Consumer electronics giant Sony has unveiled its second prototype electric vehicle at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2022) that is not – for the time being at least – intended to make it into commercial production.
Instead, the Vision-S o2 electric SUV will serve as yet another testbed for the company’s imaging and sensing technologies and a potential prelude to a market entry for Sony-branded autonomous EVs through its newly announced Sony Mobility company.
This is not the first time that Sony – better known for its cameras, sound systems, consumer electronics, and PlayStation gaming console – has unveiled a prototype EV that would never be sold to consumers.
Back at CES 2020 the company announced its Vision-S initiative, aimed at helping support the evolution of electric mobility, and unveiled its Vision-S 01, a sleek sedan that would go on to conduct verification tests of the safety and user experience of the imaging and sensing technology installed inside and outside the vehicle as well as the human-machine interface (HMI) system.
Sony began 5G driving tests of the Vision-S 01 in April 2021 and continues to use the vehicle to test new technologies aimed at providing new electric and autonomous mobility experiences.
The new Vision-S 02 SUV prototype will serve a similar purpose, using the same EV and cloud platform as the Vision-S 01 and tested on public roads.
Sony’s Vision-S safety technology recognises and analyses the surrounding environment in real time thanks to sensors installed around the entirety of the vehicle providing 360-degrees resolution that include high-sensitivity, high-resolution, wide dynamic range CMOS image sensors and LiDAR sensors to accurately sense three-dimensional space.
Sony also claims that the Vision-S system provides “intuitive driver interaction in conjunction with the vehicle’s sound system and HMI system, so that the driver can accurately judge the status of the surrounding environment, such as the presence of emergency vehicles, even from inside the vehicle.”
In Europe, Sony is conducting verification tests that it hopes will lead towards the release of Level 2+ advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) on public roads.
Sony’s Vision-S sensors also provide in-car monitoring of driver and passengers, allowing for intuitive gesture and voice commands. Vehicle settings, key locks, and user settings can all be synchronised by linking the vehicle to the cloud using mobile communication, while the same connected communication can provide for some remote operation including low-latency transmission of video and control signals and communication control.
Unsurprisingly, given Sony’s consumer electronics heritage, the Vision-S initiative is also aimed at providing more intuitive in-car entertainment experiences including three-dimensional sound fields, a streaming service compatible with “360 Reality Audio”, and high-quality movie experiences fully integrated with Sony’s Bravia Core digital video service.
While Sony’s efforts so far have been focused on initial testing of software and technologies which would presumably be made available to vehicle manufacturers, Sony also announced at CES 2022 that it was this year launching Sony Mobility, a new company that would explore a potential entry into the EV market.
“The new company will aim to make the best use of AI and robotics technologies, help realise a world where everyone can live in harmony with robots on a daily basis, fill people with emotion, and contribute to society,” Sony said in its press release.
“With VISION-S, which contributes to the evolution of mobility, together with the autonomous entertainment robot aibo, and the drone Airpeak, Sony will seek to continue to create new value in a variety of fields.”
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.