Honda Accord ADAS auto-pilot system takes the reins

We've heard of radar assisted cruise control, that has certain luxury cars running at set speeds on the highway, but slows them down or speeds them up when they get too close to a car in front or behind. Well now Honda UK is taking it to another level with their Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS) that not only regulates your speed, but manages the turning, allowing you a full auto-pilot system for your Accord when you're out on the freeway. The Adaptive Cruise Control is your regular radar variety, but the Lane Keep Assist System keeps you headed in the right direction by using a camera on the rear-view mirror to watch the white lines and turn accordingly. Honda was quick to point out that their system isn't exactly set up for you to take a nap, since the ADAS system will beep every 10 seconds to make sure you're paying attention, requiring you to touch the steering wheel to inform the car you're still in charge, but we're sure someone is going manage an accident and an ensuing lawsuit or three out of this "convenience".

[Via TG Daily]

[TIMMAH! @ Jan 30th 2006 4:52PM]

Okay, so who'll be the first one to hack the 10 second checker?

[carboy @ Jan 30th 2006 4:52PM]

Car shown is a Japanese/European Accord. In the US, its the Acura TSX. Our Accords are called Inspire in Japan, which may or maynot have said features.

[Sheniferous @ Jan 30th 2006 4:54PM]

"but we're sure someone is going manage an accident and an ensuing lawsuit or three out of this "convenience"."


That's why they're debuting the system in the UK and not in the litigation happy country of the U.S.

[Zack @ Jan 30th 2006 5:01PM]

Honda,

Great job with the auto pilot feature, now make me a flying car.

Sincerely,
Generation X

[Jason @ Jan 30th 2006 5:22PM]

#2 The UK is becoming just as litigious as the United States, so keep your American bashing in check. Maybe we could discuss the rampant alcoholism your country is known for as a reason for needing a car that drives itself?

[JCE @ Jan 30th 2006 5:36PM]

i think there is definitely something wrong with a legal system that makes companies responsible for liability without considering the lives saved by the technology.

let's say this tech reduces highway accidents by 20%. in the one (or few) time(s) it f**ks up shouldn't the money saved by the 20% reduced accidents be weighed against the damages?

[tde @ Jan 30th 2006 5:39PM]

"but we're sure someone is going manage an accident and an ensuing lawsuit or three out of this "convenience"."

First, if there is an accident, how would you know whether it was "managed" by the driver or by this fancy new auto-pilot malfunctioning?

And, to the uninformed poster who complainted about how litigious the US is - the number of personal injury suits has been declining for years. There is, however, an increase in business suing each othe for perceived slights - but I imagine you think that is just fine.

[ucif @ Jan 30th 2006 5:54PM]

I am a spammer: [e-mail]

[Domo @ Jan 30th 2006 5:59PM]

I can see the point why they introduce in UK first.

[Chris @ Jan 30th 2006 6:20PM]

Very convenient, having to touch the damn steering wheel every ten seconds!!!

[KultiVator @ Jan 30th 2006 6:39PM]

Let's hope the Auto-Pilot isn't running on a Windows kernel - or the term 'crash' could take on a whole new meaning.

Not to mention the Blue Screen Of Death costing lives!

KultiVator

[Sheniferous @ Jan 30th 2006 6:52PM]

"Your country", huh Jason? Hmmm... I guess the United States is a victim of rampant alcoholism.

Now where's the roll-eyes emoticon when you need it?

Oh, and it's for the same reason that Toyota didn't bring their auto-parallel-park system for the JDM Prius to the United States - the country where people sure cigarette manufacturers for their cancer and women sue McDonalds for putting her coffee between her thunderthighs.

If you truly are blind to the fact that the U.S. is sue-crazy, you need to have your head examined. Maybe buy a douche and clean the sand out of your vagina too... you guys a little bit too irritable today.

[Luca @ Dec 11th 2008 11:04PM]

thank you, who ever that Jason guy is should shut up.
You are right in every single aspect.

[Digger Phelps @ Jan 30th 2006 7:35PM]

OK, is it just me, or does anyone else think that if you're too unskilled or too lazy to drive your car, you should just be riding the train?

And who wants to hear the goddam car beeping every ten seconds?

Not to mention, who would by an automobile with "exceptional handling and control" only to hand that control over to some stupid silicon chip?

[Stuart Salamon @ Jan 30th 2006 7:38PM]

yes and what happans if u don't touch the wheel every 10 secounds it decides to turn off?

[Matt @ Jan 30th 2006 8:27PM]

This does not totally steer the car for you - its supposed to keep the car in more or less the right lane on the motorway whilst you are driving, whilst reducing driver fatigue.

