Latest news with #Woven
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Indian Express
As carmakers struggle to integrate software systems into vehicles, Toyota weaves in its Arene toolkit
Toyota, the world's biggest carmaker, unveiled its latest RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle that would be the first model to feature its Arene software development platform. In the new RAV4, the Arene platform has helped with the development of software powering the car's new multimedia system's cockpit voice agent and centre console display, as well as advanced safety technologies. Tokyo-based Toyota sells more cars each year than any other auto major in the world. So, justifiably, it had similar big ambitions when it created its own in-house technology startup in 2021 as it set about trying to build software for its newer cars, especially hybrids and battery electric vehicles. This is in keeping with the reality of new-age cars being more of a software product than being just an over-engineered, hardware product. But like in the case of other legacy carmakers, Toyota struggled somewhat to get started with its project – initially called Woven Planet when it was set up in 2021, and subsequently re-christened Woven by Toyota. The Arene platform is the first big commercial product to come out of this repurposed venture, which, Toyota says, combines the company's 'decades of manufacturing expertise with modern software capabilities'. The Arene Advantages Toyota says Arene gives its suppliers a common platform and standardised processes for better management of complex, multi-stakeholder development projects. With Arene, Toyota and its suppliers are able to 'maximise coordination, ensure cross-stream visibility, and simplify integration and testing'. This new platform would also help the carmaker expand and accelerate software testing. Physical testing is complemented by virtual testing, which allows for software features to be analysed discreetly and on any model or trim for more exhaustive quality assurance. Arene is built on the concept of 'kaizen', or continuous improvement — an integral feature of the Toyota assembly line philosophy. Rather than traditional linear development, the new platform is designed to 'make use of the latest iterative development methodologies' and leverage 'the best value of software breakthroughs'. 'Through abstracted APIs (application programming interface, or the connections between computers or between computer programmes), architected software layers and advanced testing protocols, Arene applications are interchangeable across platforms and reusable across vehicle generations, meaning a bigger return on investment,' a company executive said. 'Woven by Toyota' Toyota, just like pretty much of the legacy auto industry, is faced with the prospect of enormous technological disruptions that could upend production processes and change the nature of their products – from a hardware offering to a supercomputer-on-wheels. Consumers of electric vehicles want immersive entertainment systems and features such as autonomous driving. These are not areas that companies like Toyota have had expertise in in the past, whereas EV makers such as Tesla and China's BYD or Nio are far more invested in the software side of the business. So Toyota's goal with this new startup was to create a separate organisation that was at an arm's-length from the parent group, with its legacy of manufacturing and obsessive bureaucracy. A Google employee was brought in late 2021 as CEO for this project. It was called Woven Planet initially, to acknowledge Toyota's history as a loom maker in the 1920s. This distinct software project was in line with what Volkswagen tried out with its CARIAD software unit. Things, however, started to go wrong over the next 24 months, and Toyota announced significant changes at the venture, and subsequently renamed it 'Woven by Toyota'. The unit was then infused with Toyota executives and a clear signal was sent out that there would be more collaboration between this new venture and Toyota Motor. Arene is therefore a milestone for Toyota's new project. A senior executive from Toyota Kirloskar Motor, the Japanese car major's India venture, said that the Japanese parent company had also launched retraining programmes for workers for the transition and that software engineers make up for a significant chunk of its mid-career hires, led by the company's autonomous driving unit. More software also means more data on consumers and on their driving behaviour, which legacy carmakers have been slow to tap as compared to EV makers.. The Software Transition This transition has been far easier for EV makers, who have progressively taken their software focus to near obsessive levels. The learning from both Tesla and BYD, the two EV market leaders, is that car brands are increasingly being differentiated by the consumer experience of using their inbuilt features, which is now determined much more by their software than the hardware. Amid this transition, software is also proving to be a weak link for legacy automakers. Like Toyota and Volkswagen, Japanese carmaker Honda Motor too plans to double the number of software programmers it employs to around 10,000 by 2030. This would involve deepening its partnership with Pune-based Indian software company KPIT Technologies, alongside building its own software engineering team. Amsterdam-headquartered Stellantis, formed after the merger of the Italian–American conglomerate Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and France's PSA Group, and is now the world's fourth largest automaker, plans to hire over 1,000 software engineers in India by 2025, including for its autonomous vehicle plans. Volkswagen's CARIAD has now tied up with a Chinese software company in a collaborative approach. Most other legacy carmakers are falling back on Google's Android Auto and Apple's CarPlay to dovetail in-car plug-and-play software solutions. This is, however, accompanied by the problem of carmakers having to relinquish control and user data to Apple and Google. Anil Sasi is National Business Editor with the Indian Express and writes on business and finance issues. He has worked with The Hindu Business Line and Business Standard and is an alumnus of Delhi University. ... Read More
National Observer
16-05-2025
- General
- National Observer
Mary-Frances Lynch
About Mary-Frances Lynch Mary-Frances Lynch is a freelance writer and owner of Woven Communication. Through Woven, her work has included engaging Atlantic communities on large renewable energy projects, writing proposals for the region's leading environmental and social initiatives, and coordinating Indigenous events and research.
