Nissan announced a new driver-assistance technology that utilizes real-time information about the vehicle's surrounding environment to enhance collision avoidance. A test vehicle was used to demonstrate how the developing technology can automatically perform collision-avoidance maneuvers.

The company's "ground truth perception" technology fuses information from next-generation high-performance LIDAR, radar, and cameras, announced in a statement by Nissan. The technology can detect the shape and distance of objects, as well as the structure of the area surrounding the vehicle, in real time with a high degree of accuracy, according to the statement. Utilizing this information, it is possible for the vehicle to instantly analyze the current situation, judge, and automatically perform required collision-avoidance operations. This technology can also detect slowed traffic and road obstacles in the distance and execute lane changes accordingly. Importantly, the technology can also provide support to drivers in areas where detailed map information is not available.

"Nissan has been the first to market a number of advanced driver assistance technologies," said Takao Asami, senior vice president, leading global research and developmen. "When we look at the future of autonomous driving, we believe that it is of utmost importance for owners to feel highly confident in the safety of their vehicle. We are confident that our in-development ground truth perception technology will make a significant contribution to owner confidence, reduced traffic accidents and autonomous driving in the future."

Nissan has partnered with companies to research and develop this technology and share know-how. The LIDAR, a crucial element, is being integrated into Nissan's system in collaboration with Luminar technologies. In the area of advanced collision avoidance control it is critical to develop highly accurate verification technology in a digital environment. To this end Nissan is teaming up with Applied Intuition's simulation technology.

Under its long-term vision, Nissan Ambition 2030, Nissan is working to develop vehicle control technology aimed to significantly reduce accidents by utilizing next-generation LIDAR technology, available on select new models in the mid-2020s and on every new model by 2030.