Toyota’s Latest Tech Showcased at Thunderhill Raceway

Toyota Research Institute (TRI) recently showcased its latest AI-assisted driving technology at the Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, CA. The event offered journalists from the US and Europe the chance to experience firsthand how TRI is approaching autonomy. Instead of focusing on self-driving robotaxis, TRI’s Human Interactive Driving (HID) team is dedicated to active safety, aiming to make driving safer and more engaging for the driver.

One of the highlights of the event was the unveiling of TRI’s Driving Sensei concept, which uses AI to help drivers improve their skills and become safer drivers. According to TRI CEO Gill Pratt, safety is a top priority for Toyota, and their human-centered approach aims to discover better, safer ways for humans and AI to collaborate.

The event showcased different technologies developed under the HID team’s research pillars, including Human-Focused Learning, Driver/Vehicle Performance and Safety, and Shared Autonomy. These technologies use data-driven machine-learning techniques to create models of human behavior, build expert-level driving skills with AI, and enable AI and drivers to work together for a safer and more enjoyable driving experience.

Journalists had the opportunity to experience these technologies firsthand, including testing the handling limits of an autonomous self-drifting Toyota Supra and a fully autonomous Lexus LC500. They also learned how to countersteer to control drifting through a combination of AI-powered instruction and support before testing their skills on a simulated ice patch.

Avinash Balachandran, director of TRI’s Human Interactive Driving Division, expressed optimism about the potential of automated vehicle technology to save lives by rethinking the way people and embodied technologies interact to create new experiences and value for customers.

For more technical information about the showcased technologies, please visit TRI’s Medium blog.

Toyota Research Institute (TRI) conducts research to amplify human ability, focusing on making our lives safer and more sustainable. Led by Dr. Gill Pratt, TRI’s team of researchers develops technologies to advance energy and materials, human-centered artificial intelligence, human interactive driving, machine learning, and robotics. Established in 2015, TRI has offices in Los Altos, California, and Cambridge, Massachusetts. For more information about TRI, please visit tri.global.