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On some of Japan's busiest roads, Nissan's new hands-free "AI drive" technology provided a surprisingly sophisticated ride. Hands-free driving is not a new concept. Japan has been working on autonomy since the 1970s, and engineers have developed a computer-controlled car that follows a predetermined white line at 20 miles per hour. Not exactly practical, but nevertheless, it was the first step towards full autonomy.
But somehow, in the 50 years since Japan's first "self-driving" car, a single car that can get you from point A to point B without human interference is well the closest you get is one of Waymo's robotaxis. But as autonomous development continues to increase and more automakers enter the field, Japan hopes to be at the forefront of autonomous driving again. Nissan aims to bring hands-free driving to the masses with a new technology called "AI Drive." And the early tests are convincing.
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What exactly is an AI drive?
That's a great question. In the simplest sense, the AI drive is the force behind the company's new hands-free driver assistance technology. But even after talking to some of the engineers behind the project while in Japan, the details remain vague. On the technical side, at least, Nissan combines (privately held) AI software with an existing ProPilot driver assistance system and a host of hardware. The Ariya prototype here has 11 cameras, 5 radar systems and one LiDAR system installed on the roof.
While some hands-off companies have avoided LiDAR cutting costs, most notably Tesla, Nissan still believes in technology. The company says it adds an extra sense of security, especially when driving with low visibility at night. And do not worry, if it reaches production, it will not look so bulky. Like most hands—off cars, the camera is a big driver here - intended for pun. They scan paths of 40 to 50 meters (131 to 164 feet) with 360-degree visibility in any direction. The system collects data every 100 milliseconds and baked - AI predicts that will happen.
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I must say that Nissan's AI drive is not level 4 autonomy, but a vehicle that does not require physical human interaction or drivers. For example, driverless Waymos found throughout American cities offer level 4 autonomy. There is no single new car sold today in the United States that has such technology. Nissan has stopped offering a definitive level for the AI drive, saying it's still working through some details. According to the definition, this vehicle falls between the high-level level 2 and the low level 3. Driver is also mandatory to take over control when required, most of the time driver is in a supervisory role.
Hands Off Tokyo
To better understand what Nissan's AI drive system looks like in the real world, the company took several other journalists and me on a route through some of Tokyo's busiest streets. A 40-minute excursion took place, including the Shibuya crossing. It should be noted that in many of these hands-off demos, such routes are pre-determined and may raise their legs on the lawn of the house to the hands-free system. Nissan will tell you that the route was not determined in advance. Even if it were, some of the variables we encountered would not have been explained in advance.
Here is a good example. At some point, the car turns left through a narrow alley. The one-way street is lined with vans parked in half of the curb, people unloading crates and pedestrians throwing across the road. As the car slowly crawls down the alley, the woman bolts across the road from right to left in front of the car without looking. From the back seat, I did not see her. But even before she promised to cross completely, the car made her realize that she was near the curb and might have wanted to cross, and as she angled towards the road, Ariya had already slowed down well enough to brake before getting close to hitting her. Impressive.
The rest of the test ride followed a similar pattern. I watched Arya easily navigate the notoriously tricky Shibuya crossing, weave around cars parked in the middle of the lane, wait patiently at the crosswalk and pass in enough space for the cyclist to feel safe. It felt natural - and, frankly, not scary at all. Except for the procedure of departure and stop from the hotel, the engineer in the driver's seat did not have to fully control the steering wheel. I can't say the same about any other hands-off test drive I've done. The ride was completely seamless from start to finish.
Ready for the road?
It's a great sign for future Nissan buyers who are eager to get hands-free technology. The company hopes to eventually roll out the technology to 90% of its lineup, and almost everything from Rogue to pathfinder will eventually provide hands-free operation. In the short term, Nissan is partnering with Uber in a fleet of self-driving taxis across Japan, as well as Waymo's partnership with American Jaguar. Nissan's self-driving taxis are leaf-based, and the first pilot program is planned in Tokyo in late 2026. It is autonomous. The real challenge was not even with this scaling tech as seamless as the consumer's work in the car. If Nissan can attract a handsfree driving experience, it will "create a future that will last longer."
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