Honda showcases AI and robotics technologies. Honda will also accelerate the development of practical AI technologies in the future | CES Asia 2017

Tsutomu Wakitani, executive director of Honda R&D Center X, attended the press conference and delivered a speech, explaining Honda's future prospects and introducing Honda's development direction in the field of open innovation.

In the exhibition hall, Honda exhibited the "Honda NeuV", an electric concept car equipped with AI technology "Emotion Engine" and autonomous driving function, the "Honda Riding Assist", a concept motorcycle with balance control technology, the "Honda Balance Car" UNI-CUB β, the human-computer interaction solution Honda HMI Concept, and many other products.

Honda NeuV

Honda exhibited a NeuV concept car with only one row of seats in the exhibition hall. When the doors are opened, they hang on both sides of the parking space like wings. The small appearance and the design of the lights make this car look like a little monster in a science fiction movie.

Honda has added an artificial intelligence assistant called "HANA" to its cars. HANA is short for Honda Automated Network Assistant. Honda calls HANA the "emotion engine" in self-driving cars.

In addition to judging the driver's mental state based on the driver's facial expressions and tone of voice and assisting the driver in driving safely, the "Emotion Engine" also learns the driver's lifestyle and preferences, and proposes options to the driver based on the situation, thereby achieving natural communication between the driver and the mobile tool.

Honda has come up with a clear data through research: 96% of the time, cars are idle. In response, Honda has envisioned a new business model: driverless cars can drive out to help you make money like Uber when they are not picking you up for work.

Honda Riding Assist

The motorcycle concept car "Honda Riding Assist" adopts Honda's unique balance control technology mastered through robotics research.

The motorcycle can stand on its own regardless of whether the rider is on it or not, and can maintain balance even if the rider loses balance slightly, thereby reducing the shaking when driving at low speeds and parking, and reducing the risk of overturning when turning sharply. In addition, it has the same handling as existing motorcycles during daily driving, making it more fun to go for a ride and daily driving.

Wakitani said that the original intention of the balance control technology is to minimize the risk of rollover and provide customers with a safe driving experience. In addition, Riding Assist does not require a large gyroscope, so it does not add weight and the maneuverability of the motorcycle is not restricted.

UNI-CUB β

UNI-CUB β is a personal mobility tool based on the theme of "harmony with people" that can be used even in crowded spaces. Using Honda's original balance control technology, the user can move freely forward, backward, left, right, and diagonally simply by tilting the body to shift the center of gravity.

In addition, UNI-CUB β is equipped with an API (application programming interface) that supports ROS (Robot Operating System) and can be remotely operated. It can be used for various purposes (such as the Internet of Things) such as transporting goods without human intervention and guiding people according to pre-programmed programs. UNI-CUB β expands the new possibilities of personal mobility tools.

In addition to utilizing AI technology, big data, and robotics, traditional mechanical engineering technology for hardware is also indispensable. Honda hopes to generate new value through "product innovation" and "experience innovation" that serve people, deepen the relationship between people, and strengthen the spiritual bond between Honda and its customers.

In addition to utilizing AI technology, big data, and robotics, traditional mechanical engineering technology for hardware is also indispensable. Honda hopes to generate new value through "product innovation" and "experience innovation" that serve people, deepen the relationship between people, and strengthen the spiritual bond between Honda and its customers.

The impact of AI on Honda

AI is having an increasingly important impact on automotive intelligence.

Last fall, Honda established the Honda R&D Innovation Lab Tokyo in Japan. Through the collaboration between Honda's technical developers and external experts and researchers, Honda aims to accelerate research and development towards the practical application of AI technology.

In April this year, Honda established a new company, Honda R&D Innovations, in Silicon Valley, North America. Also established was a new research center, R&D Center X. According to Leifeng.com, this research center will currently focus on robotics and the AI ​​field that is its foundation.

When talking about Honda's development in China, Wakitani Tsutomu said that he would strengthen cooperation with other companies with an open and innovative attitude.

