Nissan Develops System to Detect People Around Vehicles

Tokyo, Oct. 12 (Jiji Press)--Nissan Motor Co. <7201> said Wednesday it has developed what it claims to be the world's first system to warn drivers of possible accidents by detecting the movement of people around their vehicles with four cameras.
The major Japanese automaker believes the system will be effective in preventing a vehicle from hitting children when it is placed in reverse in parking lots and other confined places.
The company plans to install the system in its Elgrand luxury minivan, which will hit dealer lots next month after minor changes.
Work is also under way to develop functions that, using a rear camera, warn drivers when they unintentionally drift from traffic lanes or when they are not aware of other vehicles traveling in their blind spots.
These technologies, which the company aims to commercialize in 2012, do not need radars or other expensive equipment and can be applied for a wide range of vehicles, including subcompact cars, Nissan said.
The company is also developing a system that prevents pileup accidents by detecting sudden brakes applied by two vehicles in front as well as another system that suppresses acceleration when drivers misapply accelerator pedals in parking lots.