MIT × MIT = Smart Future!First of the Globe Persuasive Electric Vehicle (PEV) Made its Debut at TAF
Date: 2016/01/10
Picture Description: Instructed by Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Persuasive Electric Vehicle (PEV) made its debut on 10th January, which was researched and developed collectively by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Institute for Information Industry (III).Visiting guests took photos after the ceremony. From the left: Director General of Industrial Development Bureau Ming-Ji Wu, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economic Affairs Jong-Chin Shen, Minister without Portfolio of Executive Yuan Shin-Cheng Yeh, MIT Prof. Kent Larson, Executive Yuan former President Chi-Kuo Mao, Founder of Commonwealth Publishing Group Charles Kao, President Pacific Cycles George Lin, III president Ruei-Bei Wu, and Spokesman of Executive Yuan Li-Chyun Sun.
Can you imagine what Taipei, the city we are living in right now, will become in 2050? In addition to autopilot vehicles and electronic cars, what are the new solutions for personal transportation vehicles?
When MIT, one of the top institutes in the research and development field, encountered Taiwan, one of the advanced countries in high-tech development, comes the Persuasive Electric Vehicle (PEV). On 10th January, PEV made it debut and the industry in Taiwan entered a new era.
Developed collectively by MIT Media Lab in the US and III in Taiwan, PEV took great advantage of the manufacturing capability of Taiwan. Not only does the key person Chia-Liang Lin come from Taiwan, who currently studies PhD at MIT, but also 90 percent of the research and development of body construction and manufacturing is supported by Taiwanese firms. The success of this project will bring Taiwanese companies into the field of smart transportation and grasp future business opportunities in the domain.
In addition to the huge business opportunities, the research and development of PEV is expected to achieve the three goals that fit people's imagination for the future world. Firstly, electricity replaces fossil fuels as clean energy. Secondly, intelligent devices make life more convenient. Thirdly, cloud big data optimize services for daily routines.
PEV is a tri-wheels auto-car with cover which is able to carry personnel and deliver cargoes. With associated App “Spike”, one can book a car and have it sent to designated location. The car is equipped with electronic auxiliary power devices and pedals so that users can flexibly choose autopilot mode or self-drive mode. There are also GPS information and detection devices in the car to calculate the shortest route. Moreover, the car can automatically slow down or take a detour in correspond to the traffic.
PEV is a huge step for Taiwan to move toward the era of Internet of Vehicles. During the driver process, the vehicle constantly collects environment data and user information and uploads to the cloud. Consequently, the cloud platform can accurately figure out information of the surrounds such as the number of cars as well as the traffic on the roads.
During the off-peak hours, PEV can also be the delivery car carrying packages and mails form one place to another. For the firms in the electronic commerce domain, PEV is no doubt an alternative for logistics.
Within the one year future, people can see PEV driven and tested at TAF in downtown Taipei. By integrating downtown traffic information and accumulating valuable reference data, it is possible to calculate the suitable transportation model for Taipei.
“MITxMIT” will change your stereotype for the congested traffic in urban cities. Additionally, the project will assist Taiwan firms smoothly enter the coming intelligent future.
In the event on Sunday, people at site witnessed Taiwan making the milestone that none manned vehicles for the first time cruise on the road. US MIT Media Lab smart city project director Dr. Kent Larson and MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics Assistant Professor Sertac Karaman were invited to provide much deeper insights and arguments with regard to the development of smart city in various cities and Taiwan's position in the globe innovation spectrum, etc.
The venue where the event took place is the innovation base at TAF. Originally, the location was the air force base. On February 2015, the Executive Yuan decided not to develop the site for other purposes and made the decision to construct an innovation base. The cooperation between III and MIT Media Lab is the first demonstration project to introduce new methods and technologies and increase the communication between the two sides so that the innovation teams and students from the US and Taiwan can collectively map out the services of future cities and intelligent transportation.
By working with MIT, the latest ideas are delivered directly to Taiwan. Furthermore, with the manufacturing advantages of Taiwan industries, it is convenient to turn these good ideas into products and market to the globe. Combining two MITs that each has its unique global strength, Taiwan is able to move forward and embrace the new waves of intellectual economy.
【Media Contact】
Planning & Evaluation Division(III):Meredith Chang, Joy Yen, Freesia Shen
Tel: (02) 6631-8638、6631-8640、6631-8643