The following is a statement by Tsutomu Wakitani, Executive Director and Head of R&D Center of Honda R&D Co., Ltd., on Honda's future prospects and the direction of Honda's development in the field of open innovation. Edited and compiled by Leifeng.com.

Honda's 2030 vision proposes "providing everyone with the joy of expanding their life prospects", and is committed to leading the advancement of mobility tools and realizing a cooperative mobility ecosystem (a world of mobility tools that can think, connect, and be happy). In other words, it aims to create a mobile culture that is full of intelligence, interaction, and fun for the future.

Although this is a new concept, it is not a new direction that Honda has just proposed. In fact, since its establishment, Honda has always focused on studying people and developing technologies that serve people. As a result, it has continuously launched a variety of personal mobility tools such as motorcycles, automobiles, general products, aircraft, and humanoid robots to serve people.

Honda will continue to be committed to technological innovation to improve people's quality of life. Making people's lives more colorful is the starting point and foundation of Honda. In order to develop innovative products, our challenges will never stop.

At the same time, we believe that in the future, not only "product innovation" but also "experience innovation" will be of great significance to social change.

We hope to generate new value through "product innovation" and "experience innovation" that serve people, deepen the relationship between people, and strengthen the spiritual bond between us and our customers.

In order to achieve such product and experience innovation, in addition to utilizing AI technology, big data, and robotics technology, traditional mechanical engineering technology for hardware is also indispensable.

AI technology will have a significant impact on future mobility tools. For this reason, we established the Honda R&D Innovation Lab Tokyo in Japan last fall. Through the collaboration between Honda’s technical developers and external experts and researchers, we will accelerate research and development towards the practical application of AI technology.

Furthermore, in order to expand the functions of Honda Silicon Valley Lab., the R&D center of the United States, and accelerate global open cooperation, a new company, Honda R&D Innovations, was established in Silicon Valley, North America in April.

Regarding big data and robotics, we can leverage our strong product lineup and the data advantages accumulated in our motorcycle, automobile, and general product businesses, accelerate research and development with AI technology, and provide society with products that can bring more joy to life.

We will integrate digital technology into the manufacturing of these products, which are Honda's strengths. We will not only promote "products and experiences" that provide soft value in terms of hardware, but also promote "products and experiences" in order to create new value in new areas. In April this year, we established a new research center - R&D Center X.

R&D Center X will currently focus on robotics and the AI ​​field that is its foundation. In order to adapt to the ever-changing society and flexibly change target customers, we named the R&D center "X" with the meaning of "unknown" based on this consideration.

In the fields of IT and electrification, China's development leads the world. In China, we are also strengthening cooperation with other companies with an open and innovative mindset.

Today I will also introduce to you the technical prototypes that were born in the process of innovative research and development.

NeuV is a self-sustaining electric concept car with new potential. Many private cars are parked 96% of the time, and NeuV can be used automatically as a shared car. In addition, NeuV sells electricity when the demand for electricity is high and the car is not in use. Such attempts can also create new business models.

In addition, the emotion engine called HANA (Honda Automated Network Assistant) can make the best choice based on past judgments by learning the emotions that drive people's judgments.

Honda's vision for the future of mobility is not limited to cars. Last year, we released the API for our personal mobility tool UNI-CUB. As a result, UNI-CUB has an autonomous driving program that can respond to user commands.

Today we will also introduce Honda Riding Assist. The original intention of this technology is to minimize the risk of rollover and provide customers with a safe driving experience. Since Riding Assist does not require a large gyroscope, it does not add weight and the maneuverability of the motorcycle is not restricted. This technology makes use of Honda Robotics technology developed in UNI-CUB.

It is difficult for a single company to possess such a wide range of technologies. Therefore, we hope to develop strategic cooperation with various companies that have newly joined the automotive industry and have new technologies.

Honda hopes to become a company that can simply and perfectly solve the problems of mobile products and things around us, and promote the evolution of people's "mobility" and "life" by providing "the joy of expanding life prospects" to everyone.

In order to achieve rapid product and experience innovation, we hope to work with experts and companies in various fields to promote open innovation. We firmly believe that through open innovation, we can create products and experiences that make people happier.