Honda’s Latest Electronic Steering Patent

[advrider]

Some people despise driving, viewing it as a chore or a boring necessity to be engaged in begrudgingly at the beginning and end of each work day. Many of these people eagerly await the arrival of truly autonomous cars that can take them to their destination in comfort and seclusion, without having to touch a steering wheel or throttle pedal even once. Motorcyclists, on the other hand, tend to enjoy the voyage, marveling at things like quick but stable steering, immediate but controllable throttle response, the way a bike pitches under braking, or steps out just so under power on loose surfaces. Yet, for every mile of twisty back road that the two-wheeler enjoys, there are multiple miles of arrow-straight interstate and bumper-to-bumper traffic to contend with. According to articles by Ben Purvis for MCN and Cycle World, Honda hopes to make these more mundane riding situations safer, easier, and, in a way, more car-like with their latest technological advancements.

Honda already has numerous patents for electronically assisted steering, but a new patent application takes the next step towards a car-like adaptive system like those found in many automobiles already on sale today. The system outlined in the patent uses a combination of cameras, radar, LiDAR, GPS, and a cellular communication device, to determine its surroundings, and can control the movements of the motorcycle through throttle, brakes, and steering.

LiDAR, or light detection and ranging, uses eye-safe lasers to paint a 3D picture of the bike’s surroundings. By bouncing a laser off a nearby object or surface and measuring the time it takes the light to reflect back to the sensor, the LiDAR determines the exact distance the object is away from the sensor. Depending on the LiDAR system, either a large laser swath, multiple lasers, very quick laser pulses, and/or scanning lasers, can be used to construct the 3D representation.

The cellular communication device includes a system that can talk to similarly equipped nearby vehicles, and also includes WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. The cameras include a rider-facing one that detects the rider’s posture, or if there is a passenger and their position as well.

Image: Honda patent

Together, these systems allow for not only adaptive cruise control, but also lane-keep assistance and lane positioning, similar to what is found in automobiles. It can be used to pass vehicles, avoid obstacles, and stagger lane position while group riding.

Driver-assist systems like this make longer distance highway travel safer and much less fatiguing. In the right circumstances, their application in motorcycles could very well do the same.

 

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