Honda Wants Its Cars to Help Fix Busted Infrastructure

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New cars are studded with sensors for safety and driver-assist systems. Honda is using these sensors to make roads not only safer, but better to drive on. The automaker just completed a two-year pilot of its Proactive Roadway Maintenance System, which uses cameras and lidar to flag potholes, worn signs, damaged guardrails, and other potential problems for highway departments to deal with.

Conducted in partnership with DriveOhio, a unit of the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), the University of Cincinnati, and tech firms i-Probe and Parsons, the pilot program covered approximately 3,000 miles of roads in central and southeastern Ohio. Test vehicles were driven by ODOT employees over these roads, in both rural and urban areas, through varying weather and daylight conditions, Honda said in a press release.

Potential maintenance issues flagged by the sensors were uploaded to an online portal, where ODOT employees could review them in real time, cross-referencing the automated reports with the agency’s own visual inspections. An AI model was used to help process the data, with a feedback loop that allowed ODOT employees to flag errors, enabling the model to learn and improve over time, according to Honda.

As one can probably guess from Honda’s trumpeting of this program in PR copy, the results were encouraging. Honda claims the prototype system detected damaged or obstructed signs with 99% accuracy, spotted damaged guardrails with 93% accuracy, and detected potholes with 89% accuracy.

Honda hopes to scale up the Proactive Roadway Maintenance System in a second phase of testing, with the ultimate goal of commercializing this tech. In Ohio alone, that could save $4.5 million annually from reduced manual inspection time, optimized maintenance schedules, and proactive maintenance that avoids more costly repairs later. It also improves safety for road workers, who wouldn’t have to spend as much time dicing with traffic, Honda notes.

But it would also require customers to share their vehicle data with the system, which could be a concern for some users. The long-term benefits of this technology are still unclear, and it remains to be seen how effective it will be in real-world scenarios.

The potential impact of this system is significant, not just for Ohio but for other states and countries that struggle with aging infrastructure. As our roads continue to deteriorate, innovative solutions like Honda’s Proactive Roadway Maintenance System are crucial for addressing this issue.

Honda’s efforts demonstrate a commitment to using its technology to make a positive impact on society. By leveraging its sensors and AI capabilities, the company is working towards a future where vehicles can play a proactive role in maintaining our roads and ensuring public safety.

The next step for Honda will be to refine and expand this system, potentially incorporating more advanced technologies like machine learning and computer vision.

As we move forward with this technology, it's essential to consider the potential challenges and limitations that may arise. By doing so, we can work towards a future where this type of innovation is widely adopted and benefits everyone.

The use of vehicle data in maintenance systems raises important questions about data ownership and control. As this technology becomes more prevalent, it's crucial that regulatory frameworks are put in place to ensure the responsible collection and use of this data.

Ultimately, Honda's Proactive Roadway Maintenance System has the potential to revolutionize the way we maintain our roads. By harnessing the power of sensors, AI, and data analytics, the company is working towards a future where vehicles can play a proactive role in keeping our roads safe and well-maintained.