Six tech startups in the Honda Xcelerator incubator program are demonstrating “future mobility solutions” at CES 2018 in Las Vegas, the automaker announced.

Honda is featuring partnerships with BRAIQ, DeepMap, DynaOptics, EXO Technologies, Tactual Labs and WayRay at its Global Innovator Showcase.

Established in 2015, Honda Xcelerator supports selected startups with funding for rapid prototyping and access to a collaborative workspace, and pairs the companies with Honda mentors, according to the automaker. The program is part of Silicon Valley-based Honda Innovations.

“With our Xcelerator partners, Honda will explore technologies that can potentially transform its future products and services, and create new business opportunities,” said Honda Innovations CEO Nick Sugimoto. “We encourage innovators who share our vision to meet with us at CES 2018.”

Honda provided an overview of the technologies on display at its Global Innovator Showcase.

BRAIQ

Personalizing the Adaptive-Cruise-Control Experience

Based in New York City and partnering with Honda Xcelerator in Detroit, BRAIQ bridges the gap between human preferences and artificial intelligence so an autonomous vehicle can learn to personalize its driving style.

Equipped with BRAIQ’s technology, existing interior sensors collect biometric information about passenger comfort as the vehicle travels, gathering data on acceleration, braking, steering and more, according to Honda. The data is aggregated and analyzed securely in the cloud to add an essential layer of emotional intelligence on top of artificial intelligence.

“Honda Xcelerator and BRAIQ aim to personalize the adaptive-cruise-control experience, helping to increase passenger comfort and foster trust in automated driving technology,” the automaker said.

DeepMap

Mapping Technology for Autonomous Vehicles

DeepMap provides precise high-definition (HD) maps and real-time localization as a service to autonomous vehicles. Based in Palo Alto, Calif., the company is building a cloud-based platform to enable creation of 3-D HD maps for autonomous vehicles with Level 4 and Level 5 autonomy.

The technology is highly scalable and efficient because it leverages sensors on autonomous vehicle fleets rather than rely on a survey fleet, according to Honda. By deploying multiple localization approaches through sensor fusion, the localization technology is resilient to sensor failures and different driving conditions.

In partnership with DeepMap, Honda Xcelerator will explore solutions for automated driving safety, the automaker said.

DynaOptics

Free-Form Optics for Road Safety

DynaOptics is a Singapore-based startup that harnesses the power of free-form optics to bring superior situational awareness and safety to roads.

Customizable for different scenarios, DynaOptics’ lenses perform better than conventional lenses – sometimes up to 50 percent better – on various specifications, such as low-light performance, image quality or form factor, according to Honda.

“Honda Xcelerator and DynaOptics will collaborate to increase light to camera sensors so objects will be more quickly and accurately detected and classified,” Honda said.

EXO Technologies

High-Accuracy GPS Localization

EXO Technologies delivers high-accuracy, low-cost GPS solutions concentrated on smart mobility.

Headquartered in Tel Aviv, EXO provides value to customers by improving in-car navigation and turn-by-turn directions, as well as providing precise positioning for connected- and autonomous-vehicle applications, according to Honda.

“The collaboration between Honda Xcelerator and EXO seeks to improve the accuracy of GPS localization by an order of magnitude without any additional hardware or terrestrial base stations,” the automaker said.

Tactual Labs

Real-Time Human-Body-Pose Sensing

Tactual Labs surrounds every surface with real-time human-body-pose sensing.

Born from University of Toronto researchers in human-computer interaction, Tactual’s PRISMä technology wraps a free-form object in accurate in-air, skeletal and contact sensing that can “see” – and with Tactual’s software – can reconstruct the human hand and body in 3-D, according to Honda.

“With Tactual Labs, Honda Xcelerator will aim to facilitate new user-interface interactions and a greater awareness of human intent,” Honda said. “Tactual solutions will provide drivers and motorcycle riders with superior convenience and safety by delivering increased functionality without the need for the user to ‘look’ for controls or remove hands from the steering wheel or handlebars.”

WayRay

Holographic AR Navigation System for Advanced Connected Cars

WayRay is a Swiss developer of a holographic augmented-reality (AR) navigation system for cars.

WayRay’s multicolored holographic AR display device is designed to transform the windshield into a new medium of information. It has the greatest field of view on the market and is capable of multicolored virtual objects creation, according to Honda.

The system is far more compact than traditional mirror-and-lens technology, and allows for a high-resolution projection at a comfortable distance for drivers’ eyes, according to the automaker. Moreover, the technology allows the solution to act like a fully featured, non-wearable, augmented-reality infotainment system.

The system uses AR to display real-time indicators for detection of road obstacles and pedestrians, displaying points of interest or alerting the driver to hazards.

“Honda Xcelerator and WayRay will explore solutions to miniaturize AR head-up display optics, allowing deployment in smaller vehicles and improving performance,” Honda said.