Toyota has officially opened its new high-tech experimental village, Woven City, in Japan to test autonomous driving and other futuristic developments.
Located at the base of Mount Fuji, this innovative project serves as a real-life setting for trialing a wide range of inventions.
The community is built on the site of a former Toyota factory and is expected to eventually house 2,000 residents. Around 360 Toyota employees and company affiliates will soon reside in the development’s smart homes. Toyota’s chairman, Akio Toyoda, described the initiative as “a test course for the future, not just a town” during the opening ceremony.
Woven City is designed to trial various inventions, including flying taxis, robot pets, and night-time escort drones. The company’s e-Palette self-driving buses will also undergo testing within Woven City, alongside other autonomous logistics and driving technologies. According to Toyoda, homes in Woven City will serve as test sites for future technology, such as in-home robotics, to assist with daily life.
One potential application could involve robots learning how to fold shirts. Toyoda emphasized that residents will be willing participants in testing new products and services. “Much like test drivers for cars… our residents will be the ones who use and experience the new products and services our inventors develop,” he said.
The project, first announced in 2020, is led by Akio Toyoda’s son, Daisuke Toyoda. Toyoda has previously characterized Woven City as a “living laboratory where the residents are willing participants” for inventors to test ideas safely.
Residents will have the opportunity to experience and provide feedback on new technologies, helping to shape the future of innovation. With its focus on autonomous driving, robotics, and smart homes, Woven City is poised to become a hub for futuristic development.
As the project continues to evolve, it is expected to showcase the potential of innovative technologies in improving daily life. With Toyota’s commitment to innovation and experimentation, Woven City is set to become a model for future urban development.
