Cars that learn from drivers

Drivers’ brain signals will soon be interpreted by vehicles, redefining how people interact with their cars.

That’s according to Nissan which has just unveiled research to enable vehicles to do just that.

The company’s Brain-to-Vehicle (B2V) technology promises to speed up reaction times for drivers and will lead to cars that keep adapting to make driving more enjoyable.

Nissan will demonstrate the latest development in Nissan Intelligent Mobility using a driving simulator at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2018 trade show in Las Vegas, January 8-12.

Its B2V technology sees the driver wear a device that measures brain wave activity, which is then analysed by autonomous systems.

“When most people think about autonomous driving, they have a very impersonal vision of the future, where humans relinquish control to the machines. Yet B2V technology does the opposite, by using signals from their own brain to make the drive even more exciting and enjoyable,” Nissan executive vice-president Daniele Schillaci says.

Nissan says its breakthrough is the result of research into using brain decoding technology to predict a driver’s actions and detect discomfort.

By catching signs that the driver’s brain is about to initiate a movement – such as turning the steering wheel or pushing the accelerator pedal – driver assist technologies can begin the action more quickly. This can improve reaction times and enhance manual driving.

By detecting and evaluating driver discomfort, artificial intelligence can change the driving configuration or driving style when in autonomous mode.

Other possible uses include adjusting the vehicle’s internal environment, says Nissan senior innovation researcher Dr Lucian Gheorghe who’s leading the B2V research.

The technology can use augmented reality to adjust what the driver sees and create a more relaxing environment.

“The potential applications of the technology are incredible,” Gheorghe says. “This research will be a catalyst for more Nissan innovation inside our vehicles in the years to come.”