{{Toyota Motor Corp. and Audi AG are throwing their hats into the ring of potential suppliers of self-driving vehicles.}}<\/p>\n
Both auto makers confirmed on Thursday that they will be demonstrating autonomous-driving features at the Consumer Electronics Show in the coming week, signaling a new effort to raise the technology’s profile among consumers.<\/p>\n
In a preview video posted to its website on Thursday, Toyota showed a five-second clip of one of its Lexus brand cars outfitted with various sensors and the caption, “Lexus advanced active safety research vehicle is leading the industry into a new automated era.”<\/p>\n
An Audi official also said the luxury-car company will be demonstrating autonomous vehicle capabilities at the Las Vegas show, including a feature that allows a car to find a parking space and park itself without a driver behind the wheel.<\/p>\n
Toyota’s prototype vehicle is a Lexus LS 600h fitted with radar and camera equipment that can detect other vehicles, road lane lines and traffic signals, giving the vehicle the ability to navigate streets without a driver.<\/p>\n
It also includes what appears to be the same roof-mounted laser that Google Inc. has been using on its autonomous research cars. Google began testing self-driving cars in 2009.<\/p>\n
While Google uses many Toyota vehicles in its autonomous fleet, the two companies confirmed that Toyota’s technology wasn’t the result of a partnership, and that each firm is developing driving systems independently.<\/p>\n
The Japanese auto maker plans to discuss its autonomous car in more detail next week, according to a Toyota official.<\/p>\n
Dave Sullivan, an analyst with research firm AutoPacific Inc., said Toyota’s decision in particular to throw its name behind autonomous driving technology will likely spur adoption.<\/p>\n
“To have somebody with the weight of Toyota throwing their weight behind this is impressive,” Mr. Sullivan said. <\/p>\n
He added that Toyota has already been spotted testing an autonomous vehicle near its Ann Arbor, Mich., engineering campus.<\/p>\n
Building-block technologies at the heart of self-driving vehicles already exist widely, but auto makers have been cautious in adding tools that could take the responsibility out of the hands of drivers. <\/p>\n
For instance, adaptive cruise control, available in dozens of vehicles on the market, can allow people to steer their vehicle and avoid touching the brake or accelerator on long trips.<\/p>\n
Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz is working on technology for its S-class sedan that will handle braking and accelerating in stop-and-go traffic.<\/p>\n
There are safety technologies that will gently pull a car back into its lane if the car detects the driver is veering too much.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, auto makers also have developed safety technology designed to protect pedestrians. Toyota’s top Lexus LS, for example, has a radar that can detect people walking in front of a vehicle. <\/p>\n
If it sees a pedestrian, the safety system will stop the car, even if the driver continues stepping on the accelerator pedal. Other car makers also offer a similar technology.<\/p>\n
Besides Audi and Mercedes-Benz, other car makers are developing autonomous driving technology as well.<\/p>\n
Ford Motor Co. Chairman Bill Ford Jr. has said that autonomous vehicles are coming and likely are a good solution to congestion problems because they could be coordinated with traffic information and reroute drivers past traffic jams.<\/p>\n
Google has been the most visible proponent of autonomous cars so far. It has released numerous videos of its self-driving cars in action, including putting a blind man in the driver’s seat. <\/p>\n
It has also lobbied to legalize computer-controlled cars, recently scoring legislative wins in Nevada, Florida and California.<\/p>\n
Toyota has taken a more aggressive approach to new technologies and design under the leadership of Akio Toyoda, the company’s chief executive officer and grandson of the company’s founder. <\/p>\n
Aside from its popular Prius gasoline-electric hybrid cars, Toyota has struck a deal to partner with Silicon Valley startup Tesla Motors Co. to make plug-in electric cars, among other things.<\/p>\n
{Wall Street Journal } <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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