Nissan revealed their ProPilot2.0 technology which aims to help drivers reduce the risk of accidents with hands-off self-driving technology. The automaker's ProPilotsystem was introduced in 2016, and the second iteration of the technology has advanced driver safety.
The original ProPilotfeatures Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Centering and additional safety features found in most automobiles today.
Drivers, over the course of 50 to 60 years, are likely to be involved in three to four car accidents. Nissan is attempting to lower these statistics with the ProPilot2.0 which will feature 3D mapping navigation, sensor and camera upgrades, and facial recognition software.
Nissan claims that the system will allow drivers to exit and enter highways hands-off. The vehicle will be able to merge in and out of traffic without user intervention. The Nissan Skyline will be outfitted with the system this autumn and will also have a Driver Management System (DMS).
The DMs system will monitor drivers to detect drowsiness and alertness when on the road. Drivers will be able to take their hands off of the vehicle while they remain in one lane, but when drivers go to shift lanes, hands will need to be on the steering wheel for the automatic system to overtake a vehicle.
3D mapping will be used to help pinpoint the vehicle's location on the highway network with an accuracy of 2 inches. The 3D mapping feature is essential for automakers to bring full automation to the market. The government does not help fund the 3D mapping process, making it costly for automakers to do. Japan's government and other governments around the world are helping fund 3D mapping to make it easier for automakers to fully automate highways.
Nissan still promises to bring self-driving systems to highways by 2020.
Liability issues have further hampered innovation, with Tesla and Uber both being tied up in legal liability cases when their self-driving vehicles were involved in fatal crashes. Facial recognition can help keep drivers awake and alert, while systems can map and scan roadways better.
Nissan expects to outfit 20 models in the next five years to help the company achieve its goal of full highway automation. The 20 models have yet to be announced, but they will all have the hands-off technology to allow for safer highway merging and exiting.
Japan will have the ProPilot2.0 installed this year, while the US will have to wait until further mapping has been introduced on roadways. The ProPilotoriginal version took a year before it was rolled out in US markets.
