Autonomous technology is the rage these days with each manufacturer trying their best in a bid to present vehicles which can drive around without driver’s intervention. Latest to join the fray is Japanese carmaker, Honda, who outlining their future interim plans revealed to have level 4 autonomous vehicles on the road by the year 2025.
The level 4 autonomy is on step less than a full-fledged self-driving car. With the level 4 autonomous vehicles, the vehicle can drive itself in most of the situation with no intervention from the driver. However, it will need driver’s assistance in certain situation such as bad weather or unconditional traffic.
The Japanese carmaker recently demonstrated the automated driving capabilities on a multi-lane freeway and introduced advanced artificial intelligence (AI) with Deep Learning capability in an urban driving scenario. This highly automated driving technology is a part of Honda’s vision for a collision-free society.
Takahiro Hachigo, president and CEO, Honda Motors, while introducing their autonomous plans, said, “We will strive to achieve the technological establishment of Level 4 automated driving for personal car use by around 2025. We are striving to provide our customers with a sense of confidence and trust by offering automated driving that will keep vehicles away from any dangerous situation and that will not make people around the vehicle feel unsafe."
Honda has already tested a few of its vehicles on closed test course for self-driving. The vehicles were equipped with a suite of sensors, multiple cameras, and no less than five LiDar with five different Radar sensors. The vehicles equipped with the tech was able to self-drive on the multi-lane freeway in the presence of traffic.
Honda wants to take things further with autonomy in common urban driving. Honda’s latest artificial intelligence (AI) with Deep Learning capability will be a part of this plans. The advance features are equipped with camera sensors only and no LiDar or GPS, the AI with Deep Learning can sense and respond to complex driving environments and situations, such as roads without proper lane markings. The system also can detect pedestrians and bicyclists at night with only partial visibility, and through the accumulation of experience, using advanced AI, the system can improve its ability to predict an outcome and take appropriate action.
