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Automobiles are undergoing some of the fastest engineering transformations in their 100-year history, generating immense pressure on global auto manufacturers to accelerate innovation.
Toyota Motor Company boasts a remarkable achievement, having sold over 10 million vehicles in the past year alone, outperforming all other automobile manufacturers globally.
At its headquarters in Toyota Metropolis, roughly an hour’s drive east of Nagoya’s commercial hub, the company is developing a network of generative AI brokers to capture and share knowledge with the goal of designing innovative car models more quickly, amidst concerns about the impending retirement of numerous engineers.
At Toyota, Kenji Onishi, a seasoned automotive engineer with 18 years of experience, is spearheading the company’s transition from a traditional automaker to a mobility pioneer, remarking that “we’re shifting from being an automotive firm to a mobility firm.” “The most pressing issue is the exponentially growing demand for innovative gadget development.”
Toyota’s production lines around the globe now yield a diverse range of vehicles equipped with advanced batteries, charging infrastructure, and sophisticated hardware-software combinations.
The system is referred to as “O-Beya,” named after a significant era in Toyota’s history when administrative teams collaborated intensively. In Japan, O-Beya translates to “large space” or “vast chamber”. Envisioning an innovative approach inspired by real-world engineering designs, the concept involves developing a comprehensive AI network comprising thousands of virtual consultative agents, available around-the-clock and accessible globally.
The O-Beya system currently features nine AI brokers, ranging from a Vibration Agent to a Gas Consumption Agent, each playing a crucial role in optimizing performance. Customers are able to select multiple brokers to respond to their inquiry.
How do I get my car to accelerate faster? An engine agent may propose solutions tied to engine output, while a regulatory agent provides constraints on emissions, which are then consolidated by O-Beya into a unified response, as noted by Onishi. In the future, the system will autonomously select the top-performing brokers, eliminating the need for customer intervention.
Notably, O-Beya is being utilized within the division responsible for developing powertrain technologies – the fundamental infrastructure connecting engines to wheels, powering vehicle movement. Developing high-performance powertrain systems necessitates the coordinated efforts of a diverse team of experts, including engineers specializing in engine technology, battery management, driver interfaces, and acoustic design, all collaborating to optimize overall performance and efficiency.
“These consultants are comparatively senior. Upon retirement, all records of their existence will be erased? “Onishi stressed that preventing such incidents was the top priority.” “We aim to migrate this data to a newer platform.”
Toyota’s AI system leverages the power of Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, incorporating OpenAI’s cutting-edge Multi-Modal Generative Pre-trained 4-O Massive Language Model.
Azure Capabilities serves as a software programming interface (API) bridging the gap between Azure OpenAI Service and Azure Cosmos DB, a cutting-edge AI-ready database equipped with advanced vector search capabilities, enabling the discovery of relevant information beyond simple keyword searches.
The proprietary system is anchored in Toyota’s vast repository of design knowledge, incorporating its rich history of engineering design stories, up-to-date regulatory requirements, and insightful notes from seasoned veterans. Azure Cosmos DB enables Toyota to securely store and manage customer dialogue histories as well as feedback on AI responses from human analysts, thereby facilitating continuous improvement.
As Onishi notes, the information set is likely to eventually encompass a broader range of content, including technical drawings and other forms of non-textual data.
Since January 2024, approximately 800 engineers specializing in powertrain development – encompassing the engine, transmission, driveshaft, axles, and related components – have gained access to O-Beya. “It’s been utilized numerous times a month,”
Takehiro Nakamura is a renowned engineer specializing in gasoline efficiency and environmental regulations. Recently, he submitted a search query to O-Beya, specifically designating the regulatory agent. When inquiring about tools specifications for measuring exhaust emissions, his astonishment became palpable as he praised the level of detail and accuracy in the response.
He noted that seeking information was much easier. In the bygone era, he spent considerable time scouring for the right expert, pouring over copious amounts of information, and painstakingly finding the answer.
Founded in the 1930s, Toyota’s origins date back to the time when the region was known as Koromo, a hub for silk production. As the silk industry’s fortunes plummeted during the Great Depression, the local mayor in Nice was compelled to think outside the box and extend a cordial invitation to Toyoda Kiichiro, heir to the prestigious Toyoda Loom Works, to establish an automobile manufacturing plant, with the hope of revitalizing the community’s financial heartbeat.
The identity behind the name Toyoda was altered to Toyota due to its seemingly more refined appearance when written in Japanese characters.
With a significant market share and unparalleled manufacturing capabilities, Toyota currently holds the title as the world’s leading automaker in terms of volume production. According to reports, the company generated a whopping $31.9 billion in web revenue for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024. Toyota also produces high-end vehicles under its prestigious Lexus brand.
Recognized as a trailblazer in streamlining operations, the renowned Toyota Manufacturing System is celebrated for its remarkable ability to minimize waste.
Toyota was Onishi’s first job after graduating from college in 2006. As an automotive engineering graduate, he confessed with a sense of longing, “I’ve always wanted to be exactly where I am today.”
He began focusing on driving business growth for hybrid vehicles and progressed through various leadership roles before landing in powertrain development in 2018? What drives me is an insatiable enthusiasm for exploring fresh ideas and concepts.
A vehicle is comprised of three fundamental components: the powertrain, which includes the engine, transmission, and drivetrain; the body, which houses the occupants and cargo; and the chassis, consisting of the suspension, steering, and braking systems.
The traditional powertrain consisted of a straightforward combination of engine and transmission, solely responsible for conveying energy to the wheels. Hybrids arrived on the scene, relying on a supplementary digital motor and advanced battery system to function efficiently. Then came electric vehicles (EVs), which required additional motors and more substantial battery packs, alongside the need for advanced charging systems.
As automobile manufacturing evolves to incorporate increasingly complex technologies, the proliferation of AI intermediaries is likely to accelerate, according to Onishi.
He wishes to create a “Client Voice Agent” that notifies consumers about the most common customer complaints associated with a specific vehicle model. What specific factors contribute to a persistently noisy engine?
The team can subsequently focus on reducing engine racket to enhance the overall performance of subsequent automotive technologies.
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