Honda has developed an automatic steering system equipped with voice instructions to help insecure drivers overcome their fears of parallel parking.
Some 60 percent of customers of the new technology are expected to be women, with beginner drivers also a target market, Honda said.
Helped by a marker on the passenger’s seat, drivers using the system will need to line up with the car parked behind the space where they want to park.
PHOTO: AFP
By pressing a button, the car will move forward automatically and put the steering wheel in position to start backing up, with an automated voice offering directions.
“Of course, the system won’t allow the driver to just sit back and have the car do the complete operation, but at least he won’t have to twist his neck to look behind like he used to in the past,” company spokesman Sakae Uruma said.
“This is a very simple system based on computerized information, and doesn’t use anything complicated like a camera to measure the amount of free space left as the driver parks his car,” Uruma added.
The system is part of Honda’s revamped Life mini-vehicle which was available in stores beginning on Oct. 5. The parking device on its own is priced at ?52,500 (NT$14,700).
(AFP)
日本本田汽車公司表示,已研發出一套配備語音指示的自動轉向系統,能協助不安的駕駛克服路邊停車的恐懼。
本田表示,他們預估這項新科技的客群約有六成是女性,此外新手駕駛也是目標市場。
透過乘客座旁標記的協助,使用這套系統的駕駛必須先和欲停車位後方的車輛併排。
接著按下按鈕,在自動化語音的指示下,車子會自動向前滑行,方向盤也會轉到準備開始倒車的位置。
本田公司發言人漆間榮(譯音)說:「當然,這系統不會讓駕駛枯坐在那兒,任由車輛自行完成操作,但駕駛至少不必再像以前一樣轉身回望。」
漆間還說:「這套以電腦化資訊為基礎的系統非常簡單,並未使用攝影機之類的複雜設備來測量駕駛停車時,車身後方還剩多少空間。」
已於十月五日上市的這套系統是本田全新改款的「生活」迷你車的配備之一。這套停車裝置的零售價格為五萬兩千五百日圓(新台幣一萬四千七百元)。
(法新社/翻譯:林倩如)
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