Nissan Tests Autonomous Vehicles in Japan, Aiming to Catch Up with Global Leaders
7 Sources
[1]
Nissan is testing driverless vehicles in city streets
The van makes its way slowly but surely through the city streets, braking gently when a car swerves into its lane. But its steering wheel is turning on its own, and there's no one in the driver's seat. The driverless technology from Nissan Motor Corp., which uses 14 cameras, nine radars, and six
[2]
Japan's Nissan Tests Driverless Vehicles in City Streets Filled With Cars and People
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) -- The van makes its way slowly but surely through the city streets, braking gently when a car swerves into its lane. But its steering wheel is turning on its own, and there's no one in the driver's seat. The driverless technology from Nissan Motor Corp., which uses 14
[3]
Japan's Nissan tests driverless vehicles in city streets filled with cars and people
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) -- The van makes its way slowly but surely through the city streets, braking gently when a car swerves into its lane. But its steering wheel is turning on its own, and there's no one in the driver's seat. The driverless technology from Nissan Motor Corp., which uses 14
[4]
Japan's Nissan tests driverless vehicles in city streets filled with cars and people
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) -- The van makes its way slowly but surely through the city streets, braking gently when a car swerves into its lane. But its steering wheel is turning on its own, and there's no one in the driver's seat. The driverless technology from Nissan Motor Corp., which uses 14
[5]
Japan's Nissan tests driverless vehicles in city streets filled with cars and people
YOKOHAMA, Japan -- The van makes its way slowly but surely through the city streets, braking gently when a car swerves into its lane. But its steering wheel is turning on its own, and there's no one in the driver's seat. The driverless technology from Nissan Motor Corp., which uses 14 cameras,
[6]
Japan's Nissan tests driverless vehicles in city streets filled with cars and people
The van makes its way slowly but surely through the city streets, braking gently when a car swerves into its lane. But its steering wheel is turning on its own, and there's no one in the driver's seat. The driverless technology from Nissan Motor Corp., which uses 14 cameras, nine radars and six
[7]
Nissan tests driverless vehicles in city streets filled with cars and people
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) -- The van makes its way slowly but surely through the city streets, braking gently when a car swerves into its lane. But its steering wheel is turning on its own, and there's no one in the driver's seat. The driverless technology from Nissan Motor Corp., which uses 14
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Nissan is conducting tests of driverless vehicles on city streets in Japan, showcasing the country's efforts to advance in autonomous driving technology. The tests highlight Japan's push to compete with global leaders in the field.
Nissan's Autonomous Vehicle Testing in Japan
Nissan Motor Corp. has begun testing driverless vehicles on the streets of Yokohama, Japan, marking a significant step in the country's efforts to catch up with global leaders in autonomous driving technology. The tests showcase a Nissan Serena minivan equipped with advanced sensors and AI, navigating through bustling city streets without a driver at the wheel
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.Advanced Technology and Safety Measures
The autonomous vehicle is outfitted with an impressive array of sensors:
- 14 cameras
- 9 radars
- 6 LiDar sensors
These sensors work in tandem to provide a comprehensive view of the vehicle's surroundings, allowing it to navigate safely through traffic and adhere to speed limits
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. During the demonstration, the vehicle maintained a maximum speed of 40 kph (25 mph) and successfully managed various traffic scenarios4
.Current Status and Future Plans
Nissan's technology is currently classified as Level Two autonomy, requiring human oversight:
- A remote operator monitors the vehicle from Nissan's headquarters
- A human passenger sits in the front seat, ready to take control if necessary
The company aims to deploy 20 such vehicles in the Yokohama area within the next couple of years. Nissan's long-term goal is to achieve Level Four autonomy, which requires no human intervention, by 2029 or 2030
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.Japan's Autonomous Driving Landscape
While Japan has been trailing behind China and the U.S. in autonomous driving technology, momentum is building:
- Waymo, in partnership with Nihon Kotsu, plans to introduce its technology in Japan this year
- Toyota is developing a "city" near Mount Fuji to test various technologies, including autonomous driving
- Startups like Tier IV are pushing for open-source collaboration in the field
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Challenges and Considerations
Despite the progress, several challenges remain:
- Public perception: People tend to be more alarmed by accidents involving driverless vehicles than those with human drivers
- High expectations: Japanese consumers demand perfection in services, including autonomous driving
- Edge cases: Rare, unpredictable situations that AI must learn to handle
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Professor Takeo Igarashi from the University of Tokyo highlights the issue of responsibility in autonomous driving accidents, while Phil Koopman from Carnegie Mellon University emphasizes the need for extensive testing to address edge cases
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.Potential Impact and Future Outlook
The development of autonomous vehicles could address Japan's shrinking workforce and driver shortage. However, experts predict a gradual, city-by-city deployment process that may take many years to fully implement
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. As Nissan and other companies continue to refine their technologies, Japan aims to establish itself as a significant player in the global autonomous driving market.References
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