“Electric is not our priority”: Honda bet everything on an on -board AI to save lives behind the wheel

Car manufacturers multiply the announcements around The autonomous carbut there are few to keep their promises beyond marketing. Honda, he advances cautiously, but surely.

With this new partnership signed with Helm.ai, the Tokyo firm strengthens its technological arsenal with a clear goal: democratizing a reliable, accessible … and above all, safe semi-autonomous conduct. This software turn, which began in 2021 with discreet investments in the Californian startup, is now in operational phase. And that’s anything but anecdotal.

Honda joined forces with Helm.ai to propel the on -board intelligence of its autonomous cars

Behind this rapprochement, an ambition: deploy, on a large scale, a new generation assisted driving system called Navigate on autopilot (Noa). A name that recalls that of other tenors in the sector, Tesla and its controversial autopilot in mindbut which promises a significantly different approach.

Honda has repeated it several times: unlike most of its competitors, 100 % electric cars are not their goal. No: the brand prefers to bet on well -controlled hybrids … and now on on -board intelligence. Where others bet on techno bidding, Honda wants to keep the driver in the loop, with a so-called “semi-autonomous” system that requires constant attention. No promise to “leave the wheel” here therefore, but an advanced assistance capable of managing motorways and complex urban areas.

But the real revolution is played behind the scenes: Helm.ai develops algorithms ofartificial intelligence Embedded that will allow the car to “see”, anticipate and act in real time. An AI based solely on camera perception, without lidar, more economical and more easily industrializable.

“This collaboration brings us closer to a future without road accident”promises Mahito Shikama, vice-president of the software division at Honda. Helm.ai side, the tone is just as ambitious: “We want to make autonomous mobility accessible to all”advance Vladislav Voroninski, founder of the startup.

The deployment is scheduled for 2027, but the first prototypes are already riding internally. It remains to be seen if Honda will succeed where so many others have stalled: reconciling advanced technology, reasonable cost and real added value for the driver. The Battle of Mobile AI is far from over, but Japan has just aligned a new major pawn.

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