E.g. if you start to drift out of the lane, it will apply 80% of the steering input needed to keep you in the lane. The other 20% needs to come from the driver - so you only need 20% of the effort to drive thus reducing tiredness AND preventing people from just taking their hands off the wheel totally.

Oh and apparently, if you ignore its beeping, it just turns off! See last paragraph of this Channel 4 review: http://www.channel4.com/4car/feature/features-2005/honda-lkas/honda-lkas-3.html

[Pal @ Jan 30th 2006 9:34PM]

I just want public transportation that's individualized. They all look the same, they all obey the rules, and they can go anywhere. Reads your veins via scanner, and you're good to go (charges your credit card account, perhaps).

Also, they could be on rails. Powered by electricity. Who needs cars.

[Daniel @ Jan 31st 2006 2:54AM]

this is possibly the stupidest idea on automotive cars I've heard for a good while, people get dressed, put on make-up, write messages on their phones and god knows what else besides driving while in the driver's seat. now they don't even have to worry about the car anymore.

[S Club 1 @ Jan 31st 2006 4:51AM]

#7 - How does rampant alcoholism have *anything* to do with drinking & driving?

You'll find the UK to have some of the safest roads in the world, and drink driving (and other related social misdemeanours, e.g. shooting) to be much more a problem over your side of the pond.

[Eric @ Jan 31st 2006 5:16AM]

i guess getting my learner's permit for driving is useless now...

[elektrotekno.com @ Jan 31st 2006 6:49AM]

[quote]All Hondas are due to have ADAS by 2016[/quote]
empire of machine will be truth at 2016 :)

[Dylan @ Jan 31st 2006 8:08AM]

And how will I go anywhere on a public transport system that runs on rails? The rails would still have to be built.

I agree I would want to touch the steering wheel in most cars - ie the "gets me from A to B". Most people need to take a drive in a real car at least once; if you have a lambo I'm sure you won't give up the steering wheel to some silicon chip. If I had a floaty unstable piece of junk, however,....

[Pete @ Jan 31st 2006 8:43AM]

Infiniti already came out with and is currently selling a lane detection feature on their new M models. This isnt really anything new. Give me a car that will truely drive itself, then I'll be impressed (I'll never use it, but I'll still be impressed).

[Mister @ Jan 31st 2006 8:52AM]

I wish they included a George Foreman Grill... Mmmm bacon!

[Daley Wear @ Jan 31st 2006 8:56AM]

I personally would like to see electric cars developed more than these features. While they are certainly useful, the engine itself is still running on fossil fuel and costing me a fortune!!

And as for the guy who mentioned the UK's non sueing attitude - have you watched brit TV for longer than an hour!? "Had an accident any time anywhere, anywhere - hey why not sue your mother for giving birth to you"! - Come on, your having a laugh aren't you!!!

[Michael @ Jan 31st 2006 9:28AM]

The main thing this car is missing is that set of red lights going back and forth.
I dunno 'bout you, but I don't trust a car to drive itself. And I remember Knight Rider.
So, does the onboard 'puter run *nix or WinDoze? That will also be a big determining factor on trust as well.

[-cp- @ Jan 31st 2006 11:32AM]

This will be great for drunk drivers. :-)

[Dino @ Jan 31st 2006 2:04PM]

Anybody who has been on a commercial airplane in the last 30 years has had the experience of being at the whim of the aircraft's auto-pilot system. I think the point to stress is that it is a driving aid, not a replacement for paying attention (yet). I would rather have someone who just has to answer their cell phone to use this ADAS system instead of drifting into my lane while arguing with their spouse. I am sure it will be out sooner than 2016.

[CyberMage @ Feb 1st 2006 2:08PM]

"That's why they're debuting the system in the UK and not in the litigation happy country of the U.S."

America, the land of the offended and the home of the sue-happy. Yes, I am American. Everyone knows the first lawsuit would be in California, though.

[Dave @ Feb 1st 2006 2:45PM]

"using a camera on the rear-view mirror to watch the white lines and turn accordingly"

Um, so what happens when you hit a section of recently re-paved road where the construction crew hasn't finished painting the white lines yet? Does the car start doing 360s??

[Greg Harewood @ Feb 1st 2006 2:52PM]

There is another reason for not using the US... UK roads have a consistent high contrast on white lines vs road, a consistent lane width, and old lines are painstakingly burned off by workers with flame throwers rather than being left to fade or gauged out of the road. Also in the UK, all lines are painted with a plasticised paint that incorporates tiny reflective beads giving a consistent clear line in all conditions, day or night.

