Nissan to debut pedal misapplication function

Nissan has announced that its ‘Emergency Assist for Pedal Misapplication with Carpark Detection Function’ safety system will make its debut on the company’s new Elgrand MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) by the end of the year. The system is aimed at reducing acceleration accidents in parking lots and other spaces where a car could collide with walls or other solid objects, if a driver mistakenly depresses the accelerator instead of the brake pedal. Using the four cameras of the Around View Monitor and ultrasonic sonar, the system detects if the car is currently in a parking space or not; and if there are obstacles such as walls in the direction the vehicle is traveling. The function automatically controls acceleration if necessary and applies the brakes before a collision can occur.

Nissan has adopted the ‘Vision Zero’ safety goal, which aims to eliminate deaths and serious injuries due to traffic accidents. As part of this philosophy, the company has introduced the ‘Safety Shield’ concept, which designates the condition a car experiences into six stages, from ‘normal driving conditions’ through to ‘post-accident conditions’. The Safety Shield is intended to provide the most effective barrier against sources of danger occurring at each stage and the new Pedal Misapplication system is based on this concept. The updated Elgrand model, which is sold in Japan and in select markets throughout Asia, has previously been equipped with other examples of advanced safety equipment from the ‘Safety Shield’ program, such as the Around View Monitor and Moving Object Detection functions.

16 October 2012