12 sonars, 12 cameras, 9 radars, 6 lasers: that’s what it takes to be autonomous

Nissan has demonstrated a prototype autonomous vehicle, planned for real-world use from 2020, on public roads in Tokyo.

The ProPILOT technology, fitted to a modified Infiniti Q50, enables the vehicle to operate autonomously on urban roads and freeways, beginning when the driver selects a destination using the navigation system, until arrival.

The AI system uses input from 12 sonars, 12 cameras, nine millimetre-wave radars, six laser scanners and a high-definition map to analyse road conditions.

“Ingenuity is at the heart of everything we do at Nissan,” said Takao Asami, Nissan’s senior vice president in charge of research and advanced engineering. “Our next-generation ProPILOT prototype showcases technology that will be available for real-world use from 2020. Today’s demonstration is another example of our successful work toward creating an autonomous driving future for all.”