CES 2022 is off to a surprising start with Sony announcing the Vision-S 02, an initiative aimed at contributing to the automotive industry. It exhibited a prototype vehicle at its convention booth and posted a press release earlier today. Here’s what we know so far.
Sony’s Vision
At CES 2020, Sony unveiled their Vision-S Electric Sedan. Since 2020, Sony has been testing the vehicle on public roads in Europe. It also began verification tests of the safety and user experience, and even 5G driving tests. Two years later, the Vision-S is entering a new phase with the Vision-S 02.
To make these vehicles a reality, Sony will establish an operating company called “Sony Mobility Inc.” in the spring of 2022. With this move, Sony hopes to enter the EV market as soon as possible with the Vision-S.
Sensors for Safe Driving
The Vision-S 02 uses the same EV/cloud platform as the prototype (Vision-S 01). The large interior space has seating for up to seven individuals and promotes accommodation for a variety of lifestyles. The vehicle is equipped with sensors installed 360 degrees around the vehicle supporting safe driving by recognizing and analyzing the surrounding environment in real time. The sensors include wide dynamic range CMOS image sensors and LiDAR sensors that sense three-dimensional space.
Having a vehicle equipped with 5G communication is an incredible feat that can revolutionize the auto industry. Within the interior of the vehicle are built-in Time-of-Flight sensors. These provide monitoring functions for driver authentication and to watch over passengers. It will also allow the use of gestures and voice commands within the vehicle. A new function included in the vehicle will allow users to customize the display theme, and acceleration and deceleration sounds of the vehicle.
Entertainment Capabilities
When it comes to sound, the seat speakers create a three-dimensional sound field compatible with “360 Reality Audio” mimicking a live performance. With this being a Sony vehicle, the entertainment and gaming capabilities make it possible to play PlayStation games through a remote connection to a console at home. It also has the ability to stream games through the cloud. Essentially, you could play games through your car while parked.
With public road testing, new advances in safety and user experience, and a new operating company, Sony is another step closer at entering the EV market. The auto industry continues to push forward with incredible technological marvels from multiple companies. Did you have this on your bingo board for CES 2022?
