Toyota is Developing Exciting New Semi-Autonomous Driving Technology

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. - Oct. 22, 2013 - PRLog -- Toyota is the world’s largest automaker, so it’s no surprise that it’s at the forefront of autonomous-driving technology. In fact, Toyota recently announced its intention of introducing semi-autonomous vehicles by “the mid-2010s.” The team at Toyota of Merrillville (http://www.toyotaofmerrillville.com/about-us/) applauds this announcement, as the technology can both improve safety and efficiency in the vehicles of the future.

The technology Toyota aims to introduce is part of a system that the automaker has dubbed Automated Highway Driver Assist, or AHDA. It’s not fully autonomous, and, as the name suggests, it’s designed to be used mainly at highway speeds. AHDA primarily uses two features:

   •     Lane Trace Control is essentially an enhancement of a conventional lane-assist system. Whereas a conventional system merely sounds an alert when drivers depart their lane unintentionally, Lane Trace Control steers the car in order to keep it on the intended track. Lane Trace Control determines lane boundaries using several cameras and radar, and can adjust torque, braking force, and steering angle to keep the vehicle in its lane.

   •     Cooperative-Adaptive Cruise Control is a significant upgrade over standard cruise control. Most cruise control systems use cameras and sensors to react accordingly when vehicles ahead reduce their speed; Cooperative-Adaptive Cruise Control can also, according to Toyota, use “700-MHz band vehicle-to-vehicle communication to transmit acceleration and deceleration data,” which allows other vehicles to adjust their speed and maintain proper distance. With awareness of the distance from other vehicles on the road, this system will make more efficient use of the throttle, which should in turn lead to more efficient driving.

AHDA is an exciting new system that has the potential to make the roadways safer and driving less of a hassle, and it’s likely only the beginning of Toyota’s foray into driver-assistance technology.

Drivers in the Valparaiso area should visit Toyota of Merrillville (http://www.toyotaofmerrillville.com/hours-and-directions/) for more information on AHDA and other technologies being developed by Toyota. Located at 4450 E. U.S. Rte. 30, Toyota of Merrillville offers the full lineup of new Toyota models, pre-owned vehicles from a variety of automakers, and a state-of-the-art service department.