VIDEO: Nissan Rolling Out Self-Driving Tech

Nissan’s new Serena, set to go on sale in Japan in late August, will come equipped with the company’s ProPILOT autonomous drive technology that’s designed for highway use in single-lane traffic.

With ProPILOT, the vehicle’s accelerator, brakes, and steering are controlled based on information captured through a mono camera equipped with advanced-image processing software. The ProPILOT camera can quickly recognize, in three-dimensional depth, preceding vehicles and lane markers, according to Nissan.

Once activated, ProPILOT automatically controls the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle, using a speed preset by the driver. The system also keeps the car in the middle of the highway lane by reading lane markers and controlling steering, even through curves.

If a car ahead stops, the ProPILOT system automatically applies the brakes to bring the vehicle to a full stop. Then, the vehicle will remain in place even if the driver’s foot is off the brake pedal. When ready to resume driving, ProPILOT is activated when the driver touches the switch again or lightly presses the accelerator.

“ProPILOT technology is extremely user-friendly, thanks to a switch on the steering wheel that allows the driver to easily activate and deactivate the system,” Nissan said in a press release. “ProPILOT’s easy-to-understand and fit-to-drive interface includes a personal display showing the operating status.”

Nissan is carrying out intensive studies of driving conditions in various regions so that ProPILOT will be well suited for the markets in which it will launch, the company said.

To view a Nissan video about ProPILOT, click on the photo or link below the headline.

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