A real-time helping hand whilst driving on a race track sounds like the sort of thing one would encounter in a video game such as Gran Turismo, but it could be a reality. A patent for “race track driving assistance” has surfaced with Toyota’s name on it, and it appears to use modern, active safety systems not just for safer progress, but also for improving a driver’s competence on the race track.
A combination of GPS, cameras, and pre-programmed track layouts with latitude and longitude data is used to locate exactly where the vehicle is on the circuit at any given moment, with the system able to influence steering, braking and throttle inputs via the vehicle’s active safety suite. Like in a video game, it could employ the vehicle’s onboard HUD (heads up display) to give visual cues to start braking for a turn, for example.
The patent outlines a number of ways this system could help racers, both aspiring and seasoned types. On a base level, it could assume control of the vehicle in an emergency, with the system intervening when it detects that a mistake has been made. It ensures that “control of the vehicle is not lost and that the vehicle does not deviate from the race track,” according to the patent.
The next step up from that would be a mode to assist more experienced drivers. For example, the steering assistance would turn just 5-10 degrees when in fact a 30-90 degree turn is required to negotiate the turn without deviating from the circuit. This essentially prompts the driver in the correct approach without doing everything for him or her.
Driving enthusiasts don’t always take kindly to assistance systems, but what do you think of it in this context? Would you use a system that has the potential to ease the learning curve on a race track?
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They alredi have the tech long time ago. Its originally called Track Racing Drive – Sport Innovation, or TRD Sportivo.
Its an amalgam of race engineered aerodynamic stickers, driving enhancer chrome badges & handling skills upgrading spoiler kits, that assist the ricer to transfer his “yeng” skills from race track to public roads.
Now this patent is to re-transfer some of that “yengness” earned thru hard racing and ciloking on public roads, back to the race track. With this extra “yeng”, toyota is predicting winrar in all the races. Albert will be so proud to sell his race engineered TRD Sportivo keli.
They want to use this inside video game
They should patent Malaysian Toyota cars as it is unique in the world….no VSC and only 2 airbags.
Like Camry RM160k, still no VSC, still 2 airbags.
As a minimum, make your Camry drive better than a Passat first, okay?
It already drive better by just able to move.
No please, racing is a sport, just like football or badminton, you wont want a robot to play for ya.
not only this intro this to some stupid young malaysian girls on how to corner properly
might as well hit autopilot button and let the car move itself ^^
i thought this already been introduced in racing simulation games?
stupid toyota. stupid. full of morons. honda is better. world F1 champion.
so if alex yoong has this fitted can win F1 podium ady la.
“Now Everyone can be a Racing Champion”! Just copy the driving pattern from the Forza/GT to the real car. Even my grandmother has the potential to stand on the podium!