Honda

Honda jump control system By Ben Purvis

The proliferation of rider assist systems is arguably the defining characteristic that motorcycles have made in the last decade - expanding from simple traction control to a baffling array of adjustable options designed to save us from ourselves. Now Honda is working on perhaps the most ambitious yet in the form of a jump control system for off-road riders.

The basics of the system, which is revealed in a patent application from the company's R&D department, are anchored in now familiar rider assist technology, including ride-by-wire throttles and inertial measurement units (IMUs). To these, Honda intends to add a front-facing camera and a computer that can recognise an approaching jump.

The camera and jump-recognition software side of the design is arguably its most complex element. It registers when the bike is approaching a slope, estimating the distance to the slope and its angle, as well as the position of its peak - the point at which the bike is likely to leave the ground.

With this information, the system can then adapt the bike's speed, intervening between the rider and the throttle to slow down if necessary, and even applying the brakes, to match a pre-selected jump setting. The patent suggests three settings, in much the same way that existing traction control systems often operate. 

In its most moderate setting, the jump control is intended to prevent jumps entirely, slowing the bike down as it approaches the peak of the slope to make sure both wheels stay firmly on the ground. In its mid setting, the system allows a moderate jump, controlling speed to ensure the bike doesn't fly too high or too far, and during flight it modulates the throttle and rear brake to control the bike's angle, keeping a slightly nose-up attitude and aiming for a two-wheeled landing.

In its most extreme setting, the system allows a longer jump and can be configured for a rear-wheel landing, keeping the nose higher during flight. As with other rider aids, Honda envisages a further layer of options for the system, allowing the jump distance to be tailored - something that could be particularly useful on a motocross track where a rider is repeating the same jump again and again.

Although the system is designed for off-road use, the popularity of adventure bikes means it could appear on road-going models in the future. But perhaps the most valuable purpose for the system is hinted at by the patent's illustrations, which show a Dakar rally-style bike. In long-distance rally-raid competitions like the Dakar, when riders spend hours in the saddle, often going over endless sand dunes, jump control could be a useful aid to help ensure a momentary lapse of concentration doesn't result in a potentially race-ending crash.