Nissan Leaf Piloted Drive 1.0 Concept Points To Nissan’s Autonomous Future

Nissan has shown its Leaf Piloted Drive 1.0 Concept, the first step in the company's plan to launch an autonomous vehicle by 2020.

In concept form, the Leaf Piloted Drive 1.0 wears the bodywork of the regular electric Leaf but with modifications to accommodate the 12 cameras, four laser scanners, five radar sensors, plus ultrasonic sensors used to monitor the vehicle’s surrounds.

Inside the boot of the Leaf Pilot Drive 1.0 resides the computer hardware that deciphers the information provided by the sensors.

The autonomous Leaf is able to merge itself on and off freeways, as well as being able to overtake slower vehicles, without driver intervention.