There is a clear-cut race in the automotive world when it comes to achieving vehicle autonomy. It was initiated by Tesla when they introduced their autopilot system, and now Mercedes has achieved Level 3 self-driving capabilities. Nissan is also working hard to break the glass ceilings, and its new autonomous driving system, the ProPILOT 2.0, is here.
We can find this system in their newest offering, the 2023 ARIYA. The testers of this model say that the system includes a hands-free driving mode, which is one of its several cutting-edge features. So, the question is, what else does this technology have to offer? And how much of an impact is it going to make? Let’s find out:
Nissan ProPILOT Assist
We begin by taking a look at the original ProPILOT software from Nissan. The company introduced this back in 2018 in the year’s Rogue model. Nissan said that the aim of this system was to take some stress off the driver and make their journey a more comfortable experience. This was a system that focused on numerous aspects of driving.
These included the car’s speed, steering, and even braking. The result is that the system was able to perform functions that make waves as standard features in today’s cars. The 2018 Rogue was able to maintain its position in the center of the lane by observing the markings. It was also able to detect cars in front of it and behind it, maintaining a distance from it.
Yes, it all sounds great, but there were some limitations to these technologies. They depended a lot on the quality of the lane’s markings in order to make decisions. Bad weather conditions were also a factor here. If the visibility was low, the car wouldn’t be able to spot the other ones in the same lane, which could’ve been dangerous.
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Nissan ProPILOT Assist 2.0
The Nissan ProPILOT Assist 2.0 is available now, and not only is it a very well-developed system, but it also adds a bunch of goodies to the already impressive list of driver-assistance features available today. Sure, it doesn’t allow the driver to become completely carefree and nap while the car is driving, but it does provide an increased level of autonomy on the highway.
The salient features of this system are the following:
Car passing assist
Let’s say that you’re driving on a highway with hands-free mode on. You shall be alerted if it is a safe option to pass a lane hogger. If you have the intention of overtaking it, you’re going to have to put both your hands on the wheel momentarily in order to allow the pass to occur.
When this happens, the car is able to overtake the vehicle in front all by itself. It will first change lanes, speed up, and then pass the car in question. It will again alert you so that once you place your hands on the wheel again, the car will return to its original lane. It sounds complicated, but it will only take a couple of seconds.
Lane changing assist
Changing lanes on a highway can be a difficult task for many simply because they’re unable to analyze the conditions around them. This is where the ProPILOT 2.0 comes in, as it can change lanes all by itself. It is different from the Lane Change Assist (LCA) that you find on many of the newer vehicles, as LCA only warns you about any incoming vehicles.
Yes, this system has the same function, but there’s more to it. It first warns you about any impending dangers when you try to initiate a lane change by putting both your hands on the steering wheel and hitting the turn signal. If the coast is clear, it will change the car’s lane all by itself, and it will be completely safe.
Limitations of ProPILOT 2.0
Exiting a fast-moving highway is an essential part of driving, and many people tend to get it wrong. It should be known that the ProPILOT 2.0 system disengages when it finds out that you need to exit the highway. It doesn’t exit the highway for you; you’re going to have to do that by yourself. It just alerts you when the final exit on your route is arriving.