Author: Ericka Pingol
Date: Mar 16, 2021
Publisher: Connected Car Security
Link: https://www.trendmicro.com/us/iot-security/news/6697
Earlier this March 2021, automotive giant Honda Motor launched its latest car, featuring the world’s first certified level 3 autonomous driving technology. Legend, a luxury sedan operating without a driver under certain conditions, has a Traffic Jam Pilot system approved by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism last November 2020.
This system can help drivers avoid driving in congested traffic on an expressway when traveling slower than 50 kph. Through data from high-definition mapping and external sensors, it also automatically speeds up, slows down, and steers while monitoring Legend’s surroundings.
Apart from the Traffic Jam Pilot system, the vehicle has an infotainment feature that uses the navigating screen. However, the driver must respond using the system’s request for a handover when the car speeds up.
Legend also offers various level 2 features, including hands-off driving. It also has an emergency stop system, which decelerates and stops the car when the driver becomes unresponsive.
Priced at $102,000, Honda is releasing only 100 units with level 3 autonomous driving technology for lease sales. The company decided to release such a limited run to “explain (the) new technology clearly”, according to Kimiyoshi Teratani, Honda’s Chief Officer for Regional Operations in Japan.
During Legend’s development, Honda simulated an estimated 10 million possible situations and conducted test drives on highways. The speed limit was also set lower than 60 kph allowed by regulations.
The Future of Driverless Vehicles
The autonomous car market is predicted to grow 18% by 2026, according to Mordor Intelligence. By 2030, is also expected that demand for level 2 and 3 driverless vehicles will rapidly grow. However, level 4 and 5 autonomous cars may not have the same consumer. Demand. unless “they are secure from cyberattacks”. Level 4 gives the vehicle better autonomy, but a driver must still be present and ready to take over if and when the software makes a mistake. As autonomous car technology becomes more and more advanced, the need for better cybersecurity to ensure the safety of the vehicle and its drivers also grows.
This article does a good job of explaining where Honda is specifically in their development of automatous vehicles, and just what level of autonomy the vehicle is expected to operate at. With the level of autonomy described in this model, we are able to look at the features of the current Legend and see what differs from lower levels and what could possibly be integrated into higher levels of autonomy.
Pingol, E. (2021, March 16). Honda unveils first self-driving car with Level 3 AUTONOMY: IoT Security. Trend Micro. Retrieved September 23, 2021, from https://www.trendmicro.com/us/iot-security/news/6697.
