Nissan LEAF, a self-driving car had its first trials on major London roads, proving the technology works. However, Tetsuya Iijima, Nissan's global head of autonomous drive development mentions it still needs an attentive driver behind the wheel to slam on the brakes.
Guided by five radars, four lasers and 12 cameras, a converted electric Nissan LEAF has been following a carefully mapped route around Beckton, in east London, driving itself along the A13 dual carriageway, around urban streets and navigating roundabouts - a particular challenge for the Japanese manufacturer.
According to Automotive News, Britain has established a liberal testing regime for driverless vehicles like the Nissan LEAF, in the hope of taking a leading global role in their development. The country entices its developers in hopes to take a part of the industry that could be worth £900 billion ($1.1 trillion) worldwide by 2025.
While testing the technical feasibility of the Nissan LEAF, head Tetsuya Iijima, wiggles his feet and held his arms upward as the Leaf proceeded out of the Excel centre car park. Its steering wheel turning unaided, the Leaf accelerated past City airport, and towards its first roundabout.
Nissan's head of automated driving, Tetsuya Lijima, sits at the controls of a modified Nissan Leaf during its first demonstration on public roads in Europe, in London.
Screens attached to the Leaf dashboard include a virtual map, a camera view, and one pinpointing green cones in our path picked up by laser and radar: these were the unsuspecting pedestrians of Beckton.
A voice is generated from the Nissan LEAF saying "Turning right" - like a satnav with free will. None of these accessories was necessary, explained Iijima, except to reassure the human passengers. "Trust is very important," said Iijima.
Trust was briefly jeopardised at the roundabout, however, when Iijima grabbed the steering wheel to avoid a lorry in the neighbouring lane, and braked swiftly to stop the car autonomously rear-ending a Honda Civic with P-plates. "Some bugs," said Iijima. "It's a prototype."
Nissan LEAF Autonomous Self Drive debuts in September. It will be available worldwide by the end of 2017 says Inside EVs.