Lexus to Debut Autonomous Research Vehicle at Consumer Electronics Show


Lexus will be debuting an “advanced active safety research vehicle” at a press conference the day before the opening of the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas — from the press release:

…Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager Mark Templin will discuss the North American based program, designed to explore the use of autonomous technologies and high-level driver assistance systems related to TMC’s Integrated Safety Management Concept.
 
Templin will also discuss the current state of TMC’s Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) research and development, which includes vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications technology.

Lots of high-level language there, but it appears this research vehicle will be capable of driving itself, similar to Google’s autonomous RX 450h.

A teaser photo was released:

Lexus Autonomous Vehicle

It may not reveal much on its own, but compare the apparatus to this mystery Lexus LS 600hL spotted in Michigan a couple months ago:

Mystery Lexus LS 600hL

The Lexus technology press conference will be held at Mandalay Bay on January 7th at 11am PST — more details as they become available.

[Source: Lexus USA]

Lexus LS: Fourth GenerationTechUSA
Comments
C
  • C
    CorradoMR2
  • December 20, 2012
Although it's exciting to have all this proactive technology to minimize or prevent collisions, where will be the fun in driving?  Will we not be driving our vehicles in a generation from now - our vehicles will be driving us?

C