By OSAMU UCHIYAMA/ Staff Writer
July 28, 2020 at 17:57 JST
Users can operate the displays with their fingers the same way they use their smartphones. (Osamu Uchiyama)
Sony Corp. showed off its VISION-S, a cutting-edge prototype car created for developing self-driving and artificial intelligence technology, for the first time in Japan on July 27.
The electric car was unveiled at a technology show in the United States back in January. The electronics and entertainment company is developing it abroad.
Sony aims to test drive the car on public roads abroad in fiscal 2020.
“We would like to collect data through trials to develop self-driving and other technology,” said Izumi Kawanishi, an executive officer at Sony, who leads the car’s development team.
The team that developed Sony’s dog robot Aibo created the vehicle with a major auto parts manufacturer and other partners.
Large-screen LCD displays line the dashboard. Users can operate them by touch, just like their smartphones, and can enjoy listening to music and watching videos.
The showcase car is outfitted with 33 sensors that allow users to see all around the car through video displays while they sit in the driver’s seat.
The car is equipped with next-generation mobile communication technology known as 5G and driving assistance functions, such as the ability to automatically change lanes.
The car was built for experimental purposes, so it will not be sold commercially.
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