Japan's Nissan Trials Driverless Vehicles on Busy City Streets

YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — A driverless van navigates the bustling city streets, slowing down smoothly when another car unexpectedly enters its lane. Remarkably, its steering wheel moves autonomously, and there is no driver at the wheel.

Nissan Motor Corp.'s innovative technology, which incorporates 14 cameras, nine radar units, and six LiDAR sensors around the vehicle, showcases Japan’s commitment to advancing in the field of autonomous driving, striving to catch up with leaders like Google’s Waymo.

While Japan hosts some of the world’s most prominent automobile manufacturers, it has lagged behind the global advancements in autonomous driving, mainly led by companies in China and the U.S. However, there is an increasing momentum within the country.

This year, Waymo plans to start operations in Japan through a partnership with a major taxi company, Nihon Kotsu. Although the specific details are yet to be announced, the initial trials will feature all-electric Jaguar I-PACE SUVs operating in the Tokyo region, with human drivers present for safety.

During a recent demonstration by Nissan, the vehicle traversed streets teeming with traffic and pedestrians. It adhered to the legal speed limit of 40 kilometers per hour (25 mph) and was guided to its destination via a smartphone application.

Takeshi Kimura, an engineer at Nissan’s Mobility and AI Laboratory, claims that automakers are particularly equipped to incorporate self-driving technology into vehicles because of their deep understanding of automotive systems. He explained that tuning sensors to the vehicle's performance and ensuring overall safety requires a comprehensive grasp of how cars function.

Currently, Nissan’s technology is categorized as Level Two in the automotive industry. This classification implies that a human operator is stationed at a remote control panel outside the vehicle at the company's headquarters, ready to intervene if necessary. Additionally, a safety driver is present in the front passenger seat during test runs, able to take control if needed. During these demonstrations, both the remote operator and the passenger typically do not take action unless an issue arises.

Nissan aims to deploy 20 autonomous vehicles across the Yokohama area over the next couple of years, aspiring to achieve Level Four autonomy—meaning no human assistance will be required—by 2029 or 2030. This development is particularly significant given Japan’s declining population and the consequent shortage of available drivers.

Other Japanese companies are also engaging in autonomous driving technology research, including startups like Tier IV, which advocates for open-source collaboration in this field.

To date, Japan has permitted Level Four autonomous vehicles to operate in rural regions, specifically in Fukui Prefecture, though these vehicles resemble golf carts more than traditional cars. A Level Four bus operates in a limited area around Tokyo's Haneda Airport but is restricted to a maximum speed of 12 kilometers per hour (7.5 mph). In contrast, Nissan's autonomous vehicle functions like a standard car, designed to handle regular mechanized operations and speed.

Toyota Motor Corp. has recently unveiled a dedicated “city” near Mount Fuji for its employees and partner startups to test various technologies, including autonomous driving systems.

While progress continues, it remains cautious. Professor Takeo Igarashi from the University of Tokyo, who specializes in computer and information technology, notes that public perception of driverless vehicles poses challenges. People are often more concerned about accidents involving autonomous cars than those with human drivers. He emphasized that with human drivers, accountability is clear, but in the case of driverless vehicles, it is not so straightforward.

This expectation is heightened in Japan, where consumers are known to demand exceptional quality from all services, including transportation. Any minor error in autonomous driving could lead to significant public distrust.

Nissan insists on the safety of its technology, pointing out that while humans cannot simultaneously monitor all directions, the driverless vehicle’s sensors can. During a recent demonstration, when a system error occurred, the car simply stopped and ensured safety.

Phil Koopman, an electrical and computer engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University, emphasizes that the autonomous vehicle industry is in its infancy. He identifies a significant challenge in what is termed “edge cases”—rare but hazardous situations that the vehicles have not yet been programmed to recognize. To effectively train vehicles for these scenarios, extensive operations with sizable fleets are essential.

Koopman also noted that autonomous vehicle implementation will likely require city-specific engineering efforts and the establishment of dedicated support centers, indicating that the rollout will be gradual and tailored to individual cities.

“There is no magic switch to make it happen,” he remarks.

technology, autonomous, Nissan