With people, buildings and vehicles all connected and communicating with each other through data and sensors, we will be able to test connected AI technology, in both the virtual and physical realms, maximising its potential.
– Akio Toyoda

Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Toyota have unveiled plans for a prototype city of the future designed to be a living laboratory for testing new technologies, ways of living and approaches for sustainability.

Woven City will cover 175ac (71ha) at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan and will be home to full-time residents, as well as researchers in different fields.

Among the areas being studied will be autonomous technologies, robotics, personal mobility, smart homes and artificial intelligence, with the development providing a real-world environment in which to test them.

Sustainability will be built into the city from construction, with robotised production methods and traditional Japanese joinery used to build buildings made mostly of wood, helping to minimise carbon footprint.

Power will be produced by hydrogen fuel cells and solar panels mounted on roofs, while vegetation will be grown throughout the city, with hydroponic tech used to help growth.

For residents, the city has been designed with a focus on socialising, community and leisure, with neighbourhood parks, a large central recreation area and a central plaza for gatherings.

It is hoped that this focus on human connections will contribute towards quality of life and wellness within the city.

Homes, meanwhile, will be fitted with so-called "human support technologies", such as assistance robots and sensor-based artificial intelligence (AI) for checking the health of occupants, carrying out basic tasks and enhancing day-to-day life.

Three types of street will accommodate faster vehicles only, pedestrians only or a mix of lower-speed vehicles, personal mobility vehicles and pedestrians.

Only fully autonomous, zero-emission vehicles will be allowed on the main thoroughfares to move residents around, while autonomous Toyota e-Palette vehicles will be used for transport, deliveries and mobile retail units.

Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota Motor Corporation, said: "Building a complete city from the ground up, even on a small scale like this, is a unique opportunity to develop future technologies, including a digital operating system for the infrastructure.

"With people, buildings and vehicles all connected and communicating with each other through data and sensors, we will be able to test connected AI technology, in both the virtual and physical realms, maximising its potential."

Construction is expected to begin in early 2021.