A trip to Japan by the end of 2024 could include a visit Woven city, Toyota's pioneering prototype city of the future. Located near Mount Fuji on the Japanese island of Honshu, this sustainable wonder has an estimated price tag of $10 billion. The billion-dollar city project for 2,000 people will also serve as a 'mass human experiment'. News of its near completion comes hot on the heels of Saudi Arabia's announcement of their futuristic project The Line.
The woven city was first announced in 2021 and Toyoto has been building it ever since. Travel and leisure reported.
The streets of Woven City will be a testing ground for the future of transportation. Toyota's self-driving E-Palette vehicles will navigate dedicated lanes separated from pedestrians and cyclists. Data collected from these vehicles will provide valuable insights into local traffic patterns.
Sustainability is a core principle for Woven City. The city wants to minimize emissions by using hydrogen-based technology. Smart homes equipped with specialized sensors will also promote seamless communication between residents, buildings and vehicles, creating a truly interconnected environment.
Woven City seamlessly blends traditional Japanese architecture with cutting-edge amenities. Specially designed robotics are used in its construction, guaranteeing a unique combination of form and function. Initially housing 360 residents, mostly Toyota employees, the city is designed to scale up to 2,000 residents.
Toyota President Akio Toyoda 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 city's infrastructure,” such as quoted by Subway.
“Now that people, buildings and vehicles are all connected and communicating with each other through data and sensors, we will be able to test connected AI technology in both virtual and physical domains, maximizing its potential.”
Woven City is described as a 'living laboratory' for sustainability initiatives. It prioritizes environmental responsibility by using cutting-edge technology to create a futuristic city with minimal environmental impact.