Honda Builds Accord with ‘Autopilot’ Technology

**Auggie2k** · January 29th, 2006, 06:07 AM

Honda UK has launched a car that can drive itself on motorways and dual-carriageways, the British equivalent of freeways. When it is in self-drive mode, the new Honda Accord ADAS automatically accelerates and decelerates, and can steer around bends. However, its Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS) self-drive technology only works on motorways and dual-carriageways.

While this might sound like the kind of technology we’ve all been waiting for, giving weary drivers the ability on long trips to get in the back seat to catch some shut-eye, Graham Avent, a spokesperson for Honda UK, said that, when the ADAS system is switched on, drivers cannot simply ignore what’s happening.

“They can’t climb in to the back of the car and go to sleep,” he said. “It is very important to get the message across that this technology does not replace the driver.”

Autopilot Mode

Avent said that, every 10 seconds, the ADAS system will bleep to check that the driver still is alert.

“All the driver has to do then is to touch the wheel,” he said. The analogy is with the autopilot technology that was introduced into airplanes back in the 1970s and 1980s, he explained. The pilot can put the plane into autopilot mode, but he or she still is in charge and still is flying the plane.

Drivers can override the ADAS system at any time, Avent said.

The ADAS system features two main components: a radar-based cruise control and a lane-assist technology.

“The Adaptive Cruise Control is a millimeter-wave radar sensor behind the Honda badge on the front of the car to scan ahead for other vehicles,” he said. “The cruise control then speeds up or slows down accordingly.”

The driver presets the cruise control at whatever speed he or she thinks appropriate — at 70 miles per hour, for example. “If a car pulls into the space in front of the ADAS car, the cruise control will slow the car down,” Avent said.

Lane Control

The ADAS system also includes a Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS). “This is a camera mounted next to the rear-view mirror that watches the white lines and controls steering,” Avent said.

Honda UK said that the Honda Accord ADAS will cost 25,880 pounds (US$46,500) and will go on sale in March. All Hondas are due to have ADAS by 2016.

“When you combine the ADAS system with intelligent traffic-monitoring technology and GPS mapping, you really have a very advanced car,” Avent said.

“But no car manufacturer is then going to go out and say that such a car can drive itself, as we don’t want to give the wrong message to drivers.”

**Potato** · January 29th, 2006, 07:55 AM

That just seems dangerous.

**brock01** · January 29th, 2006, 08:15 AM

i would just watch the road more than normal to make sure tis all right

**tomars** · January 29th, 2006, 08:21 AM

The first time you switched that on you'd be shitting it. But I bet it can only be made to reach 70mph though, they wouldn't make a car that would push itself over the offical speed limit - instead you'll be holding up the slow lane :D

**Kyle06** · January 29th, 2006, 09:24 AM

Yea really I do think that would take alittle gettin used too... but it would make it nice on long as trips... but you know the first version of everything always has a glitch... and to be honest with my run of luck I would be the one to find it... or a sensor would go out on me

**shawners** · January 29th, 2006, 01:53 PM

All it takes, is some moron to paint a yellow line into a mountain like Bugs Bunny did to Elmer Fudd.
Actually its really unsafe, other cars can merge into your lane and forcing you to either brake hard, speed up, stay in the same lane the car merges to or you go into another lane or into a wall.

**Atheist Icon** · January 29th, 2006, 02:19 PM

The sad thing is someone will get in a wreck with the system on, and the family will sue honda...because the automated system didn't do enough to save the family member.

**Krypt0** · January 29th, 2006, 05:29 PM

Wow.....there are a lot of lazy people out there.
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I'm actually surprised that it was Honda made the first ADAS car available to the public.
I would have expected it first on luxury cars like Lexus or Cadillac.
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Atheist Icon & shawners are 100% correct.
Somebody will re-paint or alter the lines on the roads to mess with the navigation, and Honda will be sued after some moron gets in a wreck because they were not paying attention..... doh!

**Mels_Smileys45** · January 29th, 2006, 06:39 PM

There goes the Taxi cab driving jobs! (and the god awful smell)

**Atheist Icon** · January 29th, 2006, 07:56 PM

'm actually surprised that it was Honda made the first ADAS car available to the public.
I would have expected it first on luxury cars like Lexus or Cadillac.

I'm not, most of the yuppies believe Honda actually makes a luxury vehicle. Ford actually has the lane change detection on most of their vehicles...honda wouldn't be the first one.