Honda recently unveiled its new Honda Sensing 360 omnidirectional safety and driver-assistive system. The latest update to Honda’s ADAS system has been designed to effectively eliminate blind spots around the vehicle, while also offering improved assistance to avoid collision and in emergency situations.

• Honda Sensing 360 gets a new array of omnidirectional sensors
• It uses a combination of cameras and five millimetre-wave radar sensors
• Honda Sensing 360 will debut in 2022, starting with the Chinese market

Honda Sensing 360: what is it?

Honda’s current active safety system, known as Honda Sensing, has been around since 2014. This latest update will be facilitated by new hardware that will come fitted to upcoming Honda vehicles. In addition to the front wide view camera already used by the current Honda Sensing technology, the new system gets a total of five units of millimetre-wave radar sensors in the front and at each corner of the vehicle, providing a 360 degree view. With this, Honda promises the vehicle will be able to ‘see’ in every direction with an expanded sensing range.

Speaking of specific features, for instance, Honda’s Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) can now operate with an extended range and in all directions. This driver aid helps to prevent collision with pedestrians and other vehicles at intersections. With more sensors in all directions, the system can now be more alert and reactive.

Similarly, Honda’s Front Cross Traffic Warning, which alerts the driver in case it detects a risk of collision when the vehicle is moving at slow speeds or starting from a stop, can now operate with increased efficiency as it can look in all directions to recognise any potential danger.

There’s also the Lane Change Collision Mitigation which alerts drivers about approaching vehicles from the rear when changing lanes, possibly from the blind spot of the vehicle. The system sends out audio and visual warnings and can even steer the vehicle back into its lane, if required.

Further, when a vehicle is driving with adaptive cruise control engaged, the suite of sensors can automatically adjust the speed of the vehicle when it is approaching a bend or curve on the road, thereby making turns smoother and more comfortable for the occupants. As for the Active Lane Change Assist feature, which works in combination with the adaptive cruise control and Lane keep assist system, it assists in steering operation when changing lanes with the driver only having to operate the turn signals.

Honda will debut the Sensing 360 system on its cars from 2022, starting with the Chinese market. Honda plans to extend its application on all vehicles by 2030.

Honda in India

Here in India, Honda is gearing up to launch the City Hybrid sometime in 2022, which could very well be India’s most fuel-efficient petrol car. Following that, the company is also developing an India-focused midsize SUV which is expected to be launched in our market in 2023. It will be based on the City’s platform and could even borrow its powertrain options from the car.