Japan Times
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Japan Times
Toyota to partner with Alphabet's Waymo on autonomous technology
Toyota and Alphabet's Waymo will explore collaboration on autonomous driving technology, a potential boost to the Japanese carmaker's efforts to catch up to the cutting-edge systems offered by major rivals. The companies, along with Toyota's automotive technology division Woven, will seek to develop a new autonomous driving platform, according to a joint statement Wednesday. They'll also look to enhance next-generation personally owned vehicles, they said. Toyota and other major Japanese firms have poured money into artificial intelligence and autonomous driving for years, but have struggled to keep pace with the rapid changes spearheaded by brands like Tesla and BYD. The Japanese company is looking to accelerate development after its Woven unit, which develops its Arene software, saw delays in the wake of a management overhaul in 2023. Last year, Toyota said it would jointly invest ¥500 billion ($3.3 billion) with Nippon Telegraph & Telephone to develop autonomous driving software that relies on AI to help predict and respond to traffic accidents. For Waymo, the partnership represents its first step out of commercial ride-hailing cars and into personal vehicles. The company currently logs more than 250,000 trips each week across a handful of major U.S. cities. The global auto sector is increasingly betting that the future of transport lies in autonomous vehicles and Toyota's Japanese peers are pursuing their own tie-ups. Nissan and U.K.-based Wayve announced a partnership earlier in April, while Suzuki is collaborating with startup Tier IV. Strict regulations are a big hurdle for assisted and autonomous driving in most places around the world but especially so in Japan, where vehicles for the time being will require human supervision and intervention.
Forbes
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The World Best Blended Scotch Whisky, According To The World Whiskies Awards
A glass of Blended Scotch whisky being sampled (Photo by Jeff) The World Whiskies Awards (WWA) are among the world's most prestigious whisky competitions. Below is a brief background and tasting notes on the top Blended Scotch Whiskies from the 2025 WWA. Although the list includes some legacy distillers, there are also some lesser-known producers, some of which represent exceptional value. The Borders Distillery was the winner in the NAS category. It is the first Scotch whisky distillery in the Scottish Borders since 1837, focusing on malt and grain whiskies. Their products often emphasize local heritage and innovative craftsmanship. This whisky is not yet available in the US but is expected to be released sometime in 2025. It is currently available from UK internet-based vendors. The whisky showcases a balanced mix of grain and malt whiskies, offering flavors of fig jam, butterscotch, and raisins along with orange zest and ripe apples. The finish is sweet, slightly floral, with lingering fruit notes. Ardray, a new blended whisky from Suntory, was a Gold Medalist in the NAS category. Blended by Suntory's Japanese team, the whisky is 'a Scottish expression based on Japanese blending principles.' It features subtle notes of peat smoke and vanilla around a core of orchard and stone fruit, described as a 'lightly-peated Hibiki with just a bit more punch.' Woven, a Leith, Scotland-based whisky blender that uses innovative finishing techniques to create unusual aroma and taste profiles, was the other Gold Medalist in the NAS category. Its Homemade Blended Scotch Whisky was crafted from two Speyside single malt whiskies that were finished in Palo Cortado and Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks. The blend is roughly 72% malt whisky and 28% grain whisky. The unusually high proportion of malt whisky makes Homemade more of a blended malt than a blended whisky. Woven is not yet available in the US but is available from UK internet vendors. Glencairn whiskey glasses on a wooden server with a whisky barrel in the background. Scottish Leader, produced by Burn Stewart Distillers, was the highest rated whisky in the 12 Years & Under category. The whisky is known for its exceptional smoothness and balanced flavor profile. At