Honda scripts novel R&D structure for ‘New Value’ areas
TOKYO: Honda R&D Co Ltd, the R&D subsidiary of Honda Motor Co, Ltd., on Tuesday announced plans to create “R&D Center X,” a new research and development operation within the company, which will assume responsibility for “new value” areas that include robotics technology, mobility system and energy management, etc. The official establishment of R&D Center X will take place in April of this year.
Since its foundation, with a passion to provide all people with the joy of expanding their life’s potential, Honda has been striving to evolve mobility and the daily lives of people all around the world with its products including motorcycles, automobiles and power products.
In the midst of this pursuit, digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and “big data” have evolved and Honda began to see an expanding possibility to create value in a wider range of fields beyond the field of current businesses. Responding to such changes in the business environment and under the concept of “Ai×data×honda’s strengths”, Honda will continue to create product and experience that can improve the quality of people’s lives. For this challenge, Honda R&D will newly establish R&D Center X, which will take a non-traditional approach to assume responsibility for the research and development in “new value” areas.
Initially, R&D Center X will focus on research of autonomously operated machines and systems, such as robotics technologies and mobility systems, which will be collectively called “robotics.” The concept of robotics includes energy management, which is necessary to power robots and mobility systems. Moreover, as a fundamental technology of robotics, R&D Center X will conduct research into technologies that lead to “artificial intelligence that works cooperatively with people.”
Being able to “work cooperatively with people” consists of three phases - 1) to understand and relate to people’s emotions, 2) to provide support for people and grow together with people, and 3) to expand the potential of people who will continue to play the lead role. With these themes, Honda will strive to create a robotics society where various systems, products and services equipped with “artificial intelligence that works cooperatively with people” will further highlight the inherent greatness of human beings.