Toyota City, Japan, August 6, 2019―Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announces today the launch of its updated "Sora1" Fuel Cell Electrified Vehicle #bus (FCEV bus) in August and improvements to its preventive safety performance. Specifically, #Toyota has improved the Sora's preventive safety performance through the use of ITS functions (ITS: Intelligent Transport Systems). Additionally, the Sora's transportation capacity, speed, and punctuality have been expanded.
As a public transport #bus, the Sora requires both a high operation rate and high safety performance at all times. To this end, the updated model includes a function that cautions the driver when making right turns at intersections, and a system that enables passengers to activate an emergency stop in urgent situations, such as if the driver suddenly falls ill.
The updated Sora is equipped with a new system that shares information on the distance between the vehicles, to prevent two or more buses traveling in a convoy from being separated at traffic lights and #bus stops, leading to overall improvements in transportation capacity, speed, and punctuality of the buses.
The improvements2 made in this update are listed below.
Preventive Safety FunctionsInfrastructure devices and vehicles share information on oncoming vehicles, pedestrians, and traffic lights to increase driver awareness.
If an urgent situation occurs, such as the driver suddenly falling ill, this system allows the driver or passengers to press the emergency brake switch to decelerate the #bus and bring it to a stop3. The control system has been designed specifically for public transport buses, where the safety of standing passengers is crucial. As the #bus starts to decelerate, red flashing lights and a voice alert passengers to the emergency; those outside the vehicle and nearby are alerted to the emergency via a horn and flashing stop lights and hazard lights.
If the millimeter-wave radar installed at the front of the #bus detects there is a risk of colliding with a vehicle or obstacle ahead on the road, it alerts the driver with a warning buzzer and activates a warning notification on the monitor screen. The system considers the safety of standing passengers and seated passengers who have not fastened their seatbelts, and supports the driver in avoiding collisions by assisting with steering.
Transportation CapacityThe service uses information on buses, #bus order, and distance between buses traveling in a convoy to prevent the convoy from being separated at traffic lights and #bus stops; this contributes to improved transportation capacity, speed, and punctuality.
The buses are equipped with all-speed radar cruise control, which supports smooth acceleration and deceleration. If a preceding vehicle is also equipped with communicating radar cruise control, the #bus uses information shared via vehicle-to-vehicle communications to respond rapidly to the acceleration and deceleration of the preceding vehicle, which enables the buses to follow smoothly. The system also contributes to the maintenance of a constant inter-vehicle distance when traveling in a convoy on dedicated #bus roads4, and to the stable driving speed of the vehicles that follow.
Speed and PunctualityUsing dedicated ITS radio, the system sends requests to infrastructure devices to extend #green light times or reduce red light times. When traveling in a convoy, the last #bus in the convoy sends a request to extend the #green light time, thereby reducing the risk of the convoy from being separated by a red light.
Barrier-freeThe system detects guidance lines on the road surface and automatically steers and decelerates the #bus, causing the #bus to stop at the designated boarding and alighting location, and minimizing the gap to the #bus stop itself. This assists boarding and alighting for passengers using strollers or wheelchairs.
Main specificationsSora |
10,525 / 2,490 / 3,350 mm |
Soraan acronym for Sky, Ocean, River, Air, representing the earth's water cycle. |
Among newly added functions, Emergency Driving Stop System, Collision Warning System, Automatic Arrival Control, ITS Connect Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Communication System, and ITS Connect Communicating Radar Cruise Control were jointly developed by Hino Motors Limited. and Isuzu Motors Limited. Vehicle-Convoy Information Service and ITS Connect Wave-Type Public Transportation Priority System with Vehicle Convoy Recognition Function were jointly developed by these two companies and #Toyota. |
This system conforms to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's "Emergency Driving Stop System" technological guidelines. |
Dedicated #bus roads are for the use of public transport buses only, and other types of vehicles are prohibited from using them. Dedicated #bus roads differ from standard #bus lanes, which other types of vehicles are prohibited from using by law, except when making right or left turns. |
The power that can be supplied and the power amount may differ, depending on the performance of the power supply unit, amount of hydrogen remaining, and power consumption. External power output device sold separately. |
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