FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

19 October 1999

NISSAN LEADS THE WAY WITH ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY

Nissan’s philosophy of continuous improvement has led to an array of technological improvements, which improve both driver comfort and safety. Much of this technology is still under development but innovations such as specially designed seats that prevent car sickness are available now.

Highlights at a glance

·         Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) – the car that sees in the fog

·         The virtual back seat driver – predicting and overriding accidents

·         Nissan’s artificial ears – reducing noise levels by 45 per cent

·         The cure for car sickness

·         Emissions self-check system

·         Nissan’s mechanical bottom – testing seat durability

Adaptive Cruise Control

Nissan will be the first carmaker to include an Adaptive Cruise Control system (ACC) on the launch of a new model in Japan. The technology provides a solution to driving safely in fog; it automatically keeps a safe distance from the car in front by controlling the acceleration and braking.  The technology measures the road distance using radar sensors that are accurate to within one millimetre.

The Nissan system is ideally suited to motorway driving. It operates in all light and weather conditions and can calculate the distances accounting for bends in the road. 

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When closing on the vehicle ahead in the same lane, the ACC system will gradually decelerate the car until it is at a safe stopping distance and travelling at a steady speed. If the vehicle ahead brakes suddenly or another vehicle cuts in front, the ACC system slows the car down and issues a brake warning to the driver.  When the lane ahead is clear the car will accelerate. The driver predetermines safe speed and distance and can override the system at any time.

Virtual back seat driver

Nissan, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is developing technology that can predict when a driver is about to make a dangerous manoeuvre.

By monitoring behaviour, the car builds up a picture of what the driver will do next. If necessary the technology will activate a warning or override system to prevent an accident. The prediction technique is similar to that used in speech recognition PC software. The system continuously updates the probabilities of next actions, so can adapt to new drivers’ styles. To make its prediction the system uses information gathered from sensors on the steering wheel, accelerator and brake.

Nissan’s artificial ears

Nissan has created a pair of artificial ears to help improve interior noise levels in cars. The ‘ears’ were used for the first time during development of the new Primera and, as a result, interior noise has been reduced by up to 45 per cent - improving comfort and safety.

The artificial ears, implanted into the heads of test dummies, record sound digitally using microphones that are as thin as a human ear drum. Cabin noise is then digitally recorded at various speeds and on different road surfaces. This creates a digital model from which Nissan engineers can experiment with the vehicle’s acoustics.

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Over 40 major changes were made to the new Primera using the artificial ears, ranging from re-tuned suspension bushes to an under floor stone-chip coating to deaden noise from loose gravel. Extra soundproofing has been put behind the instrument panel and the headliner material has been acoustically optimised.

Nissan’s cure for car sickness

By experimenting with the density of car seats, Nissan engineers have been able to damp-out road noise that leads to car sickness. Low frequency road noise, at around six hertz, causes the stomach to naturally resonate and feel queasy.

John Saville from Nissan’s European Technology Centre in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, was responsible for the seat design.  “We have tuned the seat to absorb sound frequencies that cause car sickness,” he explains.  “Over 6,500 man-hours were spent eradicating sources of noise, vibration and harshness.”

Special attention was also paid to reducing levels of noise that interfere with conversation and listening to music.

Emissions self-check system

The new Nissan Primera will be able to continuously check its own ‘green’ credentials. An On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) system will warn the driver if emissions are exceeding strict standards soon to be introduced across Europe. 

The OBD system, which senses an engine misfiring or catalyst malfunctioning, detects even a momentary increase in emissions.  In such cases, the driver is immediately alerted and the episode is recorded in the vehicle’s engine management system. If the situation persists, an indicator light remains on until it has been resolved by a dealer.

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Nissan’s mechanical bottom

Nissan engineers in Sunderland use a mechanical denim-clad bottom to test the durability of car seats.

The Nissan bottom is modelled on an 11-stone person. Denim is used because it is the most abrasive clothing material and the rivets can cause damage to seat fabric.

During the test the mechanical bottom slides onto a car seat, rubs back and forth three times and then slides off. This test is repeated 15,000 times without a break over a three-day period. This is equivalent to 32 years’ travelling to and from work.

After the test Nissan quality assurance engineers check all aspects of the car seat. Only those seats which look as good as new are allowed to be fitted in vehicles.

ends…

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Andrew Roberts          Manager, Product Affairs                    01923 899930

e-mail:                         andrew.roberts@nissan.co.uk

Linda Robinson           Press Officer, Product Affairs            01923 899930

e-mail:                         linda.robinson@nissan.co.uk

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