‘Brain-to-vehicle’ technology will ‘speed up reaction times’: Nissan

14.05 | 5 January 2018 | | 5 comments


The vehicle manufacturer Nissan has unveiled technology which will enable vehicles to interpret signals from a driver’s brain, ‘redefining’ how people interact with their cars.

Nissan says its Brain-to-Vehicle (B2V) technology will ‘speed up reaction times for drivers’ and lead to cars that ‘keep adapting to make driving more enjoyable’.

The driver wears a device that measures brain wave activity (pictured) which is analysed by the B2V system.

Nissan says that by anticipating intended movement, B2V can carry out actions – such as turning the steering wheel or slowing the car – up to half a second faster than the driver, while remaining largely imperceptible

B2V is the result of research into the use of brain decoding technology to predict a driver’s actions and detect discomfort:

  • Predict: By catching signs that the driver’s brain is about to initiate a movement – such as turning the steering wheel or pushing the accelerator pedal – driver assist technologies can begin the action more quickly. This can improve reaction times and enhance manual driving.
  • Detect: By detecting and evaluating driver discomfort, artificial intelligence can change the driving configuration or driving style when in autonomous mode.

B2V is the latest development in Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the company’s vision for transforming how cars are driven, powered and integrated into society.

Daniele Schillaci, Nissan executive vice president, said: “When most people think about autonomous driving, they have a very impersonal vision of the future, where humans relinquish control to the machines.

“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.”


 

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    I am wondering just how useful it would be for the car to apply steering lock half a second before I would have done so when I am going through a narrow gap. Is this another vanity project that will have little or no benefit?


    David, Suffolk
    Agree (4) | Disagree (0)
    +4

    My mind boggles at the implications of one’s car reading one’s thoughts. If I was driving to a hospital appointment in a nervous state of mind, would my car sympathise and refuse to be driven? Supposing the car senses I didn’t really want to go to work that particular day? (on second thoughts, perhaps it does have its advantages!)


    Hugh Jones
    Agree (4) | Disagree (1)
    +3

    Beware of unintended consequences and potential mis-use Nissan. I’m sure there will be a few drivers willing to liven up a boring long drive by trying to trick this technology into action by trying to think things they have no intention of doing. E.g. triggering an emergency stop thought with no intention to follow this through in reality. Or think ‘lane change’ to try to steer by thought.

    Presumably in mature versions of the technology, the driver will not need to wear a skull cap so how do they intend to avoid picking up passengers thoughts by mistake?


    Pat, Wales
    Agree (6) | Disagree (2)
    +4

    Having spent time with elderly people, and other people with mental illness. It’s very clear that some people are very forgetful, and do not remember things even after a few seconds, and prescribed medication has a wide range of side effects, which can differ from person to person (even though a person maybe fit to drive).

    Looking at the way people drive, some act spontaneously, with little or no regard about their actions.

    Other thoughts to consider: driving while tired, sudden distractions while conversing with other passengers in the car (this can be critical). Lack of sleep, anxiety, depression, fear (caused by other road users). Aggressive behaviour on the road, or inside the car.


    Peter D’Silva, Exmouth, Exmouth
    Agree (1) | Disagree (0)
    +1

    Can’t see how turning the steering wheel or pressing the accelerator sooner than you would choose to do anyway would be a benefit – panic braking yes, no doubt a split second saved there could be crucial. How about technology which senses when a risk-taking driver is about to do something reckless and intervenes?


    Hugh Jones
    Agree (3) | Disagree (4)
    --1

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