Sony-Honda Afeela Electric Car Resurfaces With New Tech

Sony is without doubt one of the world’s nice leisure know-how corporations. Honda is without doubt one of the world’s nice automakers. Collectively, they plan to construct high-tech electrical automobiles that double as leisure areas, working below the model identify Afeela.

Sony Honda Mobility Inc. (SHM), the corporate that resulted from the partnership, introduced its Afeela electrical automobile (EV) prototype to the CES client electronics present (CES says its initials don’t stand for something, however everyone knows what it means) in Las Vegas this week.

Minimalist Look, Thriller Specs

If you happen to’ve been following this story, that isn’t information. SHM debuted the Afeela prototype to a decidedly muted reception ultimately 12 months’s CES. The automobile itself is…advantageous. A midsize sedan with a minimalist design theme devoid of a lot ornamentation, it seems to be a bit like what an HBO sci-fi present concerning the close to future would cross off as a 2035 Audi A6.  

Its most distinguished distinctive characteristic is a “media bar” — a large, skinny LED display between the headlights that shows the automobile’s identify however might be modified to show different messages. Lower off an Afeela in site visitors, and it may need one thing to say in your rearview mirror.

The businesses have by no means revealed something concerning the powertrain of the automobiles past saying it’s electrical. However they’re greater than empty present fashions — SHM has launched movie of them testing in site visitors on a number of continents.

Honda plans to promote loads of electrical automobiles below its personal identify. The primary, the Honda Prologue midsize SUV, will attain dealerships later this 12 months.

None of that has modified over the previous 12 months. The 2024 model of the prototype is superficially an identical to the 2023 model. However SHM says a lot has modified below the pores and skin.

AI for Driver Assists

That features what SHM calls “AI for ADAS.” You didn’t assume an automaker and a tech firm would group as much as keep away from cluttering the language with acronyms, did you?

“AI” is synthetic intelligence. “ADAS” is superior driver help techniques – what automakers name the primary steps towards self-driving automobiles. ADAS isn’t one thing wildly superior. It’s what most new automobiles have at present – issues like good cruise management that may velocity up and brake to maintain tempo with site visitors, and lane-keeping techniques that may make mild steering changes to maintain a automobile centered in its lane.

SHM plans to undertake machine studying to enhance its ADAS techniques. The corporate has been mild on particulars, however we must always be aware that Honda already has among the most superior ADAS tech on this planet. It simply doesn’t convey it stateside but. In Japan, the corporate sells one of many first Degree 3 partially automated driving techniques out there on the market anyplace.

Associated: Self-Driving Vehicles – Every thing You Have to Know

A Degree 3 system lets the motive force take their consideration off the highway and let the automobile drive below restricted circumstances. Solely Mercedes has one thing related within the U.S., and it’s solely authorized in Nevada and components of California.

Constructing on know-how acquainted to Sony, SHM says, the brand new system will use “the highly effective gaming engine Unreal Engine 5” to construct a digital mannequin of the world across the automobile, together with even climate, that feeds knowledge into ADAS techniques.

An App Retailer for the Automobile

Additional fusing driving and know-how, SHM says it plans a sandbox for app builders to create new automobile options. “SHM will present an surroundings the place creators and builders can freely develop functions and providers that run on AFEELA, in addition to a digital platform for co-creation and the expression of creativity,” the corporate says.