See What Sony and Yamaha Motor Teamed Up to Design Looks Like

Sony Corporation announced their join development with Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., to design and develop SC-1 Sociable Cart. At first sight, it looks like another van vehicle, but actually, this one delivers a new mobility experience. Together, these companies plan to launch services using this model in Japan in fiscal 2019. For your information, this concept van will be developed for the purpose of offering new mobility experience, it will not be available for sale.

SC-1 is a vehicle concept designed to transform the meaning of mobility by allowing an all-new opportunity for entertainment. Sony and Yamaha Motor will deploy it to provide fun at venues such as amusement parks, golf courses, or any commercial facilities.

The first prototype of SC-1 was developed in 2016, then completed in 2017. In 2018, Sony worked with Kanucha Bay Resort Co., Ltd. to use SC-1 to provide Moonlight Cruise. It’s a limited-time ride experience service where customers could enjoy the video and audio entertainment powered by AR projected against the backdrop of night scenes at a golf course in Okinawa. Based on that experience, the SC-1 Sociable Cart would be designed and developed based on know-how and feedback accumulated through Moonlight Cruise. The new model would increase its passenger capacity up to three to five people with extended run time thanks to its replaceable batteries

This concept cart would have a broader front and rear scope of view, more comfortable ride due to the optimization of the base vehicle, and many other improvements. SC-1 Sociable Cart would be equipped with image sensors that capture its surroundings, this way, windows are no longer required, they can be replaced and make a place for high-definition displays. Using AI to analyze images obtained from image sensors, the information can be streamed to be interactive.

SC-1 also incorporates mixed reality technology developed by Sony where it is able to superimpose computer graphics onto surroundings being displayed on the displays. To support optimized driving, this concept car is also equipped with ultrasonic sensors and a two-dimensional laser image detection and ranging (LIDAR) system.

This makes it possible to accumulate travel data in the cloud for deep learning analysis, which in turn supports optimized driving. This also enables the use of edge computing to process information obtained from the vehicle’s sensors to provide safer travel.

Key Specifications:
• Total length: 3135ｍｍ
• Total width: 1306ｍｍ
• Total height: 1830ｍｍ
• Capacity: Five passengers
• Driving speed: 0 to 19 kph
• Drive system: DC motor
• Battery type: Lithium ion polymer battery
• Brake system: Hydraulic type four wheel disc brake and motor rotation brake
• Suspension: Front double wishbone type and rear link type
• Automatic driving method: Electromagnetic induction

Installed Equipment:
• Inside the car: One 49″ 4K LCD monitor
• Outside the car: Four 55″ 4K LCD monitors
• Image sensors: Five 35 mm full-size Exmor® CMOS sensors (four directions around the vehicle and one in the vehicle). Two ISX019 1/3.8-type CMOS image sensor embedded cameras

Watch the video below...

Yamaha Future Garage : Futuristic Yamaha Vehicles for 45th Tokyo Motor Show 2017

At the 45th Tokyo Motor Show 2017, Yamaha promises to display series of futuristic vehicles, the theme for Yamaha Motor booth will be “Yamaha Future Garage: Resonate the Future”. There are more than 20 models will be displayed in this event, including 6 world premier models and 4 Japan premiere models. They will also have technology exhibits such as experimental machine to explore futuristic concepts for the next generation personal mobility. Below are some of those models that you can checkout during that event.

Yamaha MOTOROiD Motorcycle

Yamaha wants to bring people to experience Kando (in English, this is something like deeply satisfaction that inspires your heart and soul) using experimental machine that features AI. This project also explores the possibility to create new forms of personal mobility where rider resonates harmoniously with machine. MOTOROiD concept motorcycle is a prototype, it is capable to recognize its owner and interact with them just like a living creature.

Yamaha Motobot Ver. 2 Motorcycle

This is an autonomous motorcycle-riding robot, it’s a combination of motorcycle and robotics technology that explores the operation of machine from a rider’s standpoint without making any fundamental changes to the motorcycle itself. MOTOBOT offers high speeds riding around a racetrack, this project is set for 2017 with clear milestone of hitting 200km/hour on a racetrack. Valentino Rossi is challenged to a battle of lap times with this motorcycle.

Yamaha MWC-4 Motorcycle

This concept aims to expand the possibilities for personal mobility, MWC-4 features Learning Multi-Wheel (LMW), two wheels front and rear. This vehicle was developed with the idea of half-sized mobility. Powered by an electric motor, MWC-4 is equipped with a range extender and uses attitude-control technology, providing a ride at the level of comfort you won’t find in a conventional motorcycle.

Yamaha YPJ-XC Electric Bike

This model is a new concept for YPJ series, it’s an electric bike based on YPJ-MTB concept model exhibited at the 44th Tokyo Motor Show 2015. This e-bike mounts the latest PW-X drive unit and is much closer to a production-ready model.