CES: Nissan develops thought-controlled driving

NISSAN has invented a new Brain-to-Vehicle (B2V) technology that will allow drivers to control vehicles with just a thought, a system it will demonstrate at next week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

With drivers wearing a specialised device that measures brainwave activity, Nissan’s B2V system can decode signals to predict intended movement inputs such as turning the steering wheel or applying the throttle.

According to the Japanese car-maker, the thought-reading control system can react 0.2 to 0.5 seconds faster than the traditional input method and will be “largely imperceptible”.

In addition, the B2V technology can also detect driver discomfort and use artificial intelligence to tweak vehicle settings on the fly.

An example given by Nissan is using “augmented reality to adjust what the driver sees and create a more relaxing environment” or simple switching between driving modes for a more comfortable on-road experience.

The next step in the Japanese car-maker’s Intelligent Mobility plan, the B2V system will also pair with Nissan’s future self-driving ambitions.

Nissan executive vice president Daniele Schillaci said the new technology will improve the interaction between people and vehicles.

“When most people think about autonomous driving, they have a very impersonal vision of the future, where humans relinquish control to machines,” he said.

“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.”

Meanwhile, Nissan Research Center senior innovation research Dr Lucian Gheorghe hinted that new technologies will spin-off from the B2V system in the future.

“The potential applications of the technology are incredible,” he said. “This research will be a catalyst for more Nissan innovation inside our vehicles in the years to come.”