Honda has announced it will be the first automaker to mass-produce Level 3 autonomous cars, starting next year.
The company said a version of the Honda Legend luxury sedan with ‘newly approved automated driving equipment’ would be available before the end of March 2021.
There are six levels of autonomous vehicles – Level 3 cars have environmental awareness capable of, say, passing a slow-moving car.
But Honda’s system will require a human driver to be alert enough to take the wheel at a moment’s notice.
On Wednesday, the Japanese government certified Honda’s autonomous ‘Traffic Jam Pilot’ driving technology to take the wheel in certain situations, like on congested highways.
A sticker indicating it is an self-driving car will need to be affixed on the back of the vehicle.
‘Self driving cars are expected to play a big role in helping reduce traffic accidents, provide transportation for the elderly and improve logistics,’ said Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
Without a change in regulation, the car likely will not be available in the US, where ;very vehicle ‘requires the full attention of the driver at all times for safe operation,’ according the Department of Transportation.
There are six levels of autonomous vehicles – Level 3 cars have environmental awareness capable of, say, passing a slow-moving car. But Honda’s system will require a human driver to be alert enough to take the wheel at a moment’s notice
Car and tech companies alike have been racing to dominate the driverless automobile industry, with Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., investing billions.
There are six levels of vehicle autonomy – from Level 0, complete human control, to Level 5, total autonomous control without the need for an alert human driver.
Currently, the Tesla Autopilot and Cadillac Super Cruise systems both qualify as Level 2 vehicles, meaning they can independently control both acceleration and steering, but a driver must be able to take control at any time.
The Honda Legend would be the first commercial Level 3 autonomous car.
A sticker indicating it is an self-driving car will need to be affixed on the back of the vehicle
The 2019 Audi A8L was designed as a Level 3 vehicle but, facing regulatory issues, the company decided to market it as a Level 2.
Other companies, including Alphabet’s Waymo, claim to have surpassed Level 3, but don’t sell the cars to consumers, according to Futurism.
Level 4 vehicles are more autonomous, and do not require human intervention in most situations.
But under current legislation, they’re limited in where they’re allowed to drive and are aimed at ridesharing companies.
Level 5 cars won’t even have steering wheels or brake pedals, and will be able to travel anywhere with no restrictions.
On Wednesday, the Japanese government certified Honda’s autonomous ‘Traffic Jam Pilot’ driving technology to take the wheel in certain situations, like on congested highways
Though none are available to the public yet, in July Tesla said it was ‘very close’ to achieving Level 5 autonomous driving.
In January, Honda displayed a Level 5 concept car at the Consumer Electronic Showcase in Las Vegas
Unlike versions other versions from GM and Mercedes Benz, the model still had a steering wheel.
‘We still feel that driving is fun,’ Honda spokesperson Marcus Frommer told DroneLife. ‘But maybe not while you are sitting in traffic. Our Level 5 with assisted driving as an option gives drives the option of using the steering wheel or allowing the car to drive itself’