- honda's research institute has started a pilot program to check for faded or missing highway lane markings, with the aim of making roads safer using its vehicles' driver-assistance camera and gps systems.
- the automaker will gather the information, analyze it, and pass it along to the state department of transportation to use in prioritizing road maintenance.
- the pilot program is currently operating only in ohio with two honda cars gathering information. they classify road markings on a scale that includes green (ideal), yellow (good), red (needs repair), and gray (no lane lines).
honda's research institute usa has invented a system that uses honda vehicles to evaluate the condition of roads they travel on. the system will monitor and grade lane markings on a scale from ideal to need repair, using gps coordinates and onboard cameras to collect information in real time.
the two vehicles in the pilot program, initially only in the state of ohio, will capture location coordinates (longitude and latitude), along with images and video clips of the roads. the system views and classifies lane lines to the left and right of the vehicle and color-codes them by condition: green (ideal), yellow (good), red (needs repair), and gray (no lane lines). the collected data will be anonymously sent to a secure platform where it can be analyzed and then shared with the state dot.
the automaker is collaborating with the ohio department of transportation, using the anonymized data coming from the driver-assist systems of honda vehicles that travel the roads there. the data will start being available in early 2022, honda said, and will initially be used by the state of ohio to improve its road maintenance. later, honda could use the data to adjust settings within honda and acura vehicles' driver-assistance technology. for instance, in the future the vehicle could warn drivers in advance that there are faded lane markings or areas in need of repair on the road ahead.
a honda spokesperson told car and driver that although the program is small, with data coming from only two vehicles driven by research engineers, it is "the beginning of an effort to build out our road testing capabilities." later, the spokesperson said, they may expand the program with more vehicles. as for commercializing the technology, honda is not yet disclosing any plans.