Toyota Research Institute Reveals How Technology Can Help To Solve Society’s Challenges

Toyota Research Institute (TRI) opened its doors for the first time to members of the media to showcase the research taking place at its headquarters in Silicon Valley. During the TRI Expo, the company’s CEO and Toyota Motor Corporation’s Chief Scientist, Gill Pratt, explained TRI’s high-risk, high-reward approaches to tackle three major societal challenges:  aging society, climate change, and human understanding.

Pratt explained that ‘Toyota made a huge leap by expanding from manufacturing textile looms to building cars way back in the 1930s. The company is driven by the mission to discover the next technological leap that will transform Toyota’s business.

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Toyota calls themselves explorers who are not just researching ways to build better cars but also discovering what mobility may mean beyond cars. The company’s high-risk; high-reward research approach can unlock the next, big breakthrough for Toyota and its global customers.

TRI Headquarters – the Experience

During the Expo, reporters toured TRI’s headquarters and learned how TRI’s research explores the frontier where the risks and rewards are highest.

• Attendees were able to experience TRI’s Driver-in-the-loop Motion Simulator, a high-realism, immersive driving experience created to enhance the interface between human drivers and autonomy.
• They also saw firsthand various research vehicles built to explore ways to make cars safer in the future. The tour also included a close-up look at TRI’s advanced robotics laboratory.

TRI and its 5 Core Pursuits

TRI introduced its five core research areas – energy and materials, human-centered AI, human interactive driving, machine learning, and robotics – and outlined why these pursuits were selected, how they strengthen each other, and how they address societal problems.

In a panel discussion led by Brian Cooley, technology commentator, the leads of TRI’s five research divisions revealed what they hope to discover and shared how their work connects to Toyota’s mission of producing happiness for all.

Energy & Materials

It uses AI to accelerate the breakthroughs needed to build safe, affordable, high-performing zero-emission vehicles.

Brian Storey, Senior Director of Energy & Materials said that Toyota aims to solve one of the most complex challenges – how to move people without relying on fossil fuels. The company is making use of AI and other technologies to discover new materials and make other breakthroughs to power the future.

Human-Centered AI

It is creating new human-AI capabilities that enhance human understanding to advance collective well-being.

Charlene Wu, Senior Director of Human-Centered AI, explained that when great minds from behavioral science, machine learning, and human-computer interaction come together, Toyota develops tools and frameworks that allow us to understand human behavior. Once we have that understanding, we work to develop AI systems to augment human decision-making.

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Human Interactive Driving

Interactive driving amplifies human capabilities and puts humans at the center of the driving experience. Considering the massive shift in consumer preferences in mobility and technology, Avinash Balachandran, Director of Human Interactive Driving said that Toyota envisioned a future where the vehicle intelligently uses AI to amplify human capabilities, creating a better driving experience.

Whether it’s supporting drivers in difficult situations or interacting with drivers to improve their skills over time, Toyota is focused on building AI that collaborates with people to make driving safer and more fun for everyone.

Machine Learning

It refers to training algorithms to adapt and change on their own for the benefit of humanity.

Adrien Gaidon, Director of Machine Learning, revealed that machine learning underlies everything we do at TRI. The aim is to discover and develop useful learning principles that enable machines to learn safely, at scale, and with minimal supervision. These machine-learning principles aim to support the next generation of intelligent machines.

Robotics

Explaining how robotic capabilities amplify and empower humans, at home and at work, Max Bajracharya, Senior Vice President of Robotics, said that Robotics can be used to amplify human ability rather than replace it. Whether it’s assisting people in their homes or at work, Toyota wants to empower people to use robots to help accomplish their tasks.

With Toyota’s earnest passion to unlock the next in innovation and transform the company’s business, while enhancing the quality of life for individuals and society at large.