Sony and Yamaha are making a self-driving cart to be used at theme parks and other attractions. The SC-1 Sociable Cart is designed for entertainment purposes.
Sony and Yamaha Motor plan to launch the cart in Japan in 2019, for use at golf courses, theme parks and other commercial facilities.
The SC-1 uses Yamaha Motor’s autonomous driving technology and Sony’s entertainment imaging technology.
The vehicle can seat five passengers and has a longer run time than the original concept, using replaceable batteries.
Autonomous driving and entertainment imaging
The SC-1 Sociable Cart also has wider front and rear views using additional image sensors, and boasts an innovative vehicle design with further comfort.
It can reach top speeds of 12mph, and has image sensors on all sides of the vehicle, which can sense the surrounding environment.
Image sensors and high-resolution display within the SC-1 allow passengers to see their surroundings at night without headlights.
Windows are not required in the vehicle as the image sensors capture the surroundings, with high-definition displays in place of windows.
Artificial intelligence and mixed reality in SC-1
Artificial intelligence (AI) is also used to determine the age, gender and other attributes of people outside the vehicle.
This allows the cart to customise adverts and content streamed on the vehicle’s exterior via four 55-inch 4K displays.
A 49-inch 4K monitor on the inside uses Sony’s mixed reality (MR) technology to superimpose images onto the surroundings being displayed to passengers, making the experience more entertaining.
The SC-1 is also equipped with ultrasonic sensors and a two-dimensional laser image detection and ranging (LIDAR) system.
SC-1 Sociable Cart can stream adverts on exterior
Furthermore, it has hydraulic disc brakes at all four wheels, double wishbone suspension at the front and link type suspension at the back.
The SC-1 can also be operated remotely by people viewing the images in the cloud.
Earlier this year, Universal filed a patent for self-driving vehicles to collect guests and drive them around theme parks and resorts.
Images: Sony/Yamaha Motor
