Although BMW, Ducati and KTM have launched radar-assisted motorcycles, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries has confirmed that it will take the same route in 2022, Honda and Yamaha, the two largest Japanese companies, have been silent about their technology. But that doesn't mean they won't join. Honda has applied for dozens of patents related to motorcycle safety system, including radar and car-to-car network, while Yamaha is working hard to develop the same technology behind the scenes.
Yamaha's patent published in Japan reveals Yamaha's solution to the specific problems of motorcycles introduced by new technology; How to convey all the information of additional sensors to passengers? Although modern cars are increasingly turning to giant touch screen displays, they warn drivers through sound alarms and head-up displays. But there are not many empty rooms in the dashboard to follow, and the sound warning is of little use. The flashing information on the dashboard is not so much help as interference.
In order to give a solution, Yamaha's patent is based on YZF-R 1. This car has no extra space to put the dashboard at all, and it has been equipped with TFT meters, which has provided a considerable amount of information. Yamaha's idea is not to make the display more complicated, but to install an extra display behind the reflective glass of the rearview mirror, flashing a huge immediately recognizable icon to remind passengers of the danger.
Yamaha, Honda, BMW and KTM are the core members of the Connected Motorcycle Alliance. Recently, the alliance has formulated a set of basic specifications of "Cooperative Intelligent Transportation System" (C-ITS) for motorcycles, allowing them to cooperate with other vehicles in the network and even roadside infrastructure to help warn riders and drivers before risks occur. The system is designed to help deal with a large number of real situations-left turn, intersection movement, lane change, traffic warning, weather or road danger, and even assist lane merging. This patent seems to indicate that Yamaha is considering conveying all these new warnings and help to riders.
The only difference between the patented R 1 and the common R 1 is that three slender LED light bars are installed at the edge of the rearview mirror glass. According to this patent, these LEDs can be lit in many ways. According to the risk level and the urgency of warning, different numbers of LEDs will be lit and displayed in different colors. Under these LED strip, there is a built-in color display panel behind the reflective glass of each mirror. Usually it is hidden, and it will light up and display an icon when necessary, indicating the nature of alarm.
Yamaha even showed many planned icons in the patent, including an icon warning of impending collision when approaching the rear of another car, an icon showing that an emergency vehicle is approaching, a blind spot warning icon, a speed limit sign and a speeding warning. There are more common symbols, such as call icons.
Depending on the nature of the alarm: for example, lane change assistance system or approaching emergency vehicle warning, only one rearview mirror light and icon may be illuminated. Although the patent does not specify the system to prove the alarm, it does specifically mention the front and rear radars used for display and blind spot monitoring when you approach a slow vehicle, and the communication system on the vehicle, which seems to be C-ITS developed by Yamaha.
The patent also shows the image of how to integrate the alarm system into the dashboard of Nikken tricycle and TMAX 560 scooter. On the instrument panel, the warning LED shifts from the edge of the rearview mirror to the windshield side.
How soon will this technology become a reality? This is a big problem. Vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication systems have been developed for nearly twenty years, but their use in the real world is still limited, and they do not exist on motorcycles. It may take several years to acquire this technology, but it is definitely on the way to testing.
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