Toyota plans to build a prototype ‘city’ of the future called Woven City, which is meant to be a ‘living laboratory’ that will serve as a home to full-time residents who will test and develop various technologies, including autonomy, robotics and artificial intelligence in a real-world environment. The city will be powered by hydrogen fuel cells and will sit on a 175-acre site at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan.

Toyota will issue an open invitation to other commercial and academic partners interested in collaborating as well as scientists and researchers from around the world to work on their own projects in this real-world incubator.

To help test autonomous vehicles, part of this city plan is to designate three different types of street usage: one for faster vehicles only; another for a mix of lower speed, personal mobility and pedestrians; and a third for park-like promenades for pedestrians only. Of course, the homes will also be set up with in-home robotics to help with daily living, and sensor-based artificial intelligence (AI) to check the health of occupants and take care of basic needs.

The plan is for the city to serve as residence for 2,000 people, with more being added as the project progresses.