RESEARCH
The future of mobility promises to bring safety, convenience, and comfort to our lives
TRI was created to strengthen Toyota’s global research structure with four initial mandates
Improve Vehicle Safety
We are providing the technology to build a car that is incapable of causing a crash, regardless of the skill or condition of the driver.
Increase Vehicle Access
We are developing automated driving technology to allow driverless cars, providing mobility for those who cannot drive including the elderly and individuals with special needs.
Expand Personal Independence
We are creating a platform and ecosystem for robots that can partner with humans and help with key tasks, allowing people to extend their independence.
Accelerate Scientific Discovery
We are using artificial intelligence to discover new methods for discovering advanced materials.
RESEARCH AREAS
Automated Driving
Toyota views the relationship between a driver and the car as teammates working together to ensure a safe, comfortable, and fulfilling journey. TRI is applying this philosophy to automated driving by pursuing technology that makes vehicles safer and driving both more fun and convenient.
The three components of automated driving are perception, prediction, and planning, and TRI is making significant advances in each area.
TRI is developing two different automated driving modes in parallel – Guardian and Chauffeur – which gives drivers a choice. Guardian mode uses technology to constantly monitor the human’s driving task, intervening only when necessary to protect the vehicle from a potential crash. In Chauffeur mode, the technology takes all responsibility for driving and vehicle occupants are strictly passengers. The underlying technology for both modes is the same, and it further forges the collaboration between human and machine.
Robotics
Future mobility is not just about creating new ways to move people across town. The technology being developed could also be applied to moving people and objects throughout the home.
Government estimates show a significant upswing in the population share of elderly adults in the United States and Japan over the coming decade, and TRI is developing service robots that can assist with in-home care. TRI is making breakthroughs in situational awareness and manipulation that will allow robots to detect, grasp and lift objects of all different shapes, like groceries, and put them away.
Exploratory Research
TRI conducts applied research focused on new applications of intelligence amplification (IA) allowing people and machines work together synergistically to amplify human ability rather than replace it.
Machine Assisted Cognition (MAC) is our newest area of exploration for people and machines to work together synergistically. MAC is designed to develop and demonstrate artificial intelligence tools that can understand and predict human behavior in the context of decision making. One approach to reach this objective is to build a rich model using principles of behavioral science, machine learning, and statistical techniques such as causal inference. Another approach improves predictions, forecasts and business decisions by developing an application that works in harmony with a human user. TRI hopes that MAC will also contribute to a deeper understanding of human behavior so as to improve society.
Accelerated Materials Design and Discovery (AMDD) is a related research program at TRI using IA. AMDD, currently working on 12 projects with 13 academic institutions, accelerates the scientific discovery of advanced materials for future mobility by amplifying the abilities of scientists and engineers. This approach enables TRI to reduce the investment time for new materials discovery through development of tools and processes that can help identify new advanced battery materials and Hydrogen fuel cell catalysts for use in future zero-emissions vehicles.
Academic Collaborations
Collaborating with world-class universities to support research that advances TRI’s mission.
TRI is investing millions in research collaborations with MIT, Stanford, and the University of Michigan.
TRI is pleased to sponsor significant research projects at top universities in the United States and around the world, including major collaborations with MIT, Stanford and the University of Michigan.
These collaborative research agreements allow open-ended exploration in areas that are important to TRI’s mission, plus directed research focused on near-term contributions to key corporate goals.
Sponsored Projects Include:
- At MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), researchers pursue a broad spectrum of projects from parallel autonomy to self-awareness.
- The Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL)is engaged in projects including human-computer and human-robot interactions.
- Research at the University of Michigan focuses on artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous driving.
Additionally, we are working with several additional universities on research that uses artificial intelligence to help accelerate the design and discovery of advanced materials.
Courtesy of University of Michigan
Together, we seek to advance the state of science and contribute to the research community, while enabling young researchers to realize their dream of completing a PhD degree.
