Nissan Starts Testing Autonomous Car Prototypes On Public Roads

Nissan has begun testing its first prototype vehicle that demonstrates piloted drive on both highway and urban roads. Nissan maintains two corporate visions of a sustainable mobile society: "Zero Emission" and "Zero Fatality." For Zero Emission, the company's goal is to eliminate the emission of CO2 gasses from Nissan vehicles, while Zero Fatality is an aspirational goal that aims to eliminate fatalities due to traffic accidents.

"Vehicle Intelligence" will play a key role in realizing the concept of Zero Fatality; therefore, the company is developing an advanced form of vehicle intelligence called "Nissan Intelligent Driving," which comprises of various innovative features that will be introduced in stages.

For Stage One, Nissan will offer "Piloted Drive 1.0" by the end of 2016 in Japan. Piloted Drive 1.0 allows for autonomous driving under heavy highway traffic conditions. By 2018, the company hopes to implement a multiple lane piloted drive that can conduct lane changes on highways. And by 2020, a new technology will be introduced that allows vehicles to manage the city and urban roads successfully, including intersections autonomously.

The prototype vehicle making its public debut will be tested in actual traffic conditions on both the highway and city roads to develop and further enhance the Nissan Intelligent Driving for public use. The vehicle is based on the Nissan LEAF electric vehicle and it is equipped with features such as a millimeter wave radar, laser scanners, cameras, high-speed computer chips, and a specialized Human Machine Interface (HMI).

All of this allows the vehicle to operate in an autonomous manner on both highway and city roads. These tests are planned for Japan as well as overseas shortly.

Nissan has developed two technologies that can make piloted drive possible on urban roads. The first is the miniature, high-spec laser scanner. Currently in its prototype stages, the laser scanner determines the distance between the vehicle and its surroundings through the use of precise three-dimensional measurement that enables the vehicle to navigate routes in tight spaces.

The other new technology is an 8-way 360-degree view camera system that allows for accurate routing decisions when driving through intersections and sharp curving roads. The new prototype vehicle possesses both of these innovative features, facilitating smooth transportation through complex traffic environments, helping the occupants feel as though they are in the hands of a skilled driver.

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