Toyota announced today that it will be working with Sony to co-develop a new one-seater vehicle. The new vehicle is expected use several elements from the i-swing concept–pictured below–that Toyota debuted at the 2005 Tokyo Auto Show. Seven Sony researches will work at one of Toyota’s robotic research facilities on the project that the companies are calling the next-generation “transporter.â€
Sony will be offering its knowledge of robotics gained through the engineering of the Aibo and Qrio robots, and has already sold several patents to Toyota for the development of the new car. Toyota has recently developed a new robot-on-wheels to give tours of the Toyota Kaikan Exhibition Hall in Toyota City that can drive around obstacles, converse with humans and sign its own name.
2005 i-swing
