Nissan reveals advanced driverless technology

Nissan has showcased its latest autonomous-drive (AD) technology in Yokohama’s Minato Mirai area in Japan.

A test vehicle with no driver in it navigated a public road in a complex urban environment.

Nissan says it developed this proprietary technology for a mobility service it plans to launch in Japan.

This is a significant step to empower mobility by resolving transportation service challenges faced by local communities, such as driver shortages resulting from an aging population, says Nissan, adding that by leveraging its technology the brand will provide a broad range of new services that enable freedom of mobility.

Nissan says it is maximising its efforts to establish and verify the safety of AD technology tailored to different traffic conditions worldwide.

To do this, it is utilising insights and technologies gained through research in Japan, research in Silicon Valley conducted by the Nissan Advanced Technology Centre, and participation in the United Kingdom’s evolvAD project.

The latest test vehicles are based on the Serena minivan and incorporate 14 cameras, nine radars and six Lidar sensors.

The roof-mounted sensors offer significantly expanded detection by taking advantage of the Serena’s height and enabling more accurate detection of its surroundings compared to earlier test vehicles, says Nissan.

“In addition, the use of AI (artificial intelligence) has significantly enhanced recognition, behavioural prediction and judgment as well as control, delivering smooth operation in a variety of complex scenarios.”

Nissan engineers verified an extensive number of possible scenarios along the driving route, added an immediate stop function for emergencies, and introduced intentional redundancies, says the brand.

Since fiscal year 2017, Nissan has been demonstrating and testing AD technology., now planning service demonstration tests involving about 20 vehicles to take place in Yokohama in fiscal years 2025 to 2026 (April 1 to March 31).

Nissan is also building an operational framework and service ecosystem with stakeholders.

Leveraging the test results, in fiscal year 2027 Nissan aims to provide autonomous driving mobility services, in collaboration with municipalities and transportation operators, with remote monitoring.

This initiative will be promoted in close cooperation with Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; other government ministries, and Yokohama City, says Nissan.

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