Nissan Brain-to-Vehicle Technology Allows Vehicle to Learn from the Driver

Nissan has unveiled pathbreaking research that will allow vehicles to interpret signals from the driver’s brain, thus redefining the interaction of people with their cars.
Called Brain-to-Vehicle, or B2V technology, the new innovation will speed up reaction times for drivers and will help cars to adapt to make driving more enjoyable.
Nissan will showcase the potential of this exclusive technology at the CES 2018 that is scheduled to be held shortly in Las Vegas. B2V is the latest component of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the Japanese auto manufacturer’s vision for transforming how cars are driven, powered and integrated into society.

Commenting on the new technology, Nissan Executive Vice President Daniele Schillaci said that most people have a very impersonal concept of driving in the future, especially when it comes to autonomous driving, as they expect vehicles to take over control from humans. B2V technology takes a different approach by using signals from the brains of motorists to make the drive even more exciting and enjoyable. Motorists can thus use Nissan Intelligent Mobility to benefit from more autonomy, more electrification and more connectivity.”

Nissan developed this technology as the outcome of research into using brain decoding technology to predict a driver’s actions and detect discomfort. The technology has two components:

Prediction: This involves sensing signs that the driver’s brain is ready to initiate actions like turning the steering wheel or pushing the accelerator pedal and helping driver assist technologies to implement the action more quickly. This element can improve reaction times and enhance manual driving.
Detection: This involves sensing and evaluating driver discomfort with the aid of artificial intelligence, and taking corrective measures to change the driving configuration or driving style when in autonomous mode.

Other possible uses for the technology include adjusting the vehicle’s internal environment, said Dr. Lucian Gheorghe, senior innovation researcher at the Nissan Research Center in Japan, who’s leading the B2V research. One example is the use of augmented reality to adjust what the driver sees and to create a more relaxing environment.
“The potential applications of the technology are incredible,” Gheorghe said. “This research will be a catalyst for more Nissan innovation inside our vehicles in the years to come.”

Nissan’s B2V technology is the first such system in the world. For the implementation of this technology, the driver needs to wear a device that measures brain wave activity, which is then analyzed by autonomous systems. The system then takes actions a tiny bit faster than the motorist would by anticipating intended movement.
Nissan will use a driving simulator to demonstrate some elements of the technology at CES, and Gheorghe will be on hand to answer questions.