The Honda Legend Hybrid EX sedan is the first vehicle out there to take advantage of a new Honda Sensing Elite driver aid package, including a system known as Traffic Jam Pilot. The latter is a third-tier autonomy solution that’s fully legal in Japan.
The Traffic Jam Pilot can overtake controls in certain scenarios, such as waiting in a traffic congestion on a highway. It uses sensors, satellite navigation, all-around view cameras, interior cameras, and 3D maps to drive precisely as a human would.
Whenever the system is active, the LED indicators light up blue, and the color changes to a warning orange whenever driver’s involvement becomes necessary. Should the driver ignore this plea for help, the autonomy system will apply brakes and park at the curb.
A feature called Hands-off allows drivers to actually let go of the steering wheel when cruise control and lane control systems are active. In turn, Traffic Jam Pilot can accelerate, slow down and steer while keeping the car in the same lane. Changing lanes is as simple as turning on the blinkers; the Pilot will even do it automatically if it notices a single car moving too slowly ahead.
The company has conducted numerous tests and simulated around ten million of possible road situations, having driven its test vehicles for around 1.3 million kilometers in total. Interestingly, the company claims that the malfunctions in certain devices do not affect the efficiency of self-driving.
Customers in Japan can get their semi-autonomous Honda Legend Hybrid EX on lease starting today; it remains to be seen when the actual sales will begin.