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Toyota's Engineers Pursue Joy Worldwide - Funve's Journey of Cheerful Innovation

TOYOTAENGINEERING SOCIETY'S CREATION, FUNVE, has evolved to become a notable feature at Bandai Namco's VS PARK amusement parks. We traced FUNVE's ascent, which began as part of BE creation, TOYOTA's initiative for fostering new ventures.

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Toyota's Engineers Ignite Joyful Journey, Seeking Joy for Everyone with FUNVE's Adventure
Toyota's Engineers Ignite Joyful Journey, Seeking Joy for Everyone with FUNVE's Adventure

Toyota's Engineers Pursue Joy Worldwide - Funve's Journey of Cheerful Innovation

Toyota's FUNVE Amusement Ride Debuts at VS PARK Yokohama World Porters

In an exciting development, Toyota's FUNVE has been added to the lineup at VS PARK Yokohama World Porters for a limited run starting from December 2024. This real-life amusement ride, developed by Toyota's engineers, is now a fully-fledged attraction at Bandai Namco's VS PARK amusement facilities.

The concept for FUNVE originated from a simple question: "What if we could create a ride like the kart games we loved to play?" The team behind FUNVE, the Monozukuri Challenge Team within TES, aimed to bring this idea to life. The team included Isamu Yasui, Jiro Hayashi, and Hiroaki Okubo, who had young children and were part of the Super Famicom generation.

From the outset, the team's goal was not just to create an incredible thing to show off, but to provide an enjoyable experience for children. This focus on user experience was reflected in several changes made during the development process, such as the shift from steering wheel and pedal controls to joystick controls, a decision prompted by user feedback.

Riders can physically operate the FUNVE vehicle within a virtual space. The vehicle's behaviour is influenced by the rider's actions, with the kart spinning on the spot if hit by enemies or going off course. To ensure streamlined operations, the team made FUNVE playable without needing AR glasses.

FUNVE is powered by electricity in a simple EV setup. Over 10,000 customers have tried FUNVE, and improvements have been made based on their feedback. Handles were added to the rear of the karts for easier movement by staff, and two new attractions, Bomb! Bomb! Bulldozer and Puru-Puru Slalom, were developed for FUNVE at VS PARK Yokohama World Porters.

From July 5, VS PARK Yokohama World Porters has added these attractions as the centerpiece of its summer holiday program. The team is currently working on a full redesign and new games using AR glasses for FUNVE.

The development of FUNVE started as a project at the Toyota Engineering Society (TES). The company that took over the FUNVE attraction in their VS PARK leisure facilities is not explicitly stated in the search results, nor is there information on the first test operation of the attraction. The available data mainly covers other amusement parks and leisure information without mentioning FUNVE or VS PARK specifics.

However, what is clear is that FUNVE is designed to bring smiles to children's faces, offering a groundbreaking form of interactive mobility that combines technology, passion, and a playful spirit. The team also learned the importance of creating entertainment that is social media-worthy and interesting for those watching.

With FUNVE's addition to VS PARK Yokohama World Porters, visitors can look forward to an immersive and interactive amusement experience that promises fun for all ages.

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