SONY VISION-S PROTOTYPE VEHICLE

Sony's efforts in the area of mobility - such as pursuing safety, reliability, comfort and entertainment - are being positioned as a new initiative, named "VISION-S." The first prototype vehicle to result from "VISION-S" was showcased at the Sony booth. This prototype incorporates Sony's imaging and sensing technologies, as well as on-board software regulated using Sony's AI, telecommunication and cloud technologies, in order to continuously update and evolve its features.

A total of 33 sensors including CMOS image sensors and ToF sensors are embedded within the vehicle, in order to detect and recognize people and objects inside and outside the car, and provide highly advanced driving support. Sony's "360 Reality Audio" provides a deep and immersive audio experience through speakers built into each seat to encapsulate passengers in sound. The front seats face a panoramic screen on which rich and diverse content can be enjoyed through an intuitive user interface. Sony will continue to combine its advanced technologies to deliver greater safety and reliability, while also striving to inspire new emotion through revolutionary in-car entertainment experiences.

SAFETY: Numerous Sensors that Continually Monitor the Internal and External Environment

In the forthcoming self-driving era, the basic foundation of comfort will be supported by safety and security: the ability to take precautions far more thoroughly, more carefully and faster than humans. Sony's "Safety Cocoon" concept will contribute greatly to the achievement of such cars.

While monitoring all directions outside of the car, the technology will also pay careful attention to the passengers within. This is in addition to of course providing driving and parking assistance. This all-encapsulating sensing technology brings peace of mind to those riding the car.

 

DRIVING ASSISTANCE: The network of sensors throughout the car enables 360-degree recognition of traffic conditions.

The sensors provide precise driving assistance, such as advanced cruise control, self-parking and auto-lane change functions, that corresponds to Level 2+ driver assistance. It not only enables safe, secure driving but also allows energy efficient driving and stress reduction. Software updates allow for continual performance upgrades, with the aim of ultimately achieving Level 4 or higher self-driving in the future.

ADVANCED CAMERA MONITORING SYSTEM: Conventional automotive mirrors have advanced to a new level of performance through sensing and visual technology. Camera sensors will capture approaching vehicles and pedestrians and send an alert even before they can be detected by the human eye.

The three large displays in the cabin can be appropriately aligned according to the driver's preference or urgency. For example, the room display (room mirror) in the center can show the view from both sides of the vehicle. The high-brightness and resolution of each display ensures high visibility. If there is glare from the headlights of cars behind, HDR and other signal processing technology will enable the brightness to be adjusted. Sony will aim to leverage its array of sensing technologies to realize this next-generation safety system, providing smart mirrors that offer greater visibility and intelligence than conventional mirrors.

DRIVER MONITORING: Inside the cabin, sensors will monitor the condition of drivers and passengers. The facial expression and body movement of drivers will be used to gauge their concentration and fatigue levels, sending out alerts as necessary. The cabin temperature will be adjusted according to the condition and feelings of passengers. The safety of passengers will not be the only goal – the aim is to also achieve a cabin environment that will be sensitive to people's comfort.

ADVANCED CAMERA MONITORING SYSTEM: Conventional automotive mirrors have advanced to a new level of performance through sensing and visual technology. Camera sensors will capture approaching vehicles and pedestrians and send an alert even before they can be detected by the human eye.

The three large displays in the cabin can be appropriately aligned according to the driver's preference or urgency. For example, the room display (room mirror) in the center can show the view from both sides of the vehicle. The high-brightness and resolution of each display ensures high visibility. If there is glare from the headlights of cars behind, HDR and other signal processing technology will enable the brightness to be adjusted. Sony will aim to leverage its array of sensing technologies to realize this next-generation safety system, providing smart mirrors that offer greater visibility and intelligence than conventional mirrors.

ENTERTAINMENT: Getting on Board Will Mean Jumping into a World of Excitement

With the spread of 5G and advancement of self-driving technology, people will eventually be relieved from car operations. The car cabin will evolve into a comfortable environment, like the space inside a living room. When that time comes, what should the experience of being transported in a car offer? Sony wants to create a mobile entertainment space with a field of sound that encapsulates the entire body, a luxurious visual world of moving images, and intuitive user interfaces – all packed within the cabin. The future that awaits us may be a new type of mobility in which people climb on board their cars to enjoy their free time.

PANORAMIC SCREEN: In today's living room environment, the convenience of enjoying video at your fingertips is now considered the norm. This "enjoy video anywhere at any time" experience will also be extended to the world of cars. On entering the car, the drivers and passengers will see before them a row of displays that create a wide screen. Going from place to place every day will become a time for people to indulge in the luxury of enjoying movies and other video. The ergonomic user interface will be extremely intuitive, with each driver and passenger able to freely access content. A jog dial will also be installed, allowing fingertip video control, even if the viewer has chosen to recline their seats.

VISION-S LINK: Cars are becoming connected to the world of networks, and there will be smooth coordination between multiple cars, or cars and smart devices. A single tap will allow drivers to summon their parked car to their present location. A map being viewed by a driver outside of the car will display automatically on the car’s panoramic screen as soon as the driver enters. Music that a passenger is listening to on their earphones before getting into a car will automatically be transferred to the car's speakers as it embarks. Convenience and entertainment that were in the palm of a person's hand will seamlessly transfer to the world inside a car when the person gets in.

UPDATABLE SYSTEM: "Completion" may be a thing of the past for cars of the future. A car's system will be repeatedly updated over time. Cloud artificial intelligence will interact and learn as part of the sensing system, enabling it to become even more highly intelligent and functional. The longer a person continues to use a car, the more the car will evolve, resulting in richer experiences and generating new appeal.