Honda. Showcasing a new connected car at the World Congress in Detroit
The ITS World Congress took place between 7-11 September in Detroit. This event takes place every third year in North America. It’s the place where automakers are able to showcase their most intelligent and technologically advanced cars in the industry. Honda took advantage of this huge opportunity to present their new connected car, and the automated driving technologies that come along with it.
Honda is stepping up the game of autonomous driving
Statistics show that a large number of pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists get into accidents every year. Unfortunately, a percentage of them die in these accidents. Honda believes that with its new technologies, cars are able to prevent these type of accidents. The new technologies include freeway entry, exit, and changing lanes, and also a technology through which drivers are capable to communicate with other drivers, pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, as long as they carry a smartphone.
What’s more amazing than seeing a connected car in action?
Honda actually demonstrated their connected car on a Detroit freeway, which makes it even more amazing. During an 8-mile drive, it was shown in real-world traffic conditions that the car is capable of self-driving, self-braking, taking exits, or even changing lanes.
DSRC is an intelligent technology that allows the connected car to communicate with pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcycles. It uses short range communications that alert both the pedestrian or the bicyclist of their proximity, so that they avoid a collision. Another cool thing about DSRC is that you can exchange “thank you’s”.
Virtual Tow is a technology that alerts passing cars that you are in distress. Through the push of a button, the driver that needs assistance is able to send a signal to drivers that are near him. Another vehicle will be able to “tow” him. If the driver that needs help is not in condition to drive, this technology makes it possible so that his car drives itself by following the car of the driver that helped him, so that it reaches a hospital, or any other service he might need.
Honda’s connected car can avoid lane hazards, too. The driver receives an image of the hazard that is in front of him. This information helps the car change the lane, and continue driving, while safely avoiding the hazard.
Here is a video explaining, and showing you more about these technologies.
“Safety for everyone”
Frank Paluch, president of Honda R&D Americas. Inc, says that through this intelligent in-car technologies, their aim is to one day eliminate traffic collisions, injuries, and even fatal accidents. Honda will continuously present the advances they make in autonomous driving.
Their advanced model available on the market starting next year is Acura TLX, a sedan that is packed with a monocular camera, which is able to detect pedestrians, provide steering assistance, or even activate autonomous emergency brake. Today, Honda has the most models that are qualified as a “Top Safety Pick”, which says a lot about how advanced their cars are.
Honda aspires to a collision free society. Could their connected car be the solution to this? It’s amazing to see how far autonomous cars have come, and it’s even more exciting to actually see them on the road.
What do you think about Honda’s showcasing? Are you looking forward to see the car on the roads?