Harley-Davidson Working On Autonomous Braking Technology

Legendary cruiser manufacturer Harley-Davidson has filed for a patent for a new autonomous braking assistance technology that applies a motorcycle’s brake in emergency situations. The latest announcement comes after Ducati, KTM and Bosh revealed their own safety tech. Called the ‘Emergency Autonomous Braking System’, the technology uses several sensors placed across the motorcycle.

The patent application reveals that these sensors are capable of scanning the road for hazards that may cause a collision. This data is then transferred to a controller which determines if an impact is imminent. If it does, then it automatically applies the brake, actuates the clutch and bring the motorcycle to a halt.

But what if the rider is not prepared for an emergency situation? Sudden braking and slowing down may throw the rider off balance. Thankfully, engineers at Harley have thought of this and have countered it with a technology that could easily have come out of Star Trek. They have placed sensors on the handlebars, saddle, footpegs and even inside the helmet (to track eye movement). These sensors determine if the rider is seated and if both their hands are on the handlebar.

If any of these sensors determine that the rider is not prepared for panic braking, the system flashes warning lights through the turn indicators and instrument cluster to alert him. If he or she still doesn’t respond, the system automatically applies the brakes to slow down and bring the motorcycle to a halt. It is also capable of applying additional brake power in an emergency braking situation.

While this may sound impressive, it is important to remember that the technology is still in its infancy. It remains to be seen if such a system becomes mainstream on future motorcycles from the bike manufacturer. Meanwhile, let us know what you make of it - Real or Fantasy?