TOKYO (Kyodo) — Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. has developed technology that instantly analyzes the data collected from millions of connected cars, with an eye on sales starting in the 2023 financial year from April.
The technology, which enables the rapid sharing of traffic information transmitted by vehicles including information related to traffic and accidents, allows vehicles to travel more safely and efficiently, and is expected to be key to the spread of self-driving cars, the Japanese telecom giant said.
In demonstrations held together with Toyota Motor Corp., NTT has already proven that data can be processed without problems when more than 30 million vehicles are connected at the same time.
The telecom company has held talks with a number of Japanese automakers about using the technology, which led to its possible integration into their vehicle-driving systems, according to an NTT executive.
The technology can detect objects on the road through the car’s camera and alert the vehicles behind it in about five seconds.
The system can also detect traffic congestion and its cause on the road, allowing users to direct their vehicles to less crowded routes, the company said.
Continuous monitoring of terrain and road conditions is essential for advanced driving systems. NTT is looking to export the technology to foreign markets such as Europe, the United States and China, where connected cars are being developed.
