A number of companies are working on autonomous
shuttles, but the latest comes from two big names in Japan – Yamaha and Sony. Dubbed the SC-1 Sociable Cart,
the model is being billed as a “fusion of Yamaha Motor’s autonomous driving
technology and Sony’s entertainment imaging technology.”
The companies didn’t say much about the autonomous
driving tech, but confirmed the shuttle has been outfitted with advanced image
sensors, ultrasonic sensors and a LiDAR system. They also confirmed images
taken by the shuttle are uploaded to the cloud and this enables the vehicle to
be operated remotely.
The boxy styling isn’t terribly exciting, but the
shuttle lacks windows and instead uses four 55-inch LCD displays. The companies
said they can project video and mixed reality images to passersby. Sony also mentioned something a
bit creepier. Using the shuttle’s cameras and artificial intelligence
technology, the vehicle can determine attributes – such as the age and gender –
of people standing nearby. Using this information, the exterior displays can
then show ads specifically targeting those people.
Besides acting as a mobile billboard, the SC-1
Sociable Cart has a five seat interior with a 49-inch display. It shows a
variety of information and even allows passengers to see their surroundings at
night without the use of headlights. The companies didn’t say much
about performance specifications, but confirmed the SC-1 Sociable Cart has
regenerative braking and a lithium-ion battery pack which is replaceable. The
shuttle also has an electric motor that enables the Cart to travel at speeds up
to 19 km/h.
Sony and Yamaha intend to launch the SC-1 Sociable
Cart in the next few months and it will be deployed at “fun” settings such as
“golf courses, amusement parks and commercial facilities.” However, the
companies don’t have any plans to sell actually sell the vehicle.
