The Toyota car company has presented at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas, a prototype of ‘city of the future,’ wholly connected and powered by hydrogen fuel cells, as reported by the Japanese firm in a statement.
Called ‘Woven City’ and located in Japan, this city will be a ‘living laboratory’ and will serve as a home for full-time residents and researchers who can test and develop technologies such as autonomous mobility, robotics, personal mobility, smart homes, and artificial intelligence in a real environment.
“Building a complete city from scratch, even on a small scale, is a unique opportunity to develop future technologies, including a digital operating system for the city’s infrastructure. With connected people, buildings, and vehicles and communicating with each other through data and sensors, we can test connected Artificial Intelligence,” said Toyota President Akio Toyoda. He also added that the brand would extend an invitation to other business partners and academics to collaborate and invite interested scientists and researchers from around the world to work on their projects in this incubator.
“We welcome all those inspired to improve the way we will live in the future, to take advantage of this unique research ecosystem, and join our quest to create an increasingly better way of life and mobility for all,” said Toyota.
The city map includes three types of streets, one for the fastest vehicles only, another for lower speed models, personal mobility and pedestrians, and the last one only for pedestrians.
The roofs of the buildings will be covered with photovoltaic panels to generate solar energy, in addition to the power produced by hydrogen fuel cells. Only autonomous vehicles and zero emissions will be allowed inside the city.