Possible new Nissan/Infinity Features

[jfanaselle]

As some of you already know, I recently received a survey from Morpace, Inc. on behalf of Nissan USA, in which they asked me to evaluate some new features they're thinking of putting into their vehicles. I decided to create this post with a list of the features and their descriptions. The survey wasn't based on any sort of confidentiality, it was simply market research.

I omitted anything that was insigificant (things like stand turbo-charged 4 cylinder engines instead of V6, Standard Navigation Systems, etc). I understand that some of these ideas have been mentioned or used by other auto companies, but it's nice to see Nissan is considering so many safety and convenience features.

Please excuse any typos or spelling errors. I typed this whole thing in about 20 minutes while reading the print-outs from the survey. I wish I could post some of the pics it showed, too, but they're not available for me to view anymore. Enjoy:

Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) + Low Speed Following (LSF) + Intelligent Brake Assist

ICC is an adaptave cruise control system that uses sensors to measure the distance to other vehicles ahead on the road, automatically adjusting the vehicle's speed to maintain a safe following distance. The system operates in a speed range from 0 mph to 90 mph, making it possible to use on highways even in stop and go rush hour situations. This system must first be turned on by the driver, as with any other cruise control system.

IBA uses the same sensors as the adaptive cruise control system, but is always active. If the system senses an impending collision with a vehicle in front, it will warn the driver and apply the brakes to avoid the accident or to at least minimize the crash severity.

In addition to the package of ICC, LSF and IBA, another option would be DCA (Distance Control Assist. The system assists the driver in maintaining a safe following distance from teh vehicle in front. If the driver becomes distracted and gets too close to the vehicle in front, the system will sound a warning and will push back on the accelerator pedal. If the driver wishes to, he can override the warning by pressing harder on the accellerator pedal. However, if the driver releases the accelerator pedal, the system will automatically apply the brakes until a larger and safer distance gap from the vehicle ahead is created.

Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) + Side Obstacle Warning (SOW)

LDP uses a front mounted camera to read the lane divider lines. A warning tone is generated if the driver starts to move out of the lane if the turn signal is not used. If the driver crosses the divider lines, the vehicle's brake system will be used in an attempt to move the vehicle back into the original lane.

SOW will detect when a vehicle or object is located in the "blind-spot" and provide a visual warning (light) to the driver in either the left or right side view mirror. If the user attempts to change lanes with a vehicle in the blind spot, the visual indicator will flash at the driver.

One Action Clean Air

With the touch of a button, the customer can activate an in-vehicle air cleaning system which includes:

Auto-Recirculation - Detects vehicle exhaust fumes and automatically closes the outside air vents to prevent fumes from entering the cabin. When no exhaust fumes are detected, the outside air vents are open to allow fresh air to enter the cabin.

Advanced MicroFilter - In addition to dust (which current MicroFilters filter out), Advanced MicroFilters will prevent pollen, dust mites and other airborne allergens from entering the cabin. The Advanced MicroFilter will also deodorize the unpleasant smells that enter the cabin.

Plasma AC - Similar to an "Ionic Breeze" system, the Plasma AC will clean the air that is already inside the cabin from pollen and other airborne allergens.

Forrest AC Package w/ Breezing Air

The Forest AC Package includes all of the same technologies and benefits as the One Action Clean Air Package, but offers additional features:

Advanced Auto-Recirculation - While the auto-recirculation system in the One ActionCleanAir package can detect exhaust fumes, the Advanced Auto-Recirculation system will also detect overly dry air or unpleasant odors, such as farms, cow pastures, paper mills, etc., and will cose the outside air vents ot prevent unpleasant air from entering the vehicle.

Breezing Air - For the driver that does not prefer the direct air blown my most vehicle air conditioning systems, this system will slighty vary the temperature, air flow, and fan speed of the vehicle's heating and air conditioning system. This slight variance helps to better distribute the air and stimulate the driver, creating the feel of a natural breeze and improving driver alertness.

Aromatherapy - Botanical natural ingredients will be supplied periodically from vehicle's heating and air conditioning system. The faint smell of these ingredients will both increase alertness and soothe the driver.

Remote Vehicle Communications via Mobile Phone

The Remote Vehicle Communication via Mobile Phone Key package allows you to lock / unlock the doors or start the engine by entering commands on the display of your mobile phone. You can confirm the vehicle status on the diplay of the mobile phone as well, checking items such as; Doors: Unlocked / Locked. Windows: Closed / open. Fuel Level. In-car temperature. Battery condition.

Friendly Driving Partner

Rather than simply providing traditional warning lights and chimes, the Friendly Driving Partner exhibits a simulated personality that communicates information about your vehicle and driving conditions to you.

Intelligent Advisor

An advanced vehicle inteface whereby the vehicle learns your preference and driving habits and provides recommendations for restaurants, scenic routes and musical selections.

