Toyota Builds the First Self-Driving GR Supra, Harnessing AI to Instruct the Vehicle in the Art of Drifting.

 

Toyota and Stanford's Dynamic Design Lab joined forces to create something really cool: the world's first self-drifting GR Supra. This isn't just to show off cool technology; it's about making our roads safer by combining the skills of pro racers with computer smarts.

Here's the big question they're trying to answer: What if every driver could drive like a pro racer and think as smart as a supercomputer? This project is all about figuring out how racing skills and fancy computer driving can team up to make driving safer.

The self-drifting GR Supra isn't just a high-tech demo; it's like a testing ground for creating super-smart safety technology. Toyota hopes that the lessons they learn from this project can be used in cars all around the world. Gill Pratt, the head of Toyota Research Institute, says they want to use the knowledge of skilled drivers to make computer programs that make driving safer.

Taking inspiration from pro drifters, the self-drifting Supra uses machine learning and smart algorithms inspired by humans. Engineers from Toyota Racing Development and Stanford University are working together to make technology that can handle tricky driving situations.

Why does this matter? Well, every year, nearly 40,000 people die in car accidents in the United States, and 1.25 million worldwide. The self-drifting Supra wants to give cars the ability to handle tough situations better than regular drivers.

Tests at the Thunderhill Raceway have shown how well the self-drifting Supra can perform, giving us a peek into a future where driving is safer. Toyota plans to use the smart programs they create in real safety systems, creating a safety net for drivers during emergencies.

Even though the project is still in the testing phase, Toyota's commitment to using technology for safer and more fun driving experiences is a big step toward making cars safer. The self-drifting Supra shows how people and smart computers can work together, bringing us closer to a future with fewer accidents and better driving skills.