For creation of automobiles in the information era

Chief Scientist Tadao Saito, Ph. D Professer Emeritus, The University of Tokyo

In history, human beings continuously faced a variety of constraints and created solutions to overcome barriers. During the past half century, the most powerful tool to overcome constraints has been Information Technology (IT).

Current global energy issues and sharp increase in the elder generation are common challenges, and are expected to have a significant influence on future transport systems. IT will play an important role in helping to overcome those issues by contributing to the realization of an energy efficient and safe transport style in the 21st century.

Since the latter half of the 20th century, life styles and work styles of people have changed drastically through broad use of IT. Everyday life has been enriched by a variety of information fed through IT surrounding society. For customers in the IT era, information is to be provided to automobiles for safe, comfortable and smooth transport by connecting automobiles to the network and creating an environment equivalent to the home and office. Reliability of software and security of information in the open network are key technologies for automobiles in the IT era.

IT and mobile communication technologies have been developed by efforts of industry and academia taking advantage of improvements in electronics. Open innovation to enrich overall technology via collaboration of a broad scope of fields is the key to realize automobiles in the IT era.

The mission of Toyota InfoTechnology Center is to develop technology to realize automobiles suited for the IT era of the 21st century via collaboration of a broad range of technology fields. Toyota InfoTechnology Center wishes to be a key player of open innovation to create a better society in the IT era.