Toyota Group Announces Plans for EXPO 2005 AICHI, JAPAN Pavilion Performance

The richly entertaining show, based on the theme “The Dream, Joy and Inspiration of Mobility in the 21^st Century,” will introduce the concepts of “Mobility in Harmony with the Earth” and “Achieving the Dream and Joy of Worldwide Movement ” in its presentation of possibilities for a bright and fulfilling future.

Based on these themes, performance content will feature Toyota’s efforts toward achieving “optimal mobility,” “harmony with society” and “meeting the needs of individuals,” and the future technologies and vehicle possibilities that form part of the company’s vision for the society of tomorrow.

The performance will consist of two parts, a Welcome Show and a Main Show. The Welcome Show will feature Toyota Partner Robots, robots developed to embody kindness and intelligence and to assist with human activities. A robot musical band and an entertaining dialogue between the DJ robot and the emcee promise to bring the stage alive.

The Main Show, titled “MOVE, LIVE,” will feature a theme of “In Movement is Freedom. In Movement is Life.” Single passenger “i-unit” concept vehicles and a mountable, walking “i-foot” robot will join with dancers in a “mobility performance” that will introduce the concepts of “The Wonders of Living and Moving Freely” and “The New Relationship Between People and Vehicles.” A 360-degree large screen will surround the audience and actors, and, together with other stage equipment, present the audience with scenes of nature and tomorrow’s society.

The Toyota Group Pavilion Homepage goes online today at 18:00, with performance and other exhibit information available. The website URL is: http://expo.toyota-g.com.

*The Toyota Group consists of the following 16 corporations, which will participate in the exhibition:
Toyota Industries Corporation, Toyota Motor Corporation, Aichi Steel Corporation, Toyoda Machine Works Ltd., Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd., DENSO Corporation, Toyota Boshoku Corporation, Towa Real Estate Co., Ltd., Toyota Central Research & Development Laboratories Inc., Kanto Auto Works Ltd., Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd., Hino Motors, Ltd., Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. and Tokai Rika Co., Ltd.

(Attachment 1) Exhibit Overview (announced in March, 2004)

(Attachment 2) Performance Outline

(Attachment 3) Robot Overview

(Attachment 4) i-unit Overview

Exhibit Overview

Exhibit Theme

The Dream, Joy and Inspiration of Mobility in the 21st Century The exhibit will expand on the EXPO 2005 AICHI, JAPAN’s theme of “Nature’s Wisdom” with the following theme: Sub-Theme 1: “Mobility in Harmony with the Earth” In line with the Expo 2005 operational theme of “Grand Intercultural Symphony”, the exhibit will present the following theme: Sub-Theme 2: “Achieving the Dream and Joy of Worldwide Movement” The exhibit proposes new directions for a bright and fulfilling future society.

Toyota Group’s vision for a future society to be proposed at the EXPO 2005 AICHI, JAPAN exhibit

“A world in which everyone can enjoy the benefits of mobility and in which people, nature and the planet can live together in harmony.” The Performance will include the following elements: Natural-Cycle Earth Society* Construction and operation of the main pavilion building represent a society that reuses, recycles and makes use of renewable forms of energy and materials. Innovative Power Sources The use of fuel cell hybrid buses (FCHV-BUS) to carry visitors between the Expo areas represents a society that makes use of hydrogen energy. Optimal Mobility Single passenger “i-unit” concept vehicles performing in the main show and the next generation transportation system “IMTS” used for transportation within the Expo grounds represent a society in which various forms of mobility are wisely selected and used to meet to individuals’ transportation needs. Harmony with Society The “i-unit” and robot performance will represent a society free of traffic accidents and traffic jams, and in which the elderly and those with disabilities can achieve independent mobility. Meeting the Needs of Individuals The “i-unit” and robot performance will showcase the possibilities offered by future technologies and vehicles to respond to individuals’ wishes to move freely.

*The natural-earth-cycle society:
A specially created phrase which indicates that, in addition to the thorough implementation of the principles of reuse and recycle, we propose to create a society proactively utilizing renewable energies and materials in line with the earth’s natural mechanism for renewal.

Performance Outline

1. Welcome Show
Eight highly entertaining robots invite visitors to enter a world of the future in the opening show. The robots bring the stage alive with a dialogue with the emcee and interaction with visitors.

• Following a fun welcome talk with the emcee, a trumpet-playing robot opens the show with a moving solo. (Song to be played: “Miagete goran yoru no hoshi wo” (Look up and see the night stars).)
• Seven music-playing robots make an entrance as a marching band and perform. (Song to be played: “When the Saints Go Marching In”)
• The DJ robot will carry on a dialogue with the emcee while interacting with members of the audience.
• Seven music-playing robots and one DJ robot take the stage, for a total of eight robots.

