Nissan has started testing its Leaf-based autonomous car prototype capable of driving on both highway and urban roads of Japan.
The Japanese automaker wants to test "Piloted Drive" mode, which is a part of its Intelligent Driving System that is capable of taking control of the car in certain situations.
Nissan is testing the car in actual traffic conditions in an attempt to improve the Nissan Intelligent Driving for public use.
The vehicle is equipped with advanced features including millimeter wave radar, laser scanners, cameras, high-speed computer chips, and a specialized HMI (Human Machine Interface).
The high-spec laser scanner is capable of determining the distance between the vehicle and its surroundings which helps it to navigate routes in tight spaces.
It also includes an eight-way, 360-degree view camera system that is designed for accurate routing decisions when the car has to be driven through intersections and sharp curving roads.
Nissan senior vice president Takao Asami said: "We at Nissan are setting clear goals and preparing for the implementation of piloted drive.
"The prototype that we're introducing here today is proof of how close we are towards the realization of this goal. Nissan aspires for a safe and trouble-free motoring future, and we plan on leading the industry in the implementation of piloted drive."
Apart from Nissan, companies like Google and Honda have taken their self driving cars on public roads, and Volvo is planning to test a fleet of 100 vehicles on public roads around the Swedish city of Gothenburg in 2017.
