Honda's advanced cruise control tech leads motorcycle innovation

Adaptive cruise controls are slowly starting to take hold in motorcycles. The next brand working on such a solution is Honda. Patent sketches show that the Japanese are creating a truly comprehensive set.

I must admit that adaptive cruise control is one of the best technologies to have spread in the automotive world over the past decade and, recently, in motorcycles. When travelling on a not-so-interesting expressway or motorway, I gladly use this small form of autonomy, which is much more practical in traffic than regular cruise control. It usually relies simply on radar.

Adaptive cruise controls can already be found in BMW, Ducati, and KTM motorcycles. It is no surprise that online patent drawings show a similar solution to that of Honda. The Japanese brand is known for its many innovations and iconic touring models, and this is where adaptive cruise control is most valuable.

Honda's schematics show a surprisingly advanced system. In addition to radar, there are two cameras on the sides of the module. What is the reason for such system complexity? It's hard to say. It could improve operational efficiency - radar and cameras allow for the exact scanning of vehicles and other objects on the road. It is also possible that Honda is preparing something more - for instance, a system that warns of different dangers, such as pedestrians or cyclists who may enter the roadway. Such solutions are already known from cars.

The drawing clearly shows the front of the Africa Twin model, which makes sense in installing adaptive cruise control. However, it should be expected that this solution will later be applied to other models - for example, the touring NT1100, which is related to the "Africa," or perhaps even the cruiser Rebel 1100. The Honda Gold Wing is also a pretty obvious option. It's hard to imagine a model in Honda's lineup where adaptive cruise control would be more helpful.