Nissan has already started demonstrating its
semi-autonomous ProPilot Assist technology to the press, with the system
expected to be launched in the US later this year. The company points out that
the ProPilot Assist system is tuned specifically for U.S. roads and drivers,
after more than 50,000 miles of development across the country.
The system combines Steering Assist and the
company’s Intelligent Cruise Control for use in both heavy and flowing traffic
conditions but Nissan calls it a hands-on system rather than a self-driving
feature, as the driver’s hands must remain on the steering wheel at all times.
ProPilot Assist always gives priority to the
driver’s inputs, with the Steering Assist feature to be disabled if the
windshield wipers are in the low or high position - if lane lines can be
detected, the system can remain active when the wipers are in the intermittent
mode or if the mist function is activated.
At this stage, Nissan describes it more like an
enhanced version of their Intelligent Cruise Control, providing steering
assistance when lane markers are consistently detected by the front camera.
