The Tokyo Motor Show 2015 event becomes the place for
automotive manufacturers from Japan to showcase their innovations in the field
of electric cars and self-driving cars - two aspects that become references for
the future cars. Among the concept cars that are displayed in the event, one of
the most interesting cars is the Nissan IDS Concept.
IDS itself is an abbreviation of Intelligent Driving System,
indicating that this car has intelligence above the average. Nissan designs it
based on Piloted Drive program which has recently started to be tested in the
roads, and plans to enter the stage of commercialization by 2020.
What makes Nissan IDS Concept different is the AI
(Artificial Intelligence) that's always active to watch various aspects. AI is
not only used to drive the car by itself, but also to ensure that accidents
won't happen when the car owner takes over the wheel.
The AI of Nissan IDS Concept can even mimic the driving
style of the car owner, or adjust to the tastes of each owner. Furthermore, Nissan
IDS Concept will also communicate like a personal assistant, providing
information about the jammed streets and also showing the daily agenda of the
car owner.
From the outside, Nissan IDS Concept certainly looks
futuristic. The Nissan's DNA can be seen from the front grille and taillights,
but modern touches are also presented here. One of them is the LED lights
around the sides of the Nissan IDS Concept’s body. This LED serves as an
indicator when there are pedestrians or cyclists who are right in the vicinity.
The ability to recognize the surrounding conditions can be
achieved thanks to the installation of a complex tracking system that involves
12 cameras, 5 radars and 5 laser scanners. This system will monitor the
conditions in the area of 360 degrees around the car constantly. In the windshield,
there is a screen that will greet the pedestrians who are crossing the road.
Surely the designers of Nissan IDX Concept have designed the
car's carbon fiber frame as aerodynamic as possible. The use of an electric
motor that's powered by a battery of 60 kWh allows the car to have shorter nose
and at the same time the interior could be expanded.
Speaking about interior, this is where the most interesting
point of Nissan IDS Concept. The cabin can change its shape in accordance with
two steering modes that are offered by this car, whether the driver wants to
drive by himself or trusts the AI to drive the car. The switching of driving
modes can be done simply by pressing one button.
In the Piloted Drive mode aka automatic steering mode, the
steering wheel will be entered into the dashboard, and then replaced by a
tablet. At the same time, a large touch panel will be out of the dashboard,
making the front of the car looks like a spacecraft control center in Star
Trek.
The position of the car seats will also be slightly oblique
to the center in this automated driving mode, prompting the passengers to
communicate with each other - not just with their smartphone. When the manual
steering mode is activated again, the seats position will be back straight, and
the steering wheel will be out. Everything takes place in a matter of seconds.
Nissan IDS Concept will become a solution to two common
problems that are caused by the automotive industry today: carbon emissions and
traffic accidents. The mission of Nissan may sound very ambitious, but what's
shown by Nissan IDS Concept is an amazing breakthrough, especially how the car
cabin can change shape to adjust to certain conditions.