Japanese car manufacturer Nissan is showcasing revolutionary brain-to-vehicle technology (B2V) at CES 2018 in Las Vegas.
The annual trade show in the Nevada Desert is one of the biggest technology shows on the calendar - and Nissan have decided to use the event to highlight its new concept vehicle where signals from a driver’s brain are interpreted to anticipate their next actions and help improve the driving experience.
Nissan has claimed that the primary objective of B2V is to speed up reaction times for drivers and believe that it will subsequently make driving more enjoyable, but crucially safer.
Executive Vice President of Nissan, Daniele Schillaci expressed his delight at the development of the B2V technology, and said his organization was wholly committed to delivering its drivers to a stratosphere of more connectivity and autonomy.
He said, “When most people think about autonomous driving, they have a very impersonal vision of the future, where humans relinquish control to the machines. Yet B2V technology does the opposite, by using signals from their own brain to make the drive even more exciting and enjoyable. Through Nissan Intelligent Mobility, we are moving people to a better world by delivering more autonomy, more electrification and more connectivity.”
This latest development is the result of research into using brain decoding technology to predict a driver’s actions and detect discomfort:
- Predict: by catching signs that the driver’s brain is about to initiate a movement – such as turning the steering wheel or pushing the accelerator pedal – driver assist technologies can begin the action more quickly. This can improve reaction times and enhance manual driving
- Detect: by detecting and evaluating driver discomfort, artificial intelligence can change the driving configuration or driving style when in autonomous mode
In addition to this, engineers at Nissan have claimed that its B2V technology is the world’s first system of its kind. It has been disclosed that the driver wears a device that measures brain activity, which is then subsequently analyzed by autonomous systems. It anticipates the intended movement which allows systems to take action, such as slowing the vehicle down or turning the steering wheel.
Dr Lucian Gheorghe, senior innovation researcher at the Nissan Research Centre in Japan, who is leading the B2V project, said its groundbreaking research would serve as a catalyst for further innovation from the Japanese automaker. He said, “The potential applications of the technology are incredible. This research will be a catalyst for more Nissan innovation inside our vehicles in the years to come.”