Nissan is working on the brain-car interface. The goal of this project is to be able to read the driver’s mind. This means that the car must learn to recognize when the driver is going to brake sharply, unscrew the steering wheel or take other action to avoid an accident. A vehicle with partially autonomous abilities could perform such a divergence maneuver with an obstacle 0.2-0.5 seconds earlier than a human driver. But life often depends on the speed of reaction to a situation.

Nissan is going to demonstrate a prototype of such an interface at the CES electronics show, which opens in Las Vegas in a few days. The project is still at a very early stage, a Nissan representative told The Verge. And the company is going to receive a product mature for mass production in the next five to ten years.

EEG

Usually, the brain of machines is controlled using electroencephalography (EEG). This technique involves measuring brain waves using electrodes attached to the head. Certain actions and images trigger corresponding activity in various areas of the brain. A specially designed program is “trained” to recognize what a person is doing or about to do based on such types of brain activity.

However, the EEG does not always provide the necessary accuracy. If, for example, the electrodes move on the head, the measurements may be inaccurate. And the electrical voltage generated by the human body can cause incorrect results.

According to Nissan, the project is developing a cable-free device resembling headphones, which will not need a conductive gel to ensure the stability of measurements. Wearing such a device will be much easier and more comfortable than a bulky helmet with sensors. But before it becomes suitable for everyday use, the device has to be made even more compact and stable.

The last word

If such a technology really matures before launching into the series, it will lead to progress in the development of self-driving cars. However, this development leaves open the question of who will have the last word. Will the decision in an emergency situation remain the prerogative of man, or will artificial intelligence still be able to correct the decision made by the driver if sensor data begins to show that the driver is making a mistake?

Before Nissan, other automakers were engaged in similar projects. In 2016, Renault conducted experiments on driving a car using EEG. And in 2015, Jaguar announced that it was going to measure the driver’s brain waves to make sure that he was fully focused on the road.

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