Nissan introduced ProPilot, the company’s autonomous drive technology, in 2016. When it did so, the technology offered stop-and-go adaptive cruise control with lane centering. However, the company knew there was room for improvement.
ProPilot 2.0
ProPilot 2.0 launched in 2019 with facial recognition software and 3D mapping navigation. The company upgraded the cameras and sensors on vehicles equipped with this technology to support these features. This allowed for “hands-off driving, and Nissan stated drivers would be able to keep their hands off the wheel from the moment they entered a highway until they exited that road. How was the company able to promise this?
The first vehicle to feature this technology was the Nissan Skyline or Infiniti Q50. It came with an internal-facing camera used with the Driver Monitoring System. The camera followed the driver’s eyes to ensure they remained awake and alert. The driver could remove their hands from the wheel while remaining in the same lane. The driver could engage the indicator and overtake the vehicle in front of them, but they would need to place their hands on the wheel when doing so. Drivers may see this technology in action at a local Nissan dealership.
The Driver Monitoring System worked with the 3D high-definition mapping feature to let the vehicle know where it was on the highway. This feature could mark the vehicle’s location within two inches, significantly improving ProPilot’s safety and allowing it to operate more accurately. However, the company ran into issues when trying to use this technology in America.
The United States highway network is highly complex. Mapping it in 3D high definition isn’t something that will happen overnight. It’s a process that has taken time to complete. Japan, in contrast, has a much smaller highway system, and the government funds the mapping process. As a result, Japan has benefitted from this technology before America. This mapping is needed to work with the system’s multiple cameras, radar sensors, and sonar sensors to allow drivers to benefit from hands-free technology safely.
Liability Concerns
People might wonder why Nissan is a leading proponent of self-driving technology. Many car manufacturers worry about liability. What happens if a self-driving car is involved in an accident? Who is to blame? Tesla and Uber have faced this dilemma, as their self-driving vehicles have been involved in fatal crashes. Nissan believes the face recognition feature and 3D mapping navigation will make self-driving cars on the highway safer.
Nissan has complete confidence in this technology. The ProPilot 2.0 was Tetsuya Iijima’s baby. This gentleman is often referred to as an autonomous driving guru, and Nissan promoted him to head of its technology department years ago. Under his supervision, the department has created a system that meets all global self-driving requirements.
Traffic Laws
Nissan ensured the ProPilot 2.0 system complied with Japan’s Road Traffic Laws and Clause 70. This clause states the driver of a vehicle must be in continuous complete control of its steering, acceleration, and braking. The facial recognition software in the system fulfills this requirement, so the driver can safely remove their hands from the wheel without breaking traffic laws.
Level 2 semi-autonomous driving systems have used adaptive cruise control mode to allow drivers to relax behind the wheel. The cruise control would operate the throttle and brakes so the driver wouldn’t need to. With the help of lane-keeping technology, drivers could allow the car to take over and do all the work. The vehicle would keep a safe distance between itself and the car in front of it. The ProPilot 2.0 takes this technology to the next level. It monitors the driver’s level of alertness.
The United States has three conventions that self-driving vehicles must comply with. The 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations apply to all drivers nationwide. Each state also develops its vehicle codes, and self-driving vehicles must comply with these rules and regulations. The Geneva Convention establishes rules that apply to all drivers and states vehicles must always have drivers who can control the machines when needed. Self-driving vehicles meet this requirement because the driver can take control if any problems arise. The NHTSA also has no rules or regulations prohibiting self-driving cars.
Current Efforts
Nissan has not given up on its self-driving technology. The company plans to offer autonomous mobility services within the next few years. Recently, it demonstrated the technology in Yokahoma using an electric Nissan LEAF prototype. Engineers equipped the prototype with 14 cameras, ten radars, and six lidars. This demonstration aimed to show that the company is making progress in offering self-driving cars capable of handling urban settings.
Roof-mounted sensors are one-way cars are overcoming the challenges of urban driving. These sensors increase the detection area around the car while ensuring accurate identification of the surroundings. Used with cameras, radars, and lidars, these sensors allow vehicles to cope with complex traffic scenarios. The self-driving vehicle used in this demonstration could predict pedestrian behavior, change lanes to merge with traffic, and determine when to enter an intersection safely.
Throughout this demonstration, the vehicle always had a driver behind the wheel. Furthermore, Nissan ensured the demonstration was conducted as an SAE Level 2 equivalent. Sharing the progress with the public was the company’s way of showing that it is making great strides in producing cars that can drive themselves.
Nissan has shared a comprehensive plan for self-driving cars in the coming years. The company has shared it will likely be able to offer commercial self-driving taxi services in a few years. These services will be limited initially, and the company will deploy them with the help of local authorities and transport operators. The next step in achieving this goal will be demonstrating a self-driving vehicle in a busy waterfront area known for business, shopping, and tourism. These demonstrations show what the cars can do while allowing the company to determine whether people accept or reject self-driving vehicles.
Nissan has the support of Japanese authorities in its quest to create self-driving vehicles. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and other central ministries back these efforts. Japan may be the first country to benefit from these vehicles when they are road-ready, but it won’t be the last. Everyone will want these cars when they become available and affordable. Getting around will be easier for everyone when this day arrives.
