1) "Intervehicle Communication
System" that informs 4-wheeler drivers of the
approach of a 2-wheeler
[Research and Development Aim]
In the areas of intersections, the motorcycle actively
transmits a signal to 4-wheeled vehicles in the area
to inform the drivers of the presence or approach of
a 2-wheeler with the aim of preventing misjudgments
or failures to anticipate 2-wheeler movement on the
part of the 4-wheeler's driver.
In Japan, motorcycle accident fatalities and injuries
total some 170,000 annually, of which 32% involve head-on
collisions with 4-wheelers, 19% involve the motorcycle
colliding with a left-hand turning 4-wheeler and 10%
involve collision with a left-turning 4-wheeler. (Note:
In Japan driving is done on the left-hand side of the
road) In all these three types of accidents make up
60% of the total. With accidents where a motorcycle
proceeding straight through an intersection collides
with a 4-wheeler making a right turn, most of the cases
involve a failure of the 4-wheeler's driver to recognize
the presence of the 2-wheeler or a misjudgment in which
the 4-wheeler's driver saw the motorcycle but thought
it was safe to proceed with the right turn. In other
words the failure of 4-wheeler drivers to properly recognize
the presence of moving speed of the motorcycle is the
major cause of these types of accidents. (Source: Institution
for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis (ITARDA)
statistics)
[Features of the System]
Example of the accident prevention by Intervehicle
Communication System
This system consists of a marker located
on the approach to an intersection (approx. 100 meters
before) and an infrared laser communications unit mounted
on the front of the 2-wheeler and the 4-wheeler. As
the motorcycle passes the marker it receives a signal
indicating the distance to the intersection, which is
used along with data of the motorcycle's own traveling
speed to calculate and transmit the traveling time (vehicle
interval time) to the intersection The 4-wheeler's system
receives this "vehicle interval time" information and
generates information and a warning to the 4-wheeler's
driver to aid in making the proper decision about whether
to stop or proceed. The system also functions to give
the 4-wheeler driver a warning if there is danger of
a collision resulting from the driver's failure to recognize
the presence of a 2-wheeler approaching from behind
when the 4-wheeler is about to make a left turn at an
intersection.
2)"Active Headlight" for Visibility
Enhancement on Curves at Night
[Research and Development Aim]
With a conventional fixed headlight on a motorcycle,
banking the vehicle into a curve also results in a tilting
of the headlight that causes a change in the road illumination
to the inside of the curve. With this in mind, the "Active
Headlight" is designed to reduce the amount of change
in the field of illumination and always maintain a flat
plane of illumination on the road surface during banking
in order to improve visibility on curves in night-time
riding.
[Features of the System]
Data from a yaw rate sensor (vehicle turning sensor)
mounted on the motorcycle body and data concerning traveling
speed are processed by the control unit's ECU to render
a calculation of the machine's banking angle continuously
and keep the flat illumination to the road surface at
all times by adjusting the headlight beam axis by means
of a motor-driven rotational device. Furthermore, the
headlight bulb itself is an HID high illumination type
that compliments the active headlight action with brighter
illumination over a wider field on curves in night-time
riding. In particular, this system is characterized
by its ability to maintain even illumination of the
road ahead while riding on roads with curves coming
in succession.
Active Headlight
action image (for lefthand curve)
3)"Multi-Information System"
supplying the rider with visual and audible information
[Research and Development Aim]
The aim of this system is to reduce the riding workload
on the motorcycle rider by supplying a range of relevant
visual information and audible information about the
traffic/riding environment in forms that put minimum
additional load on the rider's attention.
[Features of the System]
Three CCD cameras are mounted on the rear and the two
sides of the motorcycle provide images of the surrounding
traffic environment that can be displayed on a monitor
on the meter panel along with navigation information.
The monitor is operated by means of a switch conveniently
located at the rider's fingertips to enable frequent
viewing as desired during riding. With the advantage
of offering a wider-angle image with fewer "blind spots"
than a conventional rear-view mirror, and being located
in a position directly in front of the rider (at the
position of the speedometer) that requires less movement
of the rider's line of vision, this system offers support
information about the surrounding traffic environment
that supplements the conventional rear-view mirror.
Also built into the system unit is an infrared communications
system that transmits navigation system information
in voice form and traffic information on the 1620kHz
frequency to a speaker in the rider's helmet. In this
way, the overall system effectively provides low-stress
supply of visual and audible rider-support information.
Back to