The Smart Intersection technology, utilising Honda's proprietary object recognition software in conjunction with intersection-mounted cameras and V2X communications, is said to allow cars to virtually “see” through and around buildings and walls. Honda claims this is also possible in most weather conditions and will help identify and alert drivers to otherwise hidden hazards.
Four cameras mounted above the traffic lights at each corner of the intersection capture bird's-eye-view video of surrounding vehicles and pedestrian traffic out to a 300-foot range. Honda's proprietary image processing software then creates a 360-degree image of the intersection that classifies vehicles and other moving objects, such as pedestrians, motorcycles and emergency vehicles, and broadcasts pertinent information to surrounding vehicles via a dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) signal.
Each connected vehicle's on-board computer decodes the information and, when necessary, provides both visible and audible alerts to the driver, intelligently supporting them to take corrective action to avoid a potential collision, says Honda.
Honda's pursuit of a zero-collision society includes technologies such as the Honda Sensing and AcuraWatch suites of advanced driver-assistive safety technologies, which serve as both a perceptual and technological bridge to the highly-automated vehicles of the future. According to the team, these technologies can significantly reduce the likelihood or severity of a collision and also serve as a bridge to highly automated vehicles of the future.
Honda is targeting 2020 for the deployment of vehicles with highly automated highway driving capability and 2025 for the technological achievement of SAE Level 4 automated vehicles for personal use.