Toyota details self-learning map system for autonomous cars

The idea is that production Toyotas with cameras and Global Positioning System units will start logging lots of data about everywhere they go; lanes, speed limits, signs, everything in the car's field of vision. Also, precise measurement of vehicle positional data requires the collection of information on dividing lines, kerbs and other road features.

Since current road-mapping vehicles (Google cars) are singular, Toyota posits that their data will go out of date more quickly than a map that's constantly being drawn and redrawn by thousands of cars on the road.

Toyota will unveil a new system for generating high-precision maps using data from onboard cameras and GPS devices at next month's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

This is a major leap forward as maps generated for autonomous driving have been created using specially-built vehicles with three-dimensional laser scanners. The data collection is infrequent, so the maps are not updated regularly and their usefulness is limited. Additionally, this represents a relatively cost-intensive method of gathering data, due to the need to manually input specific types of data.

Toyota has revealed it is now developing a high-precision map-generation system to help make automated driving safer. Of course, it's thought of that problem and will prevent errors by using "image matching technologies" that cross-reference images from multiple vehicles along with "high precision trajectory estimation technologies".

By using production vehicles and existing infrastructure to collect information, this data can be updated in real time. This restricts the margin of error on straight roads to a maximum 5cm.

Initially the company is planning to use the system in expressways, and it plans to develop its functionality to cover ordinary roads and assist in hazard avoidance. Toyota plans to work with mapmakers to improve both its and their maps in a bid to improve services offered to both private and public sectors.

In October 2015, Toyota introduced the Mobility Teammate Concept, which is part of the company's approach to embracing automated driving technologies while keeping fun at the center of the driving experience. For more information, please visit www.toyota-global.com.

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- Friday, December 25, 2015