Toyota has filed a patent application describing a system that determines the driver's gaze direction using an in-cabin camera, and then selects one or more external cameras to photograph the object. Photography can be initiated by voice command or a button.
There are several application scenarios. For example, the driver can ask the car to photograph classic cars encountered on the road or a specific billboard. The images can be saved along with coordinates to later find the location or obtain additional information.
The possibilities don't end there. The system can analyze the captured images and search for information about the product in the frame – essentially turning the car into a Google Lens equivalent. Multiple cameras can also combine images to create a 3D model of an object.
The technology logically complements existing Toyota systems: the company uses in-cabin cameras to monitor driver attention, and external cameras to analyze the surroundings. However, the patent application itself does not mean that the feature will necessarily appear in production cars.