While the auto industry concentrates its attention to tackling fuel efficiency and alternative energy solutions, some automakers are already moving on to the next frontier -- autonomous vehicles.
Google and the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) may be the two leading research companies in the field but more and more companies and organizations are jumping aboard. Nissan has confirmed the the company is developing a self-driving Leaf EV.
Unimaginatively called the NSC-2015, the autonomous Leaf is fitted with cutting edge remote monitoring systems, image-based systems and 4G commication, which also connects to the occupant's smartphone. A clever feature, Nissan boasts that the NSC-2015 is capable of allowing the driver to exit the vehicle once it has reached its destination and then seek out available spaces for parking where it will await for its driver's command. If the parking space so happens to be a sub-terrain basement that satellite signals are unable to reach, then imaging-based sensors are capable of guiding the vehicle without GPS. What's more, the NSC-2015 can perform self-surveillance at all times, notifying the owner if it detects suspicious activity in the vicinity.
Unfortunately, despite its many innovative features, Nissan's self-driving automobile is not suitable for autonomous freeway-speed operation. What's more, Nissan's latest NSC-2015 will likely progress no further than its developmental stage, remaining strictly a working prototype.That said, its '2015' moniker might suggest that Nissan does plan to unveil self-driving technologies within the next 3 years.
Nissan has unveiled its NSC-2015 earlier this week at the Ceatec Japan annual tech expo near Tokyo.
[Source: MotorAuthority]
