Honda Sensing 360 tech revealed

HONDA has revealed plans to apply its next-generation omnidirectional safety and driver assistance technologies to all new models sold in the United States by 2030.

Known as Honda Sensing 360, the technology suite offers the ability to eliminate blind spots and enhance collision avoidance while also reducing driver stress, forming part of the company’s plan to have zero traffic collision fatalities involving its vehicles by 2050.

The latest announcement is part of a global strategy by the Japanese car-maker and will be marketed under the AcuraWatch system name in North America.

After introducing the same technology in vehicles sold to the Chinese market from 2022, Australia will follow suit sometime before the end of this decade under Honda’s stated ambition to “expand the application to all models to go on sale in all major markets by 2030”.

Honda Sensing 360 will advance forward and rearward detection systems already sold under the same banner in the United States, where it is estimated more than five million vehicles use a current form of Honda’s driver assistance technologies.

The suite of safety technologies combines the inputs of five advanced millimetre-wave radar units located around the vehicle with those of a forward-mounted monocular camera, expanding the capabilities of active lane change assist, collision mitigation braking system, front cross-traffic warning, and lane change collision mitigation systems.

Honda’s expanded Active Lane Change Assist technology is activated in conjunction with the existing adaptive cruise control, low-speed follow and lane-keeping assist system suite of functions to assist steering input during lane manoeuvres.

The system works with uprated lane change collision mitigation technology, which detects vehicles in adjacent lanes and approaching from behind, providing audio and visual warnings as well as steering assistance to avoid a collision.

Collision mitigation braking system has also been enhanced to detect potential impacts with other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists when turning at intersections.

Honda says the technology can detect and avoid a potential collision with another vehicle or pedestrian entering the intersection at the same time from different directions, an advancement over the technology in existing models.

Current systems are only able to detect objects forward of the vehicle and as seen by the monocular camera.

The system will also improve the abilities of Honda’s front cross-traffic warning system, which notifies the driver about vehicles approaching from the left or right when exiting a parking space or leaving an intersection.

Honda says it operates two of the world’s most sophisticated crash test facilities in Japan and the United States, and that it has developed numerous crash avoidance and safety technologies in recent decades.

The company has pledged to continue developing advancements in the areas of crashworthiness, collision compatibility, and pedestrian safety.

“Honda Sensing 360 represents the next major step in what has already been an industry-leading application of safety and driver-assistive technologies,” said American Honda Motor Company assistant vice president of product planning Gary Robinson.

“Honda will continue to advance our technologies to improve safety for everyone sharing the road and play a leading role in realising a collision-free society.”