an average retail price of $17, it's also one of the best values for a blended Scotch whisky and is a perennial medalist in whisky competitions. The whisky offers a smooth profile with hints of cooked cereal/malt, toffee sweetness, honey, candied citrus zest and light peat smoke. The finish is relatively short but satisfying with a lingering spiciness and oak notes. Dewar's, one of the most recognized Scotch whisky brands globally, was a Gold Medalist in the 12 Years & Under category. It was founded in 1846 by John Dewar and has been crafting blended Scotch for over a century. It is among the best-selling blended Scotch whiskies in the US and another perennial medalist in whisky competitions. Dewar's 12 YO, also known as 'The Ancestor,' is double-aged for extra smoothness, featuring a complex array of honey, fruit, and floral heather notes, with a subtle oak background. It finishes long and creamy with a hint of almond. White Heather, a lesser-known blended Scotch whisky, won the 13 to 20 Years category. The whisky is a carefully crafted blend with a high proportion of malt whiskies, matured and blended by GlenAllachie distillers. It features malt whiskies from Speyside, Islay, and the Highlands that have been matured in American and Spanish Oak casks. The whisky is elegant and balanced, presenting layers of fruit compote, vanilla, and caramel, intertwined with mild smoky notes. A subtle maritime saltiness enriches the palate, and the finish is long and fruity with lingering spice notes. The Dewar's Double Double series is known for its unique four-step aging process, which includes a final stage in Sherry casks, enhancing complexity and smoothness. The whisky is rich and luxurious, with deep notes of ripe fruits, sweet honey, and dark chocolate, enhanced by a hint of spice. The palate is velvety, leading to a beautifully long, sherried finish. These Scotch whiskies were all Gold Medalists at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards. Some like Dewar's are among the world's best-known blended Scotch whiskies, legacy brands that have been sold worldwide for over a century and are readily available. Others like Woven or The Borders are new craft distillery startups, testing the boundaries of blended Scotch whisky's aroma and taste profile. The established, though little-known brands like Scottish Leader and White Heather are even more intriguing. They represent exceptional quality and value and are relatively easy to find. Either way, if you like Blended Scotch whisky, there are a few new brands to discover and a few more to reacquaint yourself with among this list of the World's Best Blended Scotch Whisky. See also The World's Best Blended Scotch Whiskies and The World's Best Single Malt Whisky According To The World Whiskies Awards for additional recommendations.
The Guardian
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Jeremy Pelt: Woven review – accessible post-bop with a touch of electric Miles
Now 48, trumpeter Pelt has maintained a profuse presence in US jazz since his early 20s, racking up an impressive 25 albums, while his contributions as a sideman run into scores. His playing stands squarely in the post-bop traditions of Clifford Brown and Freddie Hubbard, with occasional forays into the electric realm. Pelt himself is an agile player, capable of both fiery declamation and intricate intimacy while always remaining melodic and accessible. On Woven he rings the changes while staying true to his muse. 'I'm not interested in 'new' for the sake of 'newness',' he says in the liner note. 'Rather, I'm infatuated with different perspectives.' In practice that means a revised line-up that readdresses four previous compositions alongside fresh material, losing his usual piano accompaniment in favour of vibraphone and guitar. Also guesting is synth player Marie-Ann Hedonia, whom Pelt discovered via Instagram, proving a shadowy presence beyond the opening Prologue: Invention #1, and Invention #2 / Black Conscience, both of which carry a touch of electric Miles. More typical are the languid lines of Rhapsody and Afrofuturism, where guitarist Misha Mendelenko and vibes player Jalen Baker get to show their impressive chops. The band's evident comfort reflects the three tours they have already undertaken. A classy outing.
