AAH #798 - Toyota Takes on Road Safety
About this episode
Toyota's Collaborative Safety Research Center (CSRC) is taking a unique, data-driven approach to road safety. Senior manager Jason Hallman joins the show to discuss how the automaker partners with top universities to tackle complex safety challenges. Hallman shares fascinating insights from their latest research, including why women suffer more ankle injuries in crashes than men, how pedestrians and autonomous vehicles communicate through movement rather than eye contact, and the realities of drunk driving detection technology. It is an eye-opening look at the future of crash prevention and occupant protection.
Toyota
"...Jason Hallman, senior researcher with the Toyota Collaborative Research Center... CSRC as we call it internally, is a small team of subject matter experts in traffic safety that are charged with connecting Toyota researchers and engineers..."
Toyota is a massive Japanese company that makes some of the world's most popular cars and trucks. They also spend a lot of money researching how to make driving safer for everyone.
Toyota Motor Corporation is a leading global Japanese automaker known for pioneering lean manufacturing and the Toyota Production System. The company operates the Collaborative Safety Research Center (CSRC) in North America to study traffic safety and human biomechanics.
passive safety
"...We generally kind of bucket them into behavioral safety kind of driver behavior, or active safety like crash avoidance, or passive safety like injury mitigation and biomechanics."
Passive safety is how a car protects you once an accident actually happens. It includes things like airbags and seatbelts that keep you safe during the impact.
Passive safety refers to vehicle design features and systems intended to protect occupants from injury during a crash. Examples include seatbelts, airbags, crumple zones, and the structural integrity of the passenger cabin.
Total Human Model for Safety
"...and we're using computational modeling of humans that Toyota has something called the Total Human Model for Safety, or THUMBS as we call it, which is like a simulated human that can be subjected to crash forces..."
This is a highly detailed, virtual human body on a computer that researchers use to simulate car crashes. It helps engineers see exactly how bones and organs are affected by crash forces without needing a physical dummy.
The Total Human Model for Safety (THUMS) is a virtual crash test dummy software developed by Toyota. It simulates detailed human anatomy, including bones, organs, and muscles, to analyze injuries in computer-simulated vehicle collisions.
advanced driver assistance systems
"...The first group are those who are not comfortable using a feature and not very knowledgeable about it... to enhance their use of ADAS features advanced driver system systems."
These are the smart safety features in modern cars, like automatic braking when you get too close to another car, or steering help that keeps you from drifting out of your lane.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are electronic technologies in vehicles that assist drivers with driving and parking functions. Using sensors, cameras, and radar, ADAS includes features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control.
Toyota Camry
"...But I'm proud to drive my Toyota Camry every day and I don't have a worry about that."
The Camry is a very popular, reliable four-door family car made by Toyota that is known for lasting a long time with very few mechanical problems.
The Toyota Camry is a mid-size sedan that has been one of the best-selling passenger cars in North America for decades. It is highly regarded for its reliability, comfortable ride, and practical packaging.
Ford Model TT
"...In nineteen seventeen, on July second, this vehicle was introduced... No, John said a all right, the model T T first truck."
Introduced in 1917, this was Ford's very first factory-built pickup truck. It was a tougher, longer version of the famous Model T car, designed to carry heavy loads.
The Ford Model TT was a heavy-duty truck based on the Ford Model T, introduced in 1917. It featured a longer wheelbase and a beefier rear axle with worm-drive gearing to handle payload hauling, laying the foundation for modern utility trucks.
Lee Iacocca
"...died in twenty nineteen. Twenty nineteen. We've gone from nineteen seven twenty nineteen. I have no clue Lee Iacocca."
Lee Iacocca was a legendary car executive who helped create the famous Ford Mustang and later saved Chrysler from going out of business by introducing the minivan.
Lido Anthony 'Lee' Iacocca was an iconic American automobile executive famous for spearheading the development of the Ford Mustang in the 1960s. He later became the CEO of Chrysler, famously saving the company from bankruptcy in the 1980s with the introduction of the K-car platform and the minivan.
MT1 Tilo
"... five thousand dollars suv. But I want to say the Tilo is going to be priced fifty fifty grand, thank yo..."
The MT1 is a small, all-electric pickup truck made by a new company called Telo. Even though the truck is short and easy to park in tight city spaces, it is designed to hold just as much cargo in its truck bed as a traditional, much larger pickup truck.
The MT1 is an innovative, ultra-compact electric utility truck developed by the startup Telo Trucks. Designed to offer the bed capacity of a standard mid-size pickup within the physical footprint of a small hatchback, it represents a novel approach to urban packaging and electric vehicle efficiency. It is discussed as an emerging disruptor in the electric utility and lifestyle vehicle space.
Ford Escape
"..., and so you take out well, we stopped making the escape, we stopped doing this other stuff. But if we did..."
The Ford Escape is a small, family-friendly SUV made by Ford. It is designed for everyday driving, like commuting to work, running errands, and taking road trips, offering good fuel economy and a comfortable ride.
