(c)iStock.com/tomeng

Honda R&D, a subsidiary of Japanese automotive firm Honda, is planning to undertake a joint research project with SoftBank aimed at making use of the “emotion engine”, an artificial intelligence (AI) technology developed by SoftBank-owned Cocoro SB for mobility applications.

In a short press release, the company confirmed the collaboration will work towards the development of mobility products that make use of interactions with the driver, in addition to information taken from various sensors and cameras installed on the mobility product in order to assess a driver’s emotions, as well as facilitating interactions also based on the vehicle’s emotions.

Honda is looking to initiate its Honda R&D Innovation Lab Tokyo in Akasaka, Tokyo, by September this year. The collaboration with SoftBank will be one of the open innovation initiatives undertaken at the facility.

The research partnership is aiming to foster a robust emotional attachment between the driver and the vehicle. “By letting mobility products ‘grow up’ while sharing various experiences with their drivers, the project will strive to enable drivers to experience the feeling that their mobility product has become a good partner and thus form a stronger emotional attachment to it,” the company notes.

 

Want to find out more about how artificial intelligence (AI) can affect your business? The AI Expo world series brings together brands, evangelists and start-ups to explore leading developments in the enterprise and consumer sectors. Find out more here.