Mitsubishi Electric and HERE Technologies have piloted a hazard alert system that enables cars to automatically warn approaching vehicles with lane-level precision about upcoming potential dangers on roads.

In March, the two companies performed field tests of this technology, called Lane Hazard Warning.

Prior to the trials in California, the technology was tested in Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan last year.

The firms now plan to make the technology available to auto manufacturers to test in their vehicles.

Lane Hazard Warning’s sensors detect events such as slippery road, disabled or slow car, potholes precisely to a specific lane.

This information is then transmitted in real-time to the other approaching vehicles in the same location via the Cloud.

The technology uses a vehicle’s sensor along with HD Locator, the HERE Open Location Platform and Mitsubishi Electric’s precise centimetre-level positioning technology.

Mitsubishi Electric executive officer and group president of automotive equipment said: “When something unusual happens on the road ahead drivers often have very little time to react and that can put them and their passengers at risk.

“Together with HERE Technologies, we’ve developed a new system designed to give drivers a few valuable extra seconds or minutes to prepare for a potential danger on the road ahead, such as by switching lanes or simply driving with greater caution. We’re excited about the potential of this system in improving driver safety.”

“When something unusual happens on the road ahead drivers often have very little time to react and that can put them and their passengers at risk.”

The companies are also looking to apply this technology in automated updates of maps for driverless vehicles using the Cloud.

The technology is also being evaluated to be used in services that alert road maintenance authorities on surface degradation.

HERE Technologies SVP and head of applications and services Jørgen Behrens said: “HERE Technologies and Mitsubishi Electric are showing how your car can learn from the experiences of other cars on the road to make for a much safer driving experience.

“We believe fast, accurate and targeted hazard alerts will be a critical part of the data infrastructure required for automated driving and smart city services. We look forward to seeing this technology in the market.”