure and when walking around sightseeing spots. The three-wheeled vehicle comes with a wheelbase variable mechanism, steering function, and a low floor height that makes it easy to use and does not necessitate the use of specific clothing or footwear. Toyota aims to link the i Walk using the "AI Agent" to disengage and re-engage with the rider across the vehicles in the series, thereby being together with the riders.