Honda Motor Co.'s AI-equipped car is seen in this company-provided photo. The system alerts drivers with sound and vibration.

       TOKYO -- Honda Motor Co. aims to make its in-development artificial intelligence (AI) driving support system, which can detect potential errors and driver drowsiness, a commercial reality in the latter half of the 2020s, it revealed Nov. 25.

       The automaker intends to sequentially release new cars with the system built in. In real time, the AI analyzes data including driver's eye movements and surroundings captured by cameras in and out of the vehicle.

       By foreseeing mistakes such as not spotting a motorcycle approaching from behind, the AI cautions the driver by tightening the seat belt and issuing warnings from a speaker near their ears, among other measures. The company has also developed a way to prevent drowsiness by vibrating the seat when detecting driver fatigue from pulse rates.

       With communications giant SoftBank Corp., Honda is also developing technology to comprehensively understand the situation on the roads by sharing information from multiple vehicles' on-board cameras using fifth-generation (5G) wireless technology. In this scheme, the cameras detect whether pedestrians are in other cars' blind spots. If it is likely an accident could be caused, the system alerts drivers and pedestrians by means including triggering alarms on pedestrians' smartphones.

       Through cooperation with other firms and with governments, the company is aiming for widespread uptake of the system.

       Honda has set a goal to by 2030 halve traffic deaths involving the company's motorcycles and cars, including vehicles already sold, and to eliminate the deaths by 2050. Honda R&D Co. President Keiji Otsu, who heads technology development, said, "We will invest in research resources to ensure we achieve our zero traffic deaths goal by 2050."

       (Japanese original by Yuhi Sugiyama, Business News Department)

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