standard on the S90 ($49,095), V90 ($50,945) and XC90
($47,895) but will come as a part of an option package
on XC40 ($37,595) and XC60 ($44,695).
Nissan ProPilot Assist
Nissan’s hands-on semi-autonomous system made its
debut in the 2018 Rogue and is now also available on
the 2018 Leaf. It is another system that uses camera and
radar to facilitate lane centering and speed control. But
ProPilot Assist is definitely only a Level 2 system, and it
emits an audible alert if the driver takes hands off the
wheel for
more than
15 seconds.
If the driver
doesn’t
re-engage
during the
alert, the
vehicle will
come to a
controlled
stop in the
middle of
whatever lane it’s in. ProPilot is only available in the
top-tier Rogue SL ($34,765) and in SV ($32,490) and SL
($36,200) trims of the Leaf with the technology package
($2,200 and $650, respectively).
The Bottom Line
A lot of semi-autonomous systems are starting to
hit the market from various automakers. However, the
goal with the current systems isn’t to allow people to
watch movies or read the paper on the commute to
work. Instead, the idea is to relieve stress for the driver
by providing a second set of eyes and additional safety
systems.
So, while cars with steering-wheel-optional
automation are still a few years off, we are making baby
steps toward full automation now. Experts agree that
we’ll likely start seeing a smattering self-driving cars
on the roads by 2020 with Level 5 autonomy being
mainstream by 2040.
Nifty Autonomous Tech
While semi-autonomous technology can be
expensive when grouped together under a blanket
system like Drive Pilot or ProPilot Assist, a lot of
automakers make different Level 1 autonomous
features available more affordably as single options
or as part of tech packages.
As you are car shopping, here are a few of the
autonomous features to watch for:
Adaptive Cruise Control –
This system is a part
of virtually every semi-autonomous system on the
market. Similar to cruise control, it lets you set your
speed. But with the addition of radar, it will monitor
the speed of the car in front of you. If that car slows
down, it applies the brakes. In some instances, it
can slow you all the way to a stop, but in others
the driver is required to take control at a certain
diminished speed.
Autonomous Emergency Braking –
This is
an important one as the Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety requires this feature in order for
a vehicle to be considered for a Top Safety Pick
Award. It will apply the brakes if the vehicle detects
an imminent collision in the attempt to avoid or
lessen impact. A lot of manufacturers offer this
as an option on higher-end models, but then
you have automakers such as Toyota that make it
standard on even its most basic models.
Lane Keep Assist –
Various automakers may
call this something different, but at the end of the
day the goal is to keep a car in its lane. While some
systems may employ lane-centering techniques, a
lot of the simpler systems will use braking to nudge
the car back in its lane. On an even more basic level,
some systems will use an audible, visual or haptic
alert rather than utilizing active intervention.
Park Assist –
For those who hate parallel or
perpendicular parking, this system is a must. It uses
cameras to detect and measure an available space.
Then it will steer the vehicle into the space. The
caveat here is that the driver must use the brakes
and gas to control the speed of the vehicle as it
parks. Some of the more enhanced systems will
even help a driver get out of a parking spot.
Sign Recognition –
While this feature might
not necessarily drive the car for you, it does help
the driver make better-informed decisions while
driving. Through a front-facing camera, the vehicle
can “read” speed signs and then project the proper
speed limit onto a head-up display or navigation
screen. Many systems will even give you a visual
warning if you exceed the speed limit. In the future,
sign readers will be used in fully autonomous
vehicles to actively control speed.
M
ore
C
ar
, L
ess
M
oney
: T
he
LEASE
you
can
do
!
CHICAGO AUTO SHOW 2018
15
