R & d – Honda presents an alert system between vehicles – Used HONDA

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Honda presents an alert system between vehicles

R & amp; D - Honda presents a vehicle-to-vehicle alert system - Used HONDA

Continuing its quest for optimum safety, Honda has just participated in a consortium dedicated to improving road safety through inter-vehicle communication. The opportunity to show off its V2V (Vehicle to vehicle) prototype.

Figures from the 1999 MAIDS survey

  • Out of 921 accidents measured in five European countries (read), 88% were the result of human error

  • 8% came from external factors (weather, infrastructure etc.)

  • 35% of accidents happen at intersections or when changing direction

  • 37% of accidents were attributable to bikers, 50% to the other driver

  • In detail, 72% of the motorists concerned had not seen the motorcycle, 3% saw it but were unable to recognize a moving vehicle, 20% saw it, but decided to continue their maneuver

    • Honda continues its involvement in the safety of its vehicles, and therefore that of its users: after the airbag on its Gold Wing and the presentation of new generations of driving simulators, the Japanese manufacturer recently hit the headlines by "daring" equip its sports flagships with an electronic ABS, which has proven to be bluffing efficiency (read our).

    But the world leader is not limited to "active" safety devices: based on the results of the MAIDS survey (Motorcycle accident in-depth study) of 1999 (see box opposite and), the Japanese giant has taken a further step against accidents thanks to automated communication between the various vehicles on the road.

    Honda joined in 2005 the organization "CAR 2 CAR Communication", a working group initiated by European manufacturers and whose goal is "increase the efficiency and safety of road traffic through inter-vehicle communication". Concretely, this involves equipping the entire fleet of cars and motorcycles with a GPS and a wireless link, so that the user can visualize in real time the exact positioning of the vehicles around him..

    If the definition can make you smile or come under the assistance – each driver being supposed to be attentive to what surrounds him -, the demonstrations carried out on October 22 and 23 at the Opel test center in Dudenhofen (Germany), at the occasion of the first consortium "C2C", call for more attention and reflection: equipping a production motorcycle, the V2V (Vehicle to Vehicle) system informs the rider of the presence of other vehicles – up to eight different makes during the test – by means of light and sound signals, even if these vehicles are momentarily out of his vision (blind spot, signs, etc.).

    More importantly in the case of two-wheeled users, the system warns motorists of the arrival of a motorcycle: statistics – and experience – indeed largely show that a two-wheeler suffers from a lack of visibility from other users, when it is not simply ignored. V2V therefore tends to fill this gap.

    Honda further specifies that its device has also been tested in situations where the human brain does not record information reliably: "the blind spot in the mirrors, or the approach of an emergency vehicle whose siren is audible without being able to accurately determine its position, speed or direction". Ditto with the example of"the motorist who sees the biker in his mirrors, but has difficulty appreciating his speed and distance, especially at night or in difficult weather conditions".

    Concept-based HMI (interface between the driver and his vehicle), dear to Honda, the V2V used for this demonstration was intended to be relatively simple in its use and operation: placed on the upper part of the dashboard, the visual interface varies the colors and their intensity in order to transmit intuitive information to the driver, without having to take his eyes off the road. At the same time, to increase the perception and the nature of the danger, a voice alert is delivered in the headset connected via Bluetooth with the system..

    Fruit of long research, V2V seems an interesting and above all very important line of work for the winged brand. However, while it is true that motorcycles are subject to the effects of reduced visibility, which regularly leads to misunderstandings on the part of other users – who have difficulty in perceiving the distance and speed of a two-wheeler -, is- will one electronic device be enough to fill the lack of attention and responsiveness of many drivers? To be continued…

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