Google has been working on self-driving vehicle technology for years, and now Nissan is looking to get in on the autonomous vehicle movement. Nissan recently showed off a self-driving version of its Leaf electric at Japan's CEATEC.
Developed under the project name NSC-2015, Nissan's self-driving Leaf is intended to reduce road accidents associated with human error. NSC-2015 also has a convenience angle as Nissan says the Leaf can park itself and then return to the driver thanks to its Automated Valet Parking technology.
"With 90% of accidents caused by human error, we aimed to make a machine that could reduce error to as close to zero as possible and prevent an accident before it happens,” said Toru Futami, Expert Leader for Nissan's IT & ITS Development department. “Another objective was to reduce time-loss, such as that spent on looking for parking. That can be about 10 minutes lost door-to-door, when all you need to do is get to the entrance.”
The NSC-2015 can also use Nissan's Around View Monitor camera as a surveillance system. If the vehicle detects suspicious activity, it can alert the driver and give the option to set off an alarm.
Nissan's doesn't currently have any production plans for the NSC-2015 project, but says the system will be “fully viable by 2015.”
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