Revolutionary next-generation ProPilot autonomous driving system with advanced AI technology and LiDAR sensors, planned to be launched in Japan in fiscal year 2027, is a giant forward step in driver assistance and is expected to allow safe operation in autonomous mode in complicated city conditions such as downtown Tokyo.
High-technology sensor array drives the robot
The following ProPilot generation is a technological leap that is based on the previous versions, but includes an unbelievable armada of hardware, 11 cameras, 5 radar sensors, and a next-generation LiDAR sensor on the roof of the vehicle. This full sensor set is the basis of Nissan Ground Truth Perception technology package.
The LiDAR feature is an important safety improvement system as it can reasonably identify objects at a distance that is deemed to be greater than traditional cameras and is also effective at night hours and high-speed driving situations. This is an enhanced sensor fusion system that allows the system to generate detailed three-dimensional maps of the environment that are in the vicinity of the vehicle in real-time.
Nissan has already shown the technology by having modified Ariya electric vehicles navigate the tough streets of central Tokyo, with the system being able to handle complex traffic situations that would confuse even seasoned human drivers.
Wayve AI delivers human-like driving intelligence
The system’s intelligence comes from Wayve AI Driver software, which applies cutting-edge embodied artificial intelligence technology to vehicle operation. Unlike traditional autonomous systems that react to individual objects, this AI understands how entire driving scenes evolve and anticipates future developments.
According to Nissan Chief Technology Officer Eiichi Akashi, “Our current ProPilot 2.0 system has been well received, but Nissan’s next-generation ProPilot technology will bring even more innovative features and deliver the feeling that a skilled human driver is behind the wheel.”
The AI processes image data from onboard camera sensors to enable smooth and safe driving within complex urban environments. Itsย high-speed processing capabilitiesย allow immediate responses to sudden changes in conditions, ensuring safe real-time operation even in unpredictable traffic situations.
Revolutionary AI mimics human cognitive processes
Wayve’s embodied AI technology draws inspiration from human cognition and behavioral processes, enabling it to grasp surroundings and anticipate what will happen next. This human-like perception allows the system to drive safely in harmony with its environment, like a skilled human driver.
The AI’s ability to understand how its own actions will affect the environment represents a significant advancement over traditional rule-based autonomous systems. By learning the flow of environmental changes, it can adapt to diverse real-world scenarios and make accurate decisions even in complex situations.
This cognitive approach enables the system to handle scenarios that would typically require human intervention, such as navigating construction zones, responding to emergency vehicles, or adapting to unusual traffic patterns that weren’t specifically programmed into the system.
Production launch targets the Japanese market first
Nissan has announced that the next-generation ProPilot system will be introduced on some of its production models in the Japanese market by the fiscal year 2027. The technology is SAE Level 2 self-driving that demands the presence of a driver who should be sitting and overseeing the functioning of the vehicle at all times, but the driver should be totally in control of the vehicle.
This system evolution shows that Nissan has grown from single-lane highway operation with the first version of ProPilot to multi-lane operation with the second-generation ProPilot 2.0, and finally to support complex city roads operation with the third-generation system.
This project is a part of the overall mobility innovation conducted by Nissan, which is focused on providing a cleaner, safer, more accessible transportation, as well as focusing on strengthening the technological capacity and competitiveness of the company in the future mobility sector by groundbreaking autonomous driving technologies.