Honda collaborates with Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai

Honda has collaborated with IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay for research as part of the Collaborative Intelligence (CI) initiative

Technology is changing the automotive industry in unprecedented ways. The increasing use of artificial intelligence, big data, and connectivity solutions significantly improves user experience and safety. We can also see continued improvements in autonomous driving technology and driver assistance features.

Honda collaborates with Indian Institute of Technology

Honda is developing its own technology platform, Honda CI (Collaborative Intelligence). While there are different ways to define such technologies, Honda CI focuses primarily on improving the understanding and interaction between machines and humans. To support its CI initiatives, Honda has partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. The joint research project between Honda and the Indian Institute of Technology aims to better understand CI technologies. The ultimate goal is to use these new technologies to achieve autonomous driving and reduce traffic accidents.

Honda has made significant progress in the development of CI. One of the main goals is to realize a society where everyone can enjoy the freedom of mobility and obtain the related benefits. To achieve this goal, Honda CI aims to ensure stress-free and collision-free movement of people and vehicles. Honda has developed a prototype based on CI as a proof of concept. This is a micro-mobility vehicle/robot that is being demonstrated in Joso City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.

How will IITs help?

As India’s premier technology and research institute, IIT has a large number of talented engineers and researchers. By collaborating with IIT, Honda aims to further advance its CI program. The Honda-IIT joint research program will focus on various aspects such as fostering cooperative behavior and recognizing the surrounding environment. The research project will use cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology.

In addition to IIT professors and Honda colleagues, the research project will also involve IIT students. The latter will focus on the planning, design, development and testing of new technologies. As a result, students will be able to gain a completely new learning experience that they may not be able to get in a typical laboratory environment.

IIT students will have a high degree of flexibility and freedom to conduct their research. This approach will enable Honda and IIT to foster a more dynamic and adaptive environment. It will ensure a better integration of industry expertise with academic knowledge, leading to greater innovation.

Testing autonomous driving technology in Delhi and Mumbai

It is known that autonomous driving technology works better in places with standardized road systems. When faced with chaotic, unstructured roads and traffic systems, autonomous driving technology may not work as expected. To test this in the real world, Honda and IIT will conduct validation tests of such technologies in the suburbs of Delhi and Mumbai.

India’s complex traffic environment is also a challenge for the most advanced AI driving systems. India’s road system is diverse in types and has a large number of road users. Validation testing in this technically challenging environment will help collect important data and unlock key insights. This will help improve current CI technologies and eventually make them accessible in India and other parts of the world.