Self-driving cars have been a popular topic lately. Google’s autonomous cars have been cruising around for a while now, and Chevy->ke199 just announced plans to integrate a fleet of fully autonomous 2017 Chevy Volts into its Warren Technical Center Campus. Now, in a recent press release, Toyota->ke88 revealed that it has been testing an self-driving Lexus GS on Tokyo’s Shuto Expressway.

The Lexus GS->ke439 has been fitted with special sensors and the latest artificial intelligence programming that allows it to recognize hazards, make decisions, and take action. Once a driver enters the highway or passes through a toll booth, automated driving can be turned on, and the vehicle will maneuver through traffic without input from the driver. Say hello to Highway Teammate.

The special GS is the newest example of Toyota's push to evolve the driver-car relationship and its development of advanced safety systems. Toyota will continue to develop the technology and hopes to make it so that mobility means safety, efficiency and freedom for everyone. Toyota plans to put vehicles like the Highway Teamate into production and release them into the market sometime around 2020.

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Why it matters

In addition to reading and adjusting to traffic and road conditions, Highway Teammate must also have the ability to “read” the driver and determine when it is safe to take and give control of the vehicle. Toyota also plans to use its recently announced ITS connect system to allow communication between the vehicle and others on the road, as well as the road infrastructure itself. I for one am still uncomfortable with the idea of self-driving cars. The idea is cool, but at the same time our society is already too dependant on technology as it is. I see a future where there will be almost no need to manually pilot a vehicle, which is convenient for some, but will take a fun part out of life for the rest of us. What do you think?

Lexus GS

Read more about the Lexus GS here.