Mitsubishi and HERE develop road hazard alert system

A system that allows vehicles to automatically warn others about upcoming road hazards with lane-level precision has been successfully piloted by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and HERE Technologies.

The two companies completed field tests of the technology, Lane Hazard Warning, in California at the end of March. It follows a successful trial in Japan last winter.

Lane Hazard Warning enables a vehicle’s sensors to detect an event like a disabled or slow car, a slippery road, debris or a pothole.

“Together with HERE Technologies, we’ve developed a new system designed to give drivers a few valuable extra seconds or minutes to prepare for a potential danger on the road ahead, such as by switching lanes or simply driving with greater caution,” says Mitsubishi Electric executive officer Hiroshi Onishi.

Lane Hazard Warning utilises a vehicle’s sensors together with HD Locator, Mitsubishi Electric’s precise centimetre-level positioning technology, and the HERE Open Location Platform, the collaborative big location data platform.

The companies are evaluating the application of the technology in automated updates for maps for automated vehicles.

“We believe fast, accurate and targeted hazard alerts will be a critical part of the data infrastructure required for automated driving and smart city services. We look forward to seeing this technology in the market,” says HERE Technologies head of applications and services Jorgen Behrens.

The companies intend to make the technology available to automakers for them to test in their vehicles.

“We’re excited about the potential of this system in improving driver safety,” says Onishi.