Yesterday we attended Toyota’s Green Drive Expo where we were given the opportunity to take the production version of the Prius plug-in hybrid (PEV) — and its smorgasbord of technology — for a spin. We spent a couple hours driving interfacing with the computers aboard the Advanced model, which besides being outlet-friendly, includes some unique features within the Prius lineup. Explore our gallery below, and hit the break for our impressions and hands-on videos with the latest incarnation of Toyota’s iconic vehicle.

Continue reading Hands-on with Toyota’s Prius plug-in hybrid (video)

Hands-on with Toyota’s Prius plug-in hybrid (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Sep 2011 21:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments
Engadget

Please visit my site alt-nrg.org for latest news. Video Tour of the cell installed in the Toyota Tacoma and production test
Video Rating: 4 / 5

In principle, any advance in any field of technology is welcome, but I have my doubts about this new service developed by a Japanese company called DSS. It’s basically aimed at establishing a “big brother”-like control system [JP, PDF] within factories.

After paying $21,000, factory management can simultaneously monitor the activities of up to 30 workers and then analyze and visualize the data collected (fee for a 3-day-analysis). Each worker has to wear a gyro sensor and an acceleration sensor at the ankle and a mini video camera in the shirt pocket.

DSS also installs so-called infrared milestones (pictured above) at various places in the factory halls to be able to locate the workers, record their activity and then deliver a “digital heat map” of the factory to their clients.

The company claims their system helps to significantly boost productivity and cut costs in any factory. It also says the inspiration came from a Toyota production philosophy: “1 second = 1 step = 1 yen of productivity”.

Via Tech-On