Nissan Begins Testing Autonomous Car Prototype On Busy Japanese Roads; Muitilane Pilot, Intersection Management by 2020

Japan-based automaker Nissan has announced it has begun testing its autonomous car prototype on Japanese roads and highways. How does it compare to Google's auto-car?

The autonomous car prototype, which is based on the popular Nissan Leaf, is a part of the automaker's self-driving technology project code named 'Nissan Intelligent Driving.' Nissan's Intelligent Driving technology aims to reduce traffic-related deaths with its automated technology. The automaker aims to attain 'zero emissions' target with its new age vehicles emitting zero percent carbon dioxide.

To make the self-driving car run on busy urban roads possible, the Japanese automaker has created a high-spec laser scanner that uses 3D measurement to determine the vehicle's distance from objects in the environment. It has designed an eight-way camera with a 360-degree view that assists the car to take correct routing decisions when driving through busy roads, reports Ubergizmo.

"We at Nissan are setting clear goals and preparing for the implementation of piloted drive," said senior vice president of Nissan, Takao Asami.

"The prototype that we're introducing here today is proof of how close we are towards the realization of this goal. Nissan aspires for a safe and trouble-free motoring future, and we plan on leading the industry in the implementation of piloted drive."

Once the initial testing phase of the Leaf-based self-driving car in Japan is over, the Japanese automaker plans to expand the car's testing to other countries as well.

Furthermore, if the test result of the self-driving prototype meets Nissan's expectations, the company plans to offer Stage One or Piloted Drive 1.0 by the end of 2016 in Japan.

 Over the next few years, Nissan is aiming to implement a multiple lane piloted drive that can change multiple lanes on highways by 2018, and by 2020, the autonomous cars will be successfully able to manage city traffic at intersections, said Slashgear.

Recently, the company also unveiled its IDS concept vehicle: an EV loaded with autonomous functions and offers restaurant recommendations.