Japan builds futuristic $10 bn city for a ‘mass human experiment’
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Tokyo: By late 2024, a visit to Woven City, Toyota's innovative prototype metropolis of the future, may be part of a trip to Japan. Situated close to Mount Fuji on Honshu Island in Japan, this sustainable marvel has an estimated cost of $10 billion. In addition to housing 2,000 people, the multibillion-dollar city project will act as a "mass human experiment." News of its impending completion comes following Saudi Arabia's announcement of their futuristic project, The Line.
According to Travel & Leisure, Toyota has been building the Woven City since it was initially announced in 2021.
The streets of Woven City will serve as a testbed for the future of transportation. Toyota's self-driving E-Palette cars will travel in designated lanes apart from bicycles and pedestrians. These cars' data can provide important insights into regional traffic trends, NDTV reported.
One of Woven City's core principles is sustainability. The city will use technologies based on hydrogen to reduce emissions. Specialised sensors installed in smart homes will facilitate smooth communication between residents, buildings, and automobiles, resulting in a fully interconnected environment.
Traditional Japanese architecture and modern amenities will be perfectly combined in Woven City. Construction leverages specially designed robotics, ensuring a unique fusion of form and function. Initially, the city is to be home to 360 individuals, mostly Toyota employees, but it can accommodate up to 2,000 people.
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," as quoted by Metro.
"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 virtual and the physical realms, maximising its potential.”
One way to describe Woven City is as a "living laboratory" for sustainability initiatives. It makes environmental responsibility a priority by building a futuristic city with little environmental impact using cutting-edge technologies.