- Honda reveals results of pothole detection pilot study
- The project uses an existing car camera and LiDAR technology
- Sharing road data could save governments millions of dollars a year
No matter where you live, potholes and crumbling driving surfaces can ruin any trip or trip. With consequences ranging from a bumpy ride and damaged suspension components to a full-blown accident, potholes are a real headache for motorists, cyclists and local authorities. Fortunately, Honda and Mercedes-Benz are trying to solve the problem in two different ways.
Honda recently partnered with DriveOhio, the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) smart mobility hub, on a pilot project that it hopes could help speed road repairs by harnessing the power of real-time data generated by vehicles that can detect and report road defects.
The project, which also partnered with the University of Cincinnati, was launched to evaluate the feasibility of an automated road condition management and reporting system, using Honda test vehicles equipped with advanced vision sensors and LiDAR.
These vehicles then monitored approximately 3,000 miles of roadways in central and southeastern Ohio, scanning the road surface for worn or obstructed road signs, damaged guardrails and barriers, insufficient road markings and potholes, including their size and location.
One of the technology partners was i-Probe Inc., which currently provides sensor technology to OEMs and automobile manufacturers. Daisuke Oshima, the company’s president and CEO, explained that although sensors in production vehicles are designed primarily for driving and safety, their ability to “continuously collect data during daily driving creates unique value at scale.”
During the pilot program, the plethora of data was processed using Edge AI models, transmitted to a Honda cloud platform for analysis and integrated into the Parsons iNET Asset Guardian system, which could then streamline workflows to “improve the efficiency of field maintenance operations.”
According to Honda and DriveOhio, results showed the technology demonstrated a 99% accuracy rate for damaged or obstructed panels, 93% accuracy for damaged guardrails, and an average accuracy of 89% for potholes.
Additionally, the project proved that by leveraging existing sensor technology and sharing data with local government agencies, automated road condition detection has the potential to save the Ohio Department of Transportation more than $4.5 million annually through reduced reliance on manual inspection time, optimized maintenance schedules, and prevention of costly deferred repairs through proactive inspection.
These savings could then be reinvested into fixing problems simply and efficiently, which is great news for pothole haters everywhere.
Mercedes-Benz takes a more proactive approach
The German brand recently gave its top-of-the-line S-Class one of the most comprehensive mid-life refreshes yet, equipping the luxury limousine with new styling features and technology – one example of which aims to banish the pain of potholes.
All new S-Class models will be equipped with “Airmatic” air suspension, as well as an optional E-Active Body Control system. When the two combine, the vehicle constantly sends information about the road surface to the Mercedes Intelligent Cloud.
It can tell the difference between shorter, sharper speed bumps and potholes. Once detected, it transmits this information to other Mercedes‑Benz vehicles using Car-to-X technology, so the suspension can automatically adjust to reduce the impact of a bump or pothole the next time the vehicle travels the route.
Of course, it’s not the permanent solution Honda is looking for, but it certainly results in a smoother, more comfortable ride for anyone who can afford to travel daily in the S-Class.
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