New generation Rider Assist Technology systems promise partial autonomy. In patents recently filed by Honda, the system described combines cameras, radar and LIDAR, the information collected by these devices is processed by a series of computer modules and can determine the intervention on elements such as the accelerator, brakes or The direction.
The idea of an autopilot system on a motorcycle might be anathema to many, but the same technology that allows a growing number of modern cars to automatically turn, accelerate and brake appears to be becoming more adaptable. more on two wheels in the near future.
Most of us ride for fun, so a self-driving motorcycle initially seems as appealing as a tasteless, liquid "meal" just to get a daily dose of protein, fat and other vitamins. But it's hard to argue that hours of straight-line driving on a highway can bring as much joy as a few minutes on a mountain road. Additionally, as safety systems on modern automobiles prove, technology that can provide semi-autonomous driving can also intervene to anticipate or mitigate accidents. The fact that Honda – a pioneer of such systems on four wheels – is working to bring them to motorcycles is a logical progression.
Compared to BMW, Ducati, KTM and Kawasaki, at the moment Honda is not far ahead in radar-assisted adaptive cruise control and warning systems on motorcycles, but this is probably due to tradition of the company to develop the technology in-house, rather than adopting existing, off-the-shelf technology from a vendor. Over the past two years, Honda has filed several patent applications that illustrate how seriously the Japanese brand takes semi-autonomous driving, and more recently another such paper was published which unveils how a multitude of individual systems can be integrated to work together in a seamless security system.
We've already seen patents showing Honda is developing radar systems, likely to appear on models like the Gold Wing and Africa Twin. Additionally, the company's Riding Assist and Riding Assist-e concepts revealed a functional steering control system, working in tandem with automatic braking and acceleration to allow motorcycles to balance at low speeds, even without pilot on the handlebars.
This latest patent explains how these features can be combined, along with other technologies, including: in-car cameras, LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensor, GPS, and short-range vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems to create a motorcycle that can intervene if necessary with autopilot-style cruise control or assistance when the rider fails to spot or react to danger.
The patent, titled “Drive Assistance Device for a Saddle Riding Type Vehicle,” shows a motorcycle equipped with cameras, radar and LiDAR that uses this network to create a 3D image of its immediate surroundings, track other objects and vehicles and effectively keep a look in all directions to watch for dangers. It describes an integrated steering servo, using the same "magnetostrictive" torque sensor technology (as Yamaha uses to test power steering on its 2022 motocross bikes) which can distinguish between rider inputs and external forces such as potholes, but helping to spin the wheel when you apply pressure on the handlebars.
There are also pressure sensors under the saddle, handlebars and footrests, allowing a computer to determine whether you are holding on with both hands, combined with a driver-facing camera mounted on the dashboard, monitoring your posture and weight distribution to help you interpret your intentions.
This may seem like a stretch, but most of these systems are developments of ideas already used in high-end cars to enable semi-autonomous driving. Honda has a lot of experience in this area, as it was among the first manufacturers to introduce radar speed control and lane keeping systems on cars, as early as 2004. The "Legend" luxury sedan, on the market Japanese, is the first available in the world with a Level 3 Autonomous System, which can operate in congested traffic and, in certain circumstances, does not even require the driver to pay attention and be ready to take control.
The motorcycle version of Honda's system, described in the new patent, includes adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist as well as the ability to avoid obstacles on the road, but in some ways it's a system much more complex than the technology used on cars. In particular, this must take into account the fact that motorcycles have much more flexibility when it comes to using the lanes in which they travel. The patent explains that, during an automatic turn, a motorcycle will use its sensors and GPS to take a wide entry line, cutting towards the rope and drifting wider again on exit, all while remaining within its way. It also shows that when following another motorcycle, the system moves to one side of the lane to ride in a staggered manner and give more leeway in case of evasion.
If driving enthusiasts already have their hair standing on end, they can nevertheless be reassured: no one will take the handlebars out of their hands, the system is calibrated so as to only intervene when necessary. Additionally, this is clearly a long-term project, and we can expect it to evolve over generations of the technology. Radar-assisted adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist will probably be the first step, probably installed on a Gold Wing, but within a decade it's entirely possible that semi-autonomous driving will be rife. After all, who would have thought that a motorcycle could one day be electric?
