NISSAN have taken autonomous technology to an incredible new level.

The Japanese marque have unveiled research that will allow cars to interpret signals from the driver’s brain and predict their next actions. The astonishing system is being highlighted this week at the 2018 CES event in Las Vegas, which is one of the biggest tech shows in the world.

It promotes innovation and invention from all industry areas but is a hotbed for future car technology such as Brain-to-Vehicle. Nissan believe their B2V system will redefine how people interact with their cars.

They also say the technology will speed up reaction times for drivers and will make cars more enjoyable and safer.

Nissan executive vice-president Daniele Schillaci said: “When most people think about autonomous driving, they have a very impersonal vision of the future, where humans relinquish control to the cars.

“Yet B2V technology does the opposite, by using signals from their own brain to make the drive even more exciting and enjoyable. Through Nissan Intelligent Mobility, we are moving people to a better world by delivering more autonomy, more electrification and more connectivity.”

B2V technology is the first system of its kind in the world. The driver wears a device that measures brainwave activity, which is then analysed by autonomous systems.

Nissan's Brain-to-Vehicle technology

B2V uses brain decoding technology developed by Nissan scientists to predict a motorist’s reactions and level of discomfort.

It catches signs that the motorist’s brain is about to initiate a movement, such as turning the steering wheel or accelerating, and uses driver-assist technologies to carry out the action more efficiently for better manual driving.

The action can be from 0.2 to 0.5 seconds faster than the driver alone while remaining imperceptible.

It will also detect driver discomfort, evaluating how the motorist is feeling. In this way, it can change the driving configuration of the car or the autonomous driving style to make the driver feel better. It can even change the car’s internal environment.

Dr Lucian Gheorghe, senior innovation researcher at the Nissan Research Centre in Japan, who is leading the B2V development, explained the technology can use augmented reality to adjust what the driver sees and create a more relaxing environment.

He went on: “The potential applications of the technology are incredible. This research will be a catalyst for more Nissan innovation inside our vehicles in the years to come.”

Also at the CES, expect to see a host of electric cars and concepts. Chinese automaker Byton are going to show off their Smart Intuitive Vehicle, which may not be far away from the Nissan offering. And Uber and Lyft will fight it out in driverless cars, taking guests from one part of the city to another.