Honda launches ‘predictive’ cruise control that anticipates accidents before they happen

By Stephen Edelstein January 13, 2015

Today many cars are available with adaptive cruise control – which can accelerate or slow a car in response to the vehicle it’s following – but what about predictive cruise control?

Honda says it has a new cruise control system that can actually anticipate the actions of other motorists, rather than just reacting to them. Called Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (i-ACC), it’s set to launch on the 2015 CR-V in Europe.

The system is designed to predict when a driver is about to get cut off by another vehicle abruptly entering his or her lane, and respond more quickly than a conventional adaptive cruise control system.

The new system uses a camera and radar sensor to track other vehicles, combined with an algorithm that analyzes their movements and is informed by “extensive real-world research of typical European driving styles,” Honda says.

The carmaker also says i-ACC can compute the likelihood of a cut-off five seconds before it actually happens, leaving time for a less-harsh brake application that’s less disruptive to traffic, and the driver.

The system gradually increases braking force as it sees fit, and a warning appears on the dashboard display in case the driver thinks their car is possessed.

This automotive pre-cog can also recognize which side of the road the car is on, which is important given that CR-Vs with the system will be sold in the U.K. and on the Continent.

Honda will offer i-ACC on the top Executive trim level of the European 2015 CR-V, which goes on sale this spring. It hasn’t announced plans to offer the system in any other markets.

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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Buy the if you want the best portable jump starter overall.
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