Honda to introduce predictive cruise control system
Honda is set to introduce the next iteration of adaptive cruise control incorporating a predictive algorithm that anticipates and reacts to vehicles cutting into the lane of your vehicle.
Officially dubbed Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (i-ACC) by Honda, the new system monitors the position and movement of nearby vehicles on the road through radar and camera. Using algorithms developed by ‘extensive real-world research of typical European driving styles’, the system then makes predictions on the likelihood of vehicles in neighbouring lanes trying to cut in and react accordingly.
According to Honda, the system is able to compute the likelihood of a neighbouring vehicle cutting into one’s lane up to five seconds in advance. Once the system makes such a determination, it applies the vehicle’s brakes gently to begin slowing the vehicle down. An indicator light on the dashboard flashes to inform the driver of such an occasion. The system does not incorporate active steering intervention to steer the vehicle away, however.
Existing adaptive cruise control systems speed up and slow the vehicle down accordingly based solely on the speed and distance of the vehicle ahead; in the instance where a vehicle suddenly cuts in front, the vehicle reacts with abrupt braking force in order to maintain a safe distance. Honda’s predictive system aims to eliminate this in order to give the vehicle a smoother behaviour and not startle occupants.
On its own, the i-ACC system is able to recognize which side of the road the vehicle is being driven on, a critical requirement for European consumers who frequently cross between LHD mainland Europe and RHD United Kingdom. The system is, in fact, designed specifically for European road conditions and is an in-house project by Honda’s R&D engineers based in Europe and Japan. The technology will debut in the 2015 European CR-V.
Would be interesting to see if Honda thinks it’s up to the challenge of bringing a similar system to Malaysia as well.
Picture: Official Honda release.
