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Nissan begins testing its driverless car on the streets of Japan

Nissan Intelligent Drive
Nissan


Nissan is pushing ahead with its self-driving car technology.

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The company is testing its autonomous prototype vehicle, which is based on its all-electric LEAF car, on the public city streets and highways of Japan.

The car, however, will not yet drive in fully autonomous mode at all times. The company is testing its technology in phases.

Nissan is first testing its “Piloted Drive” system, which is part of its autonomous “Intelligent Driving System.” The Piloted Drive system will take over the vehicle in specific situations, including while the car is driving in heavy traffic on the highway.

Think of Piloted Drive as assistive automated driving for limited use cases (like being stuck in traffic), while the Intelligent Driving System is for fully autonomous driving.

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The car uses a number of technologies to help it safely navigate the streets, including a wave radar, laser scanners, cameras, and high-speed computer chips.

By 2016, the company aims to roll out its “Piloted Drive 1.0” system in Japan for public use. By 2018, the company plans to offer an improved version that will enable the car to conduct lane changes on highways, and by 2020 its autonomous system will be able to handle urban roads, including intersections by itself, the company said in a press statement.

While the company is currently only testing its technology in Japan, it will soon begin testing in other countries as well, the company said in a statement.

Nissan isn't the only car company aiming to roll out its more complete autonomous technology by 2020. 

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Tesla, BMW, Toyota, Daimler, and General Motors all have said that they also plan to roll out vehicles capable of driving autonomously in most situations in less than five years. 

Self-Driving Car Japan
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