Key Sentence:
- Toyota resumed operating its autonomous vehicles at the Paralympic Games village in Tokyo after the crash.
- Electronic pallet pod service was suspended after a vehicle hit a blind athlete last week.
The athlete was not seriously injured but had to cancel the event due to cuts and bruises. Vehicles now have more operator control and additional staff to ensure no more people get hit. Aramitsu Kitazono, a member of the Japanese judo team, was shot while crossing a zebra crossing on Thursday.
Mr. Kitazono could not compete in the 81 kg class because of the accident.
In a statement late Monday, Toyota said, “Vehicle sensors detect a pedestrian crossing and apply the automatic brake, and the driver also applies the emergency brake. However, vehicles and pedestrians touch before stopping. “The company says operators control vehicle speed with two security members on board rather than worrying about pedestrians.
New safety features also include louder warning tones, while pedestrian guidance at busy intersections in Paralympic Village was increased to 20 from six. Toyota also said it would increase security “every day” until the village was closed.
On Friday, Toyota boss Akio Toyoda apologized publicly after the crash.
“Those vehicles are more powerful than humans, so I’m worried about what they’re doing,” he said in the YouTube video. “This shows that autonomous vehicles are not yet realistic for normal roads,” added Toyoda.
The company’s E-Palette Pod, a fully autonomous electric car, has been specially adapted for use during the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, with large doors and electric pathways to allow athletes to board quickly. Like many of its competitors in the auto industry, the world’s largest automaker is trying to develop autonomous vehicles that drive safely on public roads.