Honda Unveils AI-Powered Pothole Detection System

New technology aims to improve road safety and reduce infrastructure maintenance costs in Ohio

Jan. 29, 2026 at 11:47pm

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Honda has unveiled a new Proactive Roadway Maintenance System that uses vehicle sensors and cameras to detect potholes, damaged signs and guardrails, and other road hazards with up to 99% accuracy. The system was tested on over 3,000 miles of Ohio roads in a pilot project with the Ohio Department of Transportation, providing valuable data to help prioritize repairs and enhance safety for both drivers and maintenance crews.

Why it matters

Potholes and other road hazards pose a significant safety risk to drivers and can also lead to costly vehicle damage. By leveraging vehicle sensor data, this new system from Honda aims to help transportation agencies like ODOT identify and address infrastructure issues more efficiently, improving overall road safety and reducing maintenance costs.

The details

The Proactive Roadway Maintenance System was developed through a collaboration between Honda, DriveOhio, the University of Cincinnati, and industry partners Parsons Corp. and i-Probe Inc. The system uses cameras, LIDAR sensors, and advanced computer vision algorithms to detect a range of road conditions, including potholes, damaged signs and guardrails, faded road markings, and shoulder drops. During the pilot project, the system demonstrated 99% accuracy in detecting damaged or obstructed signs, 93% accuracy for damaged guardrails, and 89% accuracy in identifying potholes.

  • The pilot project was conducted in central and southeastern Ohio over the course of 2025.
  • Honda unveiled the results of the pilot project in January 2026.

The players

Honda

A major Japanese automaker that developed the Proactive Roadway Maintenance System.

DriveOhio

A state initiative that partnered with Honda on the pilot project.

University of Cincinnati

The university's College of Engineering and Applied Science collaborated on the research, with Professor Munir Nazzal leading the project.

Parsons Corp.

An engineering and construction firm that worked with Honda on the pilot project.

i-Probe Inc.

A technology company that partnered with Honda on the Proactive Roadway Maintenance System.

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What they’re saying

“This pilot of the Honda Proactive Roadway Maintenance System empowers drivers to play an active role in creating safer roadways and communities while helping agencies like ODOT improve maintenance operations.”

— Sue Bai, Chief Engineer, Sustainability and Business Development, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

“We are introducing cutting-edge technologies for evaluating and maintaining transportation infrastructure, enabling agencies to make more timely and informed decisions.”

— Munir Nazzal, Director, Center for Smart, Sustainable & Resilient Infrastructure, University of Cincinnati

“At the heart of this technology is our shared goal to keep our roadways safe for all users.”

— Pam Boratyn, Director, Ohio Department of Transportation

What’s next

The Ohio Department of Transportation plans to further evaluate the Proactive Roadway Maintenance System and explore opportunities to integrate the technology into its infrastructure maintenance operations.

The takeaway

This collaboration between Honda, the University of Cincinnati, and the Ohio Department of Transportation demonstrates how advanced vehicle sensor technology can be leveraged to enhance road safety and infrastructure maintenance, ultimately benefiting both drivers and taxpayers.