Nissan Tests Autonomous Vehicles in the Busy Streets of Tokyo

Nissan Tests Autonomous Vehicles in the Busy Streets of Tokyo, Aiming for a Self-Driving Future

Nissan, the Japanese automobile company, has begun testing autonomous vehicles in the busy streets of Tokyo. The “minivan” moves slowly, applying the brakes gently when it veers off course. Notably, the steering wheel moves by itself, and there is no one in the driver’s seat.

Nissan’s autonomous driving technology, which uses 14 cameras, 9 radars, and 6 LiDAR sensors mounted on and around the vehicle, highlights Japan’s determination to catch up with companies like Waymo, a subsidiary of Google, which has been leading the self-driving car market in the United States.

Although Japan, home to some of the world’s largest car manufacturers, has been slow to embrace the global shift to autonomous driving, which has been led by China and the United States, momentum is now building.

During Nissan’s demonstration, the streets were filled with other cars and pedestrians, but the vehicle maintained the speed limit of 40 km/h for the area. The route was set using a smartphone app, showcasing the vehicle’s ability to navigate a busy urban environment.

Technically, Nissan’s technology, currently being tested on the “minivan,” is at level two according to industry standards. This means that a person is still stationed remotely at the company’s headquarters, ready to intervene if the technology fails. Additionally, there is also a person sitting in the front passenger seat during the test drive, prepared to take over if necessary.

Nissan plans to have 20 autonomous vehicles of this kind in the Yokohama area within the next two years, with a goal of reaching level four autonomy—where no human intervention is required—even as a backup—by 2029 or 2030.

Sources:

• Nissan Global News
• TechCrunch
• Reuters