Honda has introduced what it believes to be the first car that can feel emotion.
The NeuV, launched last week at CES 2017. comes equipped with an artificial intelligence “emotion engine” and an automated personal assistant.
Like the Geely Lynk (the self-professed smartphone on wheels) the NeuV is marketed at urban millennials, whose cars tend to sit idling in parking lots for 96% of the time.
And, like the Lynk, the NeuV will be able to “rent” itself to prospective customers, picking them up and dropping them off whenever the car is not in use by the owner.
The NeuV is electric and can sell energy back to the grid whenever it’s not being actively used, effectively monetising its down time.
“These cars are incredibly exciting,” says Jeff Osborne, head of Gumtree Automotive. “The desire for ownership, particularly among millennials, has steadily diminished over the last few years.
“While 20% fewer Americans have drivers’ licenses than they did a decade ago, ridesharing and improved public transport networks have meant that cars ownership is seemingly no longer necessary. Increased environmental awareness and urban congestion has further reduced the desire to own. By introducing features that can generate an income using technology, the motor industry has counterattacked these trends and not only made car ownership more attractive, but also profitable.”
The NeuV’s artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, called HANA (Honda Automated Network Assistant) is programmed to learn from the driver by analyzing the emotions behind the driver’s behavior. The car can check in on the driver’s emotional well-being and play music accordingly. It also comes equipped with an electric skateboard for “last mile” transit.
Honda also launched the “Safe Swarm” concept, which mimics the behaviour of schools of fish to ensure a safe driving experience.
“We already know that cars will ‘talk’ to one another, if we look at the current antonymous automotive technology, to make the road safer and reduce congestion. This system in particular will employ dedicated short range communication to navigate the road more safely,” says Osborne. “The belief is that we will see the first collision-free society in 2040.”
At this stage, the car is still in the concept stage, and there’s no certainty about when it will launch, or be available in South Africa.
