Conference Presentation, Panel
Mobility in the Future | Part 1: The Art of the Possible | Part 2: Urban Transportation
Milken InstituteBrian Sullivan, Pierre Beaudoin, Phil Bredesen, Jack Hollis, Steve Morriss, Amy Purdy
- Toyota intends to evolve from an automotive manufacturer into a global mobility company by applying its assets and technology to address restrictions faced by the elderly, people with disabilities, and the blind.
- Autonomous driving and robotics are expected to provide solutions for individuals who have lost driving privileges, with specific plans to partner with athletes and persons with disabilities to develop walking assist robots and prosthetics.
- Exoskeletons are anticipated to expand beyond disability assistance to serve longevity needs and reduce joint pressure for the general population.
- The vision impaired are expected to rely on autonomous vehicles for safe and seamless travel, a capability that may be tested by 2020 Olympic Games challenges to ensure mobility for all physical abilities and ages in Japan.
- Toyota plans to open source fuel cell and other vehicle technologies to facilitate global mobility, while maintaining a corporate culture that treats previously deemed "impossible" challenges as innovation opportunities.
- Mass transit is projected to remain essential in large cities over the next 10 years, with technology expected to make travel more efficient and autonomous vehicles expected to solve the "last mile" problem by connecting passengers to transit hubs.
- The rise of autonomous vehicles is predicted to eliminate the need for large parking lots at suburban subway termini and transform the overall mobility landscape over the next 20 years.
- Existing transit systems, described as 50-year-old technology, are expected to remain useful if constructed with flexibility to accommodate future disruptive technologies.
- Short-term aviation trends include the emergence of more efficient, smaller aircraft flying direct routes between medium-sized cities at costs comparable to major hubs, alongside ride-sharing applications for private aircraft owners that could make semi-private air travel more affordable.
- Infrastructure projects are expected to become more affordable and efficient through the utilization of advanced software, improved materials, and aerodynamic technologies over the next two decades.
- A referendum for a Nashville transportation project currently presents uncertainty regarding its potential success.
- Government leadership is expected to improve long-term infrastructure planning if bureaucratic red tape is reduced and planning horizons are adjusted.