丰田的自动驾驶平台将搭配激光雷达

Optocoupler

While most autonomous vehicles aim to eliminate physical controls, Toyota's latest self-driving car comes with two front seats, which surprises many. The Toyota Research Institute's Platform 2.1 received a major update in March, introducing a new LIDAR laser scanning system. More importantly, this prototype is designed to explore how humans and machines can work together in autonomous driving.

The test vehicle is based on a Lexus sedan and has undergone significant upgrades. Externally, it features a new Luminar LIDAR with an extended range and field of view, as well as the ability to dynamically adjust its sensing area. This means the LIDAR can now more easily detect objects like other vehicles and pedestrians, and it can focus on specific areas of interest.

Combined with the existing sensor system from version 2.0, the 2.1 platform provides a 360-degree view. Under the hood, Toyota added a new computer perception model that is faster, more accurate, and efficient. Importantly, this system not only understands the surrounding environment—such as other road users and optimal routes—but also records real-time data on road signs and lane markings, feeding this information back into map development.

Meanwhile, unlike most autonomous vehicles that completely remove physical controls, the TRI 2.1 platform actually features dual front seats. The front passenger can take control of the vehicle, complete with pedals and a steering wheel. This setup helps machine learning by observing human driving behavior, supporting the development of autonomous driving algorithms.