Toyota and NTT plan to collaborate on research and development for a driver assistance system that uses next-generation optical communication infrastructure and artificial intelligence, people familiar with the matter said Monday.
The two companies will spend ¥500 billion together on the project to develop the traffic accident prevention technology, and aim to commercialize it in 2028.
The new driver assistance system envisioned by the two firms will collect data on surrounding traffic environments through sensors. AI will analyze in real time the predictability of an accident and autonomously control vehicles depending on the situation.
The system will utilize the IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) next-generation optical communication platform being developed by NTT to handle the large amount of data necessary for the analysis.
IOWN uses light instead of electrical signals to increase communication capacity and save power, and is expected to support the so-called 6G standard that will replace the 5G large-capacity ultrahigh-speed wireless communication standard.
Toyota and NTT joined forces in 2017 to develop a connected car that is constantly linked to the internet. They announced in 2020 that they will invest in each other and jointly create a futuristic Smart City in which autonomous vehicles, household appliances and residential equipment are connected by the internet.
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