The Japanese carmaker has developed technology with these capabilities – it recognises how acceleration and deceleration behaviour can influence traffic patterns.
Honda worked with the Research Centre for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo on a system aimed at detecting the potential for traffic congestion (pictured). The test results showed that the system helped increase average speeds by 23 per cent and improved fuel economy by eight per cent. Now Honda is aiming to test the technology in Italy and Indonesia this summer, with the possibility of bringing the technology to market.
Instead of simply providing the driver with information to avoid existing congestion, the system monitors acceleration and deceleration to determine when the driver’s driving pattern is likely to create congestion. It then provides the driver with appropriate information, including a colour-coded display on the on-board terminal, which can be used to encourage smoother driving.
In addition, this helps to minimise congestion and boost fuel efficiency and it can be linked to cloud servers that make the driver aware of and in sync with the driving patterns of other vehicles. It is believed that this could offer a further 16 per cent increase in average speeds and an added five per cent improvement in fuel efficiency.
It is also hoped that this will help to reduce vehicle CO2 emissions and reduce the risk of rear-end collisions.