Around View Monitor

Four cameras mountd on the vehicle allow the driver to see a 360 degree top view around the vehicle on a display located on th dashboard. This feature can therefore assist the drive rin parking easily.

Alcohol Level Detecting System

Through contact sensors or a built-in breathalyzer, the vehicle would be able to determine the driver's blood/alcohol level and alert him or her that it is over the legal limit. Through warning as even possibly locking the driver out from starting the vehicle, the system would discourage drinking and driving.

Security Heartbeat Monitor

The Security Heartbeat Monitor intends to help prevent car-jacking crimes. The system uses a finely-tuned heartbeat sensor to detect a theif present in a vehicle that as left locked. If so, the system alerts the driver with a warning light on the key fob and by flashing the hazard lights and honking the horn when the driver tries to unlock the vehicle.

e-PKB

The parking brake is engaged automatically when the vehicle's transmission is shifted into Park or when the brake pedal is pressed continuously. The system eliminates the need to manually engage the parking brake when parking on a hill. In addition, the system also prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards on an incline when switching from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal so you accelerate from being stopped.

Selectable Driving Mode

This system offers the driver the ability to select different driving modes so that he or she can tailor vehicle performance. The engine, transmission and suspension can be adjusted based on the driving mode selected. For example, a Sport Mode offers quick acceleration, fast response and more power, while an Eco Mode offers a smoother ride and better fuel economy.

Pedestrian Warning

This system uses a camera and radar to detect heat emitting objects in the vehicle's path. The driver then visual and audio warnings to alert the driver of the object to assist in preventing a collision.

Parking Fit

This feature measures and finds a parking space using sensors at the corners of the vehicle. The system indicates to the driver via a display whether the gap is big enough for the vehicle, a tight squeeze, or simply too small. The driver will not need to worry about whether the parking space is large enough for his/her vehicle.

Traffic Signal Recognition

This system detects traffic signs. When the system detects the maximum speed allowed, the vechile does not accelerate over the maximum speed automatically. Also, when the system detects other traffic signs, the sign is displayed on the Navigation screen.

Auto Hazard Lamp

Automatically activates the hazard lamps when the front or side air bag has deployed. This notifies passers-by that the vehicle has been involved in an accident and prevents secondary accidents.

Adaptive Rear-lighting System

Designed to warn drivers behind you and reduce the risk of rear-end collisions. The brightness of the brake light and size area of the light increases as the driver applies more force to the brakes. The light area becomes larger and brighter under more urgent braking conditions.

Night Vision

Using an infrared camera built into the front of the vehicle, the driver can see pedestrians or animals on a Heads-Up Display. This allows the driver to see in the dark and avoid potential road hazards.

Pre-crash Seat Belt

The system tightens the front seatbelts if the driver is performing emergency braking or if the radar sensor on the front bumper determines the possibility of a front collision. This enables the driver to remain in position to perform evasive maneuvers. it also reduces occupant motion to optimize the performance of airbags and other safety measures.

Side Collision Prevention

Side Collision Prevention (SCP) combines the Side Obsticle Warning (SOW) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP). If the driver accidentally steers the vehicle towards a vehicle in their blind spot (regardless of turn signal usage), the SCP system activates LDP/Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) to gently and quickly pull hte vehicle back toward the center of your travel ane. However, the driver can steer through, or accelerate through the braking assist to continue merging into an object if desired.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Some of these are excellent ideas. Many of them are already in use on Nissan and Infiniti cars in a less advanced state.

Some of them are neat in theory but won't work or aren't as ideal as they sound.

IR night vision was used by Caddy several years ago. It sold VERY VERY poorly and was discontinued after only a few years (though it's something I've always thought was a great idea). It is worth noting that the poor sales might have had as much to do with the poor packaging arrangements that often put otherwise good options out of sensible reach of most buyers these days.

Any of the ideas that involve the car doing things without my consent get a huge, resounding "NO!" from me. I realise that the lane departure prevention and active cruise braking are supposed to increase safety, but they won't.I'm perfectly capable of driving my car safely. One thing that is NOT going to help is the car reacting when I'm trying to react. The two are either going to work against eachother, or lead to an overreaction. I don't need the car to brake for me. I'd rather KNOW I have FULL control of the car and "risk" a crash (which, in 7 years of driving with other traffic, hasn't happened yet.....) than wonder how things are going to go, how the car will handle it, etc. I trust my judgement. I can't say the same for the car.

These ones are awesome:

e-PKB

The parking brake is engaged automatically when the vehicle's transmission is shifted into Park or when the brake pedal is pressed continuously. The system eliminates the need to manually engage the parking brake when parking on a hill. In addition, the system also prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards on an incline when switching from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal so you accelerate from being stopped.

