The race to be one of the first automaker's to release an autonomous vehicle is on and Nissan is right smack-dab in the middle of the pack. The company recently announced that they are currently testing a prototype autonomous model based on the Nissan LEAF and they’re using public roads to see how it performs.
Equipped with laser scanners, cameras, a unique interface module and a millimeter wave radar, the newly developed prototype will be tested on city roads and highways. If all works out as planned, Nissan hopes to launch the "Piloted Drive 1.0" prototype before 2017 – a model that will be able to take on heavy highway traffic conditions. Following this launch, there are plans to release an updated model in 2018 that will be able to change lanes on the highway with no outside assistance. In 2020, new technology will also be released by Nissan that will allow vehicles to be completely autonomous, with initial tests scheduled to be held in Japan.
With help from two key technologies, a high-spec laser scanner and 360-degree view camera, Nissan believes they can make their autonomous prototype a success. The scanner will be used to determine the distance between the car and its surroundings, while the camera will help the autonomous system make accurate navigation decisions.
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