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Tag: Level 3

  • Honda the First to Release Level 3 Autonomous Vehicle

    Honda the First to Release Level 3 Autonomous Vehicle

    Honda has announced a major first for the auto industry, being the first to release a Level 3 autonomous vehicle, as part of the Honda Legend Hybrid EX.

    Autonomous vehicles are rated from 0 to 5, with each level representing a higher degree of AI involvement. A 0 rating means there is no assistance, and the driver is 100% responsible. At the other end of the scale, a 5 means the vehicle is fully driverless. A Level 3 means the vehicle controls steering, acceleration and braking, but the driver should still be ready to take over if needed. This is a big step up from the Level 2 Tesla Autopilot.

    The Legend Hybrid EX is equipped with Honda SENSING® Elite, the automated driving system that Honda extensively tested. In simulations, the system was tested using 10 million possible real-world scenarios. Physical, real-world testing involved 800,000 miles of tests. The end result is a vehicle that surpasses anything currently on the road.

    For vehicle control, the system determines the position of the vehicle and road conditions using data from 3-dimensional high-definition maps and the global navigation satellite system (GNSS), while detecting the vehicle’s surroundings using several external sensors that provide 360-degree input. At the same time, the system tracks the condition of the driver using a monitoring camera mounted inside the vehicle. Based on this wide range of information, the main electronic control unit (ECU) recognizes current conditions, anticipates future conditions and applies a high-level of control to acceleration, braking and steering inputs to assist the driver and achieve high-quality and smooth driving.

    Even with all the testing, Honda is taking a decidedly cautious approach, only making 100 of the autonomous Legends. The vehicles will only be available for lease in Japan, beginning March 5. Nonetheless, if the Legend with Honda SENSING® Elite is a success, customers around the world may soon have access to next-generation autonomous driving.

  • Time Warner Cable Expanding Network With Level 3 Communications

    Time Warner Cable has been in the news for the past few weeks for all the wrong reasons. They were seen trying to get information on Google’s fiber network by posting notices asking for city employees to spy on Google employees. It’s also pretty obvious why their parent company – Time Warner – are not offering their channels to Google Fiber TV customers. Now the company might be trying make amends by doing what they should have done in the first place – compete.

    Time Warner Cable announced that they have entered a multi-year agreement with Level 3 Communications. The partnership will help Time Warner Cable expand their network into new areas while enhancing their current network.

    “The strength of our Network is at the center of all the services we provide our more than 15 million customers and we continue to expand the reach and capacity, as well as improve the reliability of that network to best serve our customers today and in the future,” said Mike LaJoie, executive vice president and CTO for Time Warner Cable. “Through these agreements, Level 3 continues to be a valuable partner in the growth of our Network’s capacity and strength.”

    The agreement will see both companies strengthening their respective services with the help of the other. As part of the agreement, Time Warner Cable will exchange IP traffic with Level 3.

    “Service providers recognize that network reliability is essential to a superior customer experience for both residential and enterprise clients,” said Jack Waters, Level 3’s chief technology officer. “By leveraging the extensive reach of the Level 3 network, Time Warner Cable will be better positioned to deliver a highly reliable portfolio of services to its customers. We are pleased to have expanded our long-standing business relationship with Time Warner Cable through these agreements.”

    It remains to be seen exactly what the new partnership will bring to the table. Level 3 claims to have 26,000 route miles of Dark Fiber already set up in cities across the nation. If the need arose, Time Warner Cable might be able to use Level 3’s Dark Fiber to start offering fiber Internet in current and new markets. It’s all speculation for now, but I’m sure Time Warner will announce their plans soon enough. They might even start something in Kansas City.