Nissan have unveiled a world first in driver assistance technology, combining navigated highway driving with hands-off single-lane driving capabilities. Expanding on its ProPILOT system, the technology will debut on the Japanese market Nissan Skyline in the autumn.

The new system engages with the vehicle’s navigation system to help manoeuvre the car according to a predefined route on designated roadways. For the first time, the system also enables hands-off driving while cruising in a single lane.

The vehicle uses a combination of cameras, radars, sonars, GPS and 3D high-definition map data to provide 360-degree, real-time information of the surrounding environment and the vehicle’s precise location on the road. The system uses this information to provide a smooth driving experience, similar to that produced by an experienced driver. A monitoring system in the cabin continually confirms that the driver’s attention is on the road.

The move illustrates how technology continues to develop towards autonomous driving and also how the technology is likely to create new challenges in accident repair.