Selectable Driving Mode

This system offers the driver the ability to select different driving modes so that he or she can tailor vehicle performance. The engine, transmission and suspension can be adjusted based on the driving mode selected. For example, a Sport Mode offers quick acceleration, fast response and more power, while an Eco Mode offers a smoother ride and better fuel economy.

Auto Hazard Lamp

Automatically activates the hazard lamps when the front or side air bag has deployed. This notifies passers-by that the vehicle has been involved in an accident and prevents secondary accidents.

Adaptive Rear-lighting System

Designed to warn drivers behind you and reduce the risk of rear-end collisions. The brightness of the brake light and size area of the light increases as the driver applies more force to the brakes. The light area becomes larger and brighter under more urgent braking conditions.

These three, though, scare me to death:

Friendly Driving Partner

Rather than simply providing traditional warning lights and chimes, the Friendly Driving Partner exhibits a simulated personality that communicates information about your vehicle and driving conditions to you.

Intelligent Advisor

An advanced vehicle inteface whereby the vehicle learns your preference and driving habits and provides recommendations for restaurants, scenic routes and musical selections.

Traffic Signal Recognition

This system detects traffic signs. When the system detects the maximum speed allowed, the vechile does not accelerate over the maximum speed automatically. Also, when the system detects other traffic signs, the sign is displayed on the Navigation screen.

Thanks, but I will drive the car, and it can follow my orders. The day that switches priority is the day I start taking the bus.

And I don't want my car to talk to me. Ever. Didn't Nissan learn their lesson with the early '80s Maxima, Z, and 200SX? Dings are bad enough. AI in the car? SCREW that.

My car already knows my driving habits AND provides scenic routes and nice restaurants. It does this by going where I point it.

[Jaesin]

Some of these are really quite awesome... I saw a commercial for the infinity "Around View" just yesterday actually.

Really neat commercial, and a really neat system, showcased it well.

[Rockhound]

You know I had to chime in to remind everyone it's spelled Infiniti.

Some of these features are already in place, in some form or fashion, such as intelligent cruise control, lane departure warnings, microfiltered interior air, and possibly some others.

Volvo debuted the heartbeat monitor on the new S80, kind of an interesting feature. Didn't Cadillac try the night vision thing several years ago?

The traffic signal detection would be cool - as long as it didn't also have the maximum speed limiter included!

[Ever Victorious]

I like the IDEA of the Selectable Driving Mode, but it would hamper with emergency reactions, IMO... if you're sitting there cruising along in Eco mode and you make a mistake that only a full throttle burst will get you out of, having it in Eco mode will get your butt nailed. I can control my car's throttle well enough to get good enough gas mileage for my tastes, without sacrificing the ability to run like a rabbit if I need to. (the animal, not the car.)

The Auto Hazard Lamps and Adaptive Rear Lighting are the only two actual good ideas on this one.

MoD: Subaru has had something similar to an e-PKB on their manual transmissions since about 1982. It's a hydraulic or mechanical retainer on the brakes, where if you push and hold the clutch in, and come to a stop, part of your braking power is retained even after you release the brake, and until you release the clutch. It's a fantastically useful thing, especially around here where you have some 17% or higher grades with stoplights on them. wish the V had it. But the day my car puts my parking brake on without my permission is the day *I* board the bus.

Most of this is just fluff, designed for people who are too lazy to actually drive their cars themselves. I would not buy any of it except for the two I mentioned, and even that would only be "if included". I wouldn't pay extra for them. Most of these features I would actually NOT buy a car equipped with, no matter how much I wanted the car.

On the other hand, it is nice to see Nissan and Infiniti thinking outside the box and trying to come up with new technologies to offer to its customers.

[KimberKenobi]

I like the idea of 'breezing air' but then I remembered that I have a sunroof that tilts and windows that open...

Intelligent Advisor:

An advanced vehicle inteface whereby the vehicle learns your preference and driving habits and provides recommendations for restaurants, scenic routes and musical selections.

Anyone else remember that add for the Nissan with the talking head in it... 3 seater, bubble that turned the cabin... Had a pause button on the steering wheel...

just me?

Kimber - I know its off topic, but I just noticed you added the quote to your sig about that lane departure feature. I was waiting for someone to say something about that... when I read it, I couldn't stop laughing! I seriously copied that word for word from the survey.

Although, I guess if you think about it, sometimes merging into an object next to you is better than hitting something stopped in front of you. Maybe thats what they're trying to say?!?

or maybe they just worded it REALLY badly... I'm sorry... I'm against DRLs... why would I want my car to break for me?? I almost snarfed when I read that line... I had to add it!!

Yes, I would rather sideswipe someone than crash into someone else's bum... especially if there's an unsecured child in the back seat (unfortunately common around here...)

Modified by KimberKenobi at 11:03 AM 2/10/2008