The Ford Escape is a compact crossover SUV that has been a mainstay of Ford's passenger vehicle lineup since its debut in 2000. It offers a car-like driving experience with the elevated seating position and cargo utility of an SUV, and is available in hybrid and plug-in hybrid configurations. It is often discussed in the context of Ford's shifting product portfolio and transition toward electric vehicles.
Cadillac Lyric
"..., you could take all the basically, you know, the lyric and the optique and the Vistiq and you can add th..."
The Lyriq is a luxury, all-electric SUV made by Cadillac. It runs entirely on battery power instead of gasoline and features a very quiet ride, a futuristic design, and a giant computer screen that stretches across the dashboard.
The Cadillac Lyriq is a mid-size luxury electric crossover that serves as the cornerstone of Cadillac's transition to an all-electric lineup. Built on General Motors' Ultium platform, it features striking modern styling, a high-tech cabin dominated by a massive 33-inch curved LED display, and competitive driving range. It is frequently discussed as Cadillac's flagship effort to capture the premium EV market.
Polestar
"...Another segue, Polestar, Jamie, have you been following this? They're getting kicked out of the US market? Yeah, well, are they accepting being kicked out of there?"
Polestar is a premium electric car brand that started out making fast, sporty versions of Volvo cars before becoming its own electric vehicle company.
Polestar is an electric performance brand originally established as Volvo's racing partner, later acquired by Volvo and Geely. The brand focuses on premium electric vehicles, though it has faced regulatory headwinds regarding Chinese-sourced software and hardware.
Dodge Ram
"the quarter. Speaker 4: For yeah, Ram, Christ, Chrysler and Ram, right, I mean right th..."
The Ram is a large, powerful pickup truck designed for hauling heavy loads, towing trailers, and working on construction sites. While it used to be called the 'Dodge Ram,' it is now just called 'Ram.' It is popular for having a very comfortable and high-tech interior compared to traditional work trucks.
The Dodge Ram (now officially branded simply as Ram under Stellantis) is a line of popular full-size pickup trucks known for their towing capacity, bold styling, and premium interior comfort. Historically sold under the Dodge brand until 2010, these trucks helped pioneer the use of coil-spring rear suspensions in full-size pickups for a smoother ride. They are a staple of the highly profitable North American truck market.
Jeep Wrangler
"...e things Ford did boast about is that Bronco sold Wrangler. Speaker 3: Oh, and that's actually pretty signif..."
The Jeep Wrangler is a famous, boxy vehicle made by Jeep that is famous for its ability to climb over rocks and drive through deep mud. It is unique because you can easily take off its doors, roof, and even fold down the front windshield. It is designed for ultimate outdoor adventure and has a very loyal following.
The Jeep Wrangler is an iconic, highly customizable off-road vehicle with a lineage tracing back to the military Jeeps of World War II. Known for its solid front and rear axles, removable doors, and folding windshield, it has long been the benchmark for extreme off-road capability. It is a frequent topic of discussion as the primary target for any competitor entering the rugged SUV market.
Ford Bronco
"...So one of the things Ford did boast about is that Bronco sold Wrangler. Speaker 3: Oh, and that's actually..."
The Ford Bronco is a rugged, boxy SUV made by Ford that is built for driving on rough dirt trails, rocks, and sand. You can take the roof and the doors completely off to enjoy the outdoors while driving. It is designed for people who love camping, outdoor adventures, and off-road driving.
The Ford Bronco is a highly popular mid-size, body-on-frame SUV designed specifically for serious off-roading and open-air driving. Reintroduced in 2021 after a long hiatus, it was engineered to directly challenge established off-road vehicles with its retro styling, removable doors, and advanced terrain management systems. It is frequently discussed in the industry due to its strong sales performance and its success in capturing market share in the rugged SUV segment.
Honda Crv
"...And although the other curious one when you think about things like rankings, is CRV being the top selling vehicle in the US for the first half."
The Honda CR-V is a highly popular, mid-sized family SUV known for being practical, reliable, and great on gas.
The Honda CR-V is a compact crossover SUV that has consistently been one of the world's best-selling utility vehicles. It is celebrated for its spacious interior, fuel-efficient powertrains, and strong resale value.
Volkswagen Group
"...speaking of people who are having probably bad meetings with their boards and investors, what about Volkswagen. Holy moly, Yeah, and we're talking the group just talking about shutting four plants in Germany..."
Volkswagen is a massive German company that owns many famous car brands like Audi, Porsche, and Bentley, in addition to making Volkswagen cars.
The Volkswagen Group is a major German multinational automotive manufacturing corporation. It designs and builds passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and motorcycles under brands including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Bentley, and Lamborghini.
Spartanburg
"...they announced completion of their one point seven billion dollar investment in South Carolina and so they're they're going to start plant Spartanburg will be the first plant in the BMW Group's global production network..."
This is a massive factory in South Carolina where BMW builds most of its popular SUVs for both the US market and for shipping all over the world.
BMW's Spartanburg plant in South Carolina is the German automaker's largest global production facility. It specializes in manufacturing BMW's 'X' line of crossover SUVs and is a major hub for US automotive exports.
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