SMMT News

Honda moves pedestrian friendly design forward – and upward

26 August 2004 #SMMT News

Honda Motor Co Ltd has advanced pedestrian-friendly design by announcing the development of two new safety systems for its cars.

To limit head injuries, engineers are developing pop-up bonnets which lift the bonnet in an impact with a pedestrian, increasing the distance between it and solid engine components.

The system will use three sensors which are located inside the front bumper and a vehicle speed sensor to determine if an impact has occurred. The data is then fed to an actuator which automatically raises the rear end of the bonnet by around 10cm.

Heralding a world-first, Honda has also announced the development of an Intelligent Night Vision System. It is estimated that 70 per cent of pedestrian injuries occur at night, so active safety measures which enhance night vision offer significant benefits.

The system uses images taken from two long distance infrared cameras mounted in the front bumper. Based on its shape, size and the direction in which it is moving, a heat source is identified as a pedestrian moving in the line of the vehicle. Drivers are then alerted through a series of audio and visual warnings.

The latest design measures from Honda build on a track record for developing pedestrian friendly car design. In Europe, the British-built CR-V was awarded the first three-star NCAP pedestrian rating for any 4×4 model on the market.

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