Nissan Unveils Two Advanced Electric Steering System

Nissan Motor Co. has announced two electronic steering systems, one to reduce driver fatigue during normal conditions and the other to automatically veer around an obstacle to avoid collision.

The first technology is a steer-by-wire system that "reads" the driver's intentions but controls the front tire angle independently of the steering wheel.

Nissan says the system telegraphs a driver's steering wheel input to the wheels faster than a mechanical linkage can. It also automatically corrects for minor unintended directional changes caused by uneven roads or crosswinds, thus reducing driver fatigue.

The system employs a forward-looking camera mounted above the inside rearview mirror to compare the driver's intended direction with the vehicle's actual path. When it detects a discrepancy, the system automatically makes steering adjustments to maintain the direction indicated by steering wheel input.

The system includes redundant electronic control units to ensure high reliability. If one ECU malfunctions, another takes over. If a complete electronics failure occurs, a clutch automatically establishes a mechanical link between the steering wheel and wheels.

The company plans to debut the electronic steering system in unspecified Infiniti models within the next 12 months.

Nissan has not indicated when it might introduce a second technology, which it calls an Autonomous Emergency Steering System. It takes automatic emergency braking a step further by also steering the vehicle around an obstacle if it can't stop in time to avoid hitting it.

The emergency system relies on an array of front, side and rear radars and laser scanners to detect and monitor nearby objects. If it determines that a forward collision is imminent, it looks for a forward zone that is free of obstacles and checks to confirm no vehicles are approaching that zone from the rear.

The system then signals the driver where to turn to avoid the collision. If the driver does not respond quickly enough, the system automatically steers around the obstacle.

Nissan describes the emergency steering system as part of its "safety shield" initiative to develop technology to counter danger that could occur during six stages of driving conditions ranging from "normal" to "post-accident."