2. Main Show

• Single passenger “i-unit” concept vehicles and a mountable, walking “i-foot” robot join with dancers in a performance that will introduce the concepts of “The Wonders of Living and Moving Freely” and “The New Relationship Between People and Vehicles.”
• A 360-degree large (roughly 15 x 135 m) screen will surround the audience, and together with other stage equipment, present the audience with scenes of nature and the society of tomorrow. Spectators will experience the excitement from the very center of the action.
• Visitors will be treated to choreographed automatic driving and formation driving executed by the “i-unit” vehicles and a performance by an “i-foot” robot. These performances will highlight “Harmony with Society” – a society free of traffic accidents and traffic jams, and in which the elderly and those with disabilities can achieve independent mobility – in addition to future technologies that meet individuals’ particular needs, and possibilities for future vehicles.
• In addition to the “i-unit” and “i-foot,” video images of various other types of future mobility will be shown, highlighting possibilities for future society’s “optimal mobility.”

3. Producer/Show Director

Profile
Born in France in 1943, Pépin is known for his fantastic, grand-scale productions. Head of the Paris-based production company eca2, he has successfully executed numerous multimedia and large-scale programs at various global events, expositions and theme parks.
Pépin’s representative works include the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1998 World Cup in France and the 1999-2000 Millennium Celebration spectacle at the Eiffel Tower.

Robot Overview

Toyota is continuing to focus the collective experience of the Group in its development of Toyota Partner Robots, robots developed to embody kindness and intelligence and to assist with human activities. Music playing robots, a DJ robot and an “i-foot” robot will make appearances at the Toyota Group Pavilion.


1. Music Playing Robots
These robots, which are being developed to use tools, will play an entertaining role in the performance. Able to move their artificial lips with the same finesse as humans, the robots demonstrate the agility of their arms, hands and fingers as they play trumpets, tubas and drums.

2. DJ Robot
This robot, currently under development as a robot that communicates with people, will appear on stage as a DJ, carrying on a dialogue with the emcee.

Music Playing Robot and DJ Robot Design Concept
The robots are meant to express the Japanese spirit of “wa,” or harmony, and the ideal of hospitality that underpin Japanese culture. Design of the lightweight, slim-bodied robots applied cutting edge technology and focused on a finely tuned form with a pleasant expression that would express kindness and friendliness.

*With instrument


3. Mountable, Walking “i-foot” Robot
This 2-legged, mountable robot was developed for three-dimensional mobility, with the ability to navigate staircases. The passenger climbs on and drives with a joystick. Toyota will present this proposal for a new type of mobility at EXPO 2005 AICHI, JAPAN.

Design Concept
The egg-shaped design of the “i-foot” that wraps around the passenger is meant to express the dream of future three-dimensional mobility and the feelings of safety and reliability upon which that dream is built.

Main Features

• The ability to mount and dismount comfortably was of primary consideration in the design of the bird-like legs, which bend toward the rear.
• Steering and speed of the “i-foot” is controlled with a joystick, a fun form of driving different from that of conventional forms of mobility.

i-unit Overview

The “i-unit” is a form of “personal mobility” that seeks to attain a greater balance of meeting individuals’ wishes to enjoy freedom of movement, harmony with society, and harmony with the Earth’s natural environment.

Concept
“Expanding Human Abilities”
This union of driver and vehicle is intended to expand human abilities and possibilities.

Theme
“Inspire the Individual”
Making a better world with mobility leading the way to a greater bond between people and the planet.
Movement expands our world by creating possibilities and encounters among nature, society, people and culture. Movement brings us new sensations, discoveries and acquaintances, enabling individuals to lead fuller lives and cultivating a sense of belonging with the planet.

Design Theme
“The Leaf”
The design, inspired by the leaf that converts sunlight into life energy, seeks to express the power of the unknown, the logic of living things and the simple beauty of waste-free functionality.



Main Features

• Mobility with an Ultra Compact Size
  The “i-unit” creates a seamless transformation between vehicle and human movement, minimizing occupied space and energy consumption with its lightweight and ultra compact size.
• Variable Positioning
  The i-unit has a compact size enabling the passenger to move among other people in an upright position in low speed mode, and a low center of gravity that ensures stable handling when the vehicles reclines in high speed mode.
• Ease of Operation
  • Drive Controller
    Drive-by-wire technology and intuitive handling enable the passenger to maneuver on-the-spot turns and drive at high speed at will.
  • IT Controller
    A driver support information system uses sound, light and vibration to facilitate interactive communication.
• Driver Support System
  The driver support system features Intelligent Transport System (ITS) technology, which Toyota hopes to utilize for an accident-free society. The system permits efficient and safe autopilot driving in specially equipped lanes.
• “My-unit”
  A personalized recognition system can provide information and music, and body color can be customized, according to the individual’s preferences and emotions.
• Environmentally Friendly Body Materials
  The body is built using environmentally friendly plant-based materials such as kenaf.