I never truly appreciated how excellent UK roads were until I tried to drive in NorCal at night in the rain.

[Andy @ Feb 1st 2006 3:00PM]

What happens when someone enhances the existing white lines with lines that run off that cliff over yonder?

-Andy

[Boris @ Feb 1st 2006 3:11PM]

I am Russian. Please, do not import this car to my country! Everybody will just f cuk on the backseat instead of driving... :(

[Roy Bean III @ Feb 1st 2006 4:50PM]

26. I personally would like to see electric cars developed more than these features. While they are certainly useful, the engine itself is still running on fossil fuel and costing me a fortune!!

And as for the guy who mentioned the UK's non sueing attitude - have you watched brit TV for longer than an hour!? "Had an accident any time anywhere, anywhere - hey why not sue your mother for giving birth to you"! - Come on, your having a laugh aren't you!!!

=======================================================
Got news for you, Junior. The computer you're sitting in front of this very moment runs on fossil fuel, and Even if you had an all-electric car, the outlet where you got your juice would doubtless come from fossil fuel.

[David @ Feb 1st 2006 6:17PM]

It is truly amazing what engineering, design, and lines of computer programming went into making this a reality. Further work with GPS communications in the future will yield true independence from the driver (and perhaps less accidents). The Japanese have a real knack for seeing things from the customers perspective, anticipating the customers needs and wants, and then developing a solution. Pity the North American and European companies are less focussed on their customers, as it is the customers who truly drive the bottom line.

[Vikram Dhar @ Feb 1st 2006 6:31PM]

quote: "the ADAS system will beep every 10 seconds to make sure you're paying attention, requiring you to touch the steering wheel to inform the car you're still in charge"

And what if i dont touch the steering wheel, are they going to give the driver an electric shock to wake him up ? What if there is no driver.. prolly the car is going to attempt an automatic stop. how boring.

[karl r @ Feb 2nd 2006 12:56AM]

If the car "drives" it's self for an average of 10 seconds with no human reaction, it is usless. Think about it, like earlier post it would be ment to just stay in its lane, with guided assistance. If you are driving and need this feature to stay in your lane (i have seen some people this might actually help) you need to stay the hell of the roads. YOUR ARE NOT A 'SAFE' DRIVER! If you buy this car just to be lazy you are the all american. This is a pointless feature ment to get in your pockets. Go get a idk, diffrent import, Mit. VW Volvo ...

[hl @ Feb 2nd 2006 11:19AM]

#7 i'm not sure, if you have ever attended college in the US...because, if you did, you would have known the insane degree of alcoholism and a completely immature attitude towards alcohol among the americans...stems out of the days of prohibition and of the puritan nature of american laws

your fellow american

[Nick @ Feb 2nd 2006 6:06PM]

I live in Minnesota, so what the hell do we do with the car in the middle of winter? I can see it driving me all over the damn road becasue the lines seem to move everywhere, but realy its the snow!

[karl r @ Feb 2nd 2006 7:17PM]

To number 38. I live in the states I deal with drunk drivers quite often as I travel alot at dark. A drunk driver steers the car in a 'strieght' line from there perspective. You think they are going to believe at that state in mind that the car is going in a streight line (when in fact it is)? I am for no means supporting drunk driving and what i hear you say is that it would be another safty procotion(sp?) for them (hopefully). I see this as a threat do to the fact that the point of arresting and the high ticket fine for DWI, would go "under the radar." Thus making it more safe, I agree but you still have the drunk driver(s) that dont think they are going in a streight line and they think that they are right. idk comments

[gaijin @ Feb 2nd 2006 7:32PM]

the system is debuting in the uk because it was developed by honda's uk arm. technologies tend to debut in their countries of development and there are a myriad of reasons why they are sometimes never exported.

[turkrap.be @ Feb 8th 2006 11:37AM]

[quote]i guess getting my learner's permit for driving is useless now... [/quote]
[quote]All Hondas are due to have ADAS by 2016[/quote]
Yes,
truth at 2016:D

[Napoleon @ Mar 14th 2006 4:27PM]

You can see it in action in a clip on You Tube:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LidvzGQ0YAc

[teboho @ Feb 18th 2007 2:04PM]

I am in love with honda accord 2,4i

[verg @ Apr 30th 2007 9:22PM]

i think it is a awesome idea especialy if you drive long distances all of the time.
it would definently reduce driver fatigue and if you keep your hands on the wheel it wount beep every 10 seconds. and i agree the usa is the most suecrazy country in the world.