New Sensors Can Detect Potholes - And They're Being Used by Governments Too.
A recent partnership between Honda and the Ohio Department of Transportation has revealed a surprising use for vehicle sensors: reporting potholes. The two-year study, which involved equipping Hondas with cameras and Lidar to monitor roads across 3,000 miles, found that these sensors were able to detect damaged signs, guardrails, and even rough road surfaces with remarkable accuracy.
The technology was already being used by Honda in a prototype program launched in 2021. However, the company soon discovered that its existing sensors could be repurposed for a new role: monitoring roads on behalf of government agencies.
According to Daisuke Oshima, president and CEO of i-Probe Inc., which partnered with Honda on the project, "Production vehicle sensors are designed primarily for driving and safety – not for asset monitoring." However, by collecting data continuously during daily driving, these sensors can provide valuable insights into road conditions that would otherwise go unnoticed.
The Ohio DOT's DriveOhio division and the University of Cincinnati also played key roles in the study. Human employees verified what the cameras picked up, reporting back to the transportation department using Parsons' technology. The results were impressive: 99% of damaged signs, 93% of guardrails, and 89% of potholes were detected correctly.
The study found that this new technology could save the Ohio DOT $4.5 million in road maintenance costs each year. Honda estimates that similar systems could be used to identify areas that need repair before they become problems, allowing for more targeted preventative maintenance.
While it's unclear whether similar partnerships will develop elsewhere, Honda is already looking into ways to incorporate this technology into its vehicles. The company wants to find a way to allow drivers to anonymously share data with the correct agency, identifying areas that require repairs and helping to improve road safety.
A recent partnership between Honda and the Ohio Department of Transportation has revealed a surprising use for vehicle sensors: reporting potholes. The two-year study, which involved equipping Hondas with cameras and Lidar to monitor roads across 3,000 miles, found that these sensors were able to detect damaged signs, guardrails, and even rough road surfaces with remarkable accuracy.
The technology was already being used by Honda in a prototype program launched in 2021. However, the company soon discovered that its existing sensors could be repurposed for a new role: monitoring roads on behalf of government agencies.
According to Daisuke Oshima, president and CEO of i-Probe Inc., which partnered with Honda on the project, "Production vehicle sensors are designed primarily for driving and safety – not for asset monitoring." However, by collecting data continuously during daily driving, these sensors can provide valuable insights into road conditions that would otherwise go unnoticed.
The Ohio DOT's DriveOhio division and the University of Cincinnati also played key roles in the study. Human employees verified what the cameras picked up, reporting back to the transportation department using Parsons' technology. The results were impressive: 99% of damaged signs, 93% of guardrails, and 89% of potholes were detected correctly.
The study found that this new technology could save the Ohio DOT $4.5 million in road maintenance costs each year. Honda estimates that similar systems could be used to identify areas that need repair before they become problems, allowing for more targeted preventative maintenance.
While it's unclear whether similar partnerships will develop elsewhere, Honda is already looking into ways to incorporate this technology into its vehicles. The company wants to find a way to allow drivers to anonymously share data with the correct agency, identifying areas that require repairs and helping to improve road safety.
So, I think it's kinda cool that these sensors can help identify potholes and other issues on roads. I mean, who doesn't hate driving over a bumpy road, right? 
The fact that they're using production vehicle sensors to monitor roads is genius, even if they weren't originally designed for it.
So, it'll be interesting to see if other companies or countries take notice and start using this tech for their own benefit.
They're not just for driving anymore! I mean, can you imagine having your car detect potholes and damaged signs? It's so cool! 
The fact that it can also detect rough road surfaces is like whoa, that's some advanced tech right there 
. And the best part is, it could save governments a ton of money on road maintenance costs 
. I'm all for it! I hope Honda makes this available to regular drivers too, so we can all contribute to making our roads safer and better maintained 
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! i mean, they're already designed to make cars safe, but now they're being used to help fix potholes and other road issues - that's some next-level thinking! 
the fact that 99% of damaged signs were detected correctly is wild, and it's crazy how much money this could save for governments. $4.5 million in one year? that's like, a small fortune 
I mean, can you imagine having a car that's not only safe but also helps the government maintain roads? It's like having a superhero sidekick on wheels! 
The fact that Honda's existing sensors were just repurposed for this purpose is genius. I'm all about innovation and using tech to make our lives better. And with the potential to save $4.5 million in road maintenance costs each year, it's a win-win for everyone! 
anyway did you guys know there's this amazing new ramen shop downtown that serves the most insane pork slices? like they're literally so tender and juicy it's hard to eat them in one bite 
we should totally go try it out next time we're both free, maybe we can even convince our friends to join us 
