Honda's First Autonomous Experiment Is the Cutest Workhorse You've Ever Seen
Andrew Koole
· 3 min read
Talk of autonomous cars usually revolves around Tesla and other automakers trying to bring the advanced driving technology to the general market. But other manufacturers are taking a different approach.
Honda
’s venture into the futuristic concept, for example, has its sights set on commercial use. The brand most known for its cars and motorcycles has developed a fully autonomous vehicle designed to transport supplies around worksites.Honda presented its
self-driving
workhorse in a video showing the vehicle rolling alongside human coworkers on a solar construction site. Hard-hatted presenters made note of the vehicle’s capabilities, but car critics seem more focused on its cartoonishly cute looks.
How does Honda’s autonomous prototype work?
Honda hasn’t put too much effort into promoting its new autonomous commercial vehicle besides the recently released video. As of now, its name is simply Autonomous Work Vehicle (AWV).
But what it lacks in marketing, it gains in capability.
Car and Driver
says it can carry up to 880 lbs and tow up to 1,600 lbs—not bad for a vehicle that weighs in cargo-free at only 1,590 lbs. When in autonomous mode (it can also be controlled with a remote), it uses GPS, sensors, and cameras to maneuver safely.
It also happens to be fully electric, but its 27.9-mile range when fully loaded won’t impress anyone paying attention to the progress of passenger EVs. A shorter range makes for a shorter charging time, though. The Honda AWV can go from dead to fully charged in six hours.
MORE: Are Self-driving Trucks Really the Future of the Trucking Industry?
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Other autonomous commercial vehicles headed our way
Honda isn’t the only automaker developing autonomous vehicles for the commercial market. The industry’s primary focus is on automating semi-trucks and other transport vehicles. Taxis and delivery trucks are also a target for autonomy.
Manufacturers in the game include familiar brands like Volkswagen, Tesla, and Continental but also tech startups like Aurora.
As of now, the commercial vehicles being used on U.S. roads have yet to cross the Level 4 autonomy threshold, meaning they still require someone to be in the driver’s to take over control in case something goes wrong.
In most cases, this is due to the limitations of the technology, but
Pocket-Lint
says Google’s Waymo project only has a human at the wheel for legal purposes.How will autonomous vehicles affect car insurance?
MORE: Self-Driving Car Insurance May Be an Emerging Market
The
car insurance
industry is currently going through the growing pains of adapting to autonomous technology. The question of liability is already more complicated as Tesla and other automakers begin offering Level 2 autonomy (“hands-off” capability) to the public. Who is responsible when a vehicle on “AutoPilot” causes an accident, the driver or the manufacturer?
The issue of insurance rates for semi-autonomous vehicles is also hotly debated. While many insurance companies raise premiums to cover vehicles with the expensive tech option, manufacturers argue that the increased safety provided should equal out or lower premiums.
While insurers, legislators, and automakers figure out the logistics,
Jerry
is focused on helping you find the best prices for car insurance. A licensed broker that offers end-to-end support, the Jerry app gathers affordable quotes, helps you switch plans, and will even help you cancel your old policy.
