Invisible-to-Visible (I2V): Nissan’s New Intelligent System

Nissan’s Invisible-to-Visible system, commonly called I2V, is a connected-vehicle concept designed to combine information from the physical world with digital information. Its goal is to help drivers understand road conditions, hazards and activity that may not be visible from inside the vehicle.

I2V belongs to Nissan’s broader vision for intelligent mobility. The concept relies on data gathered by vehicle sensors, surrounding infrastructure and cloud-based services, then presents relevant information through augmented- or mixed-reality interfaces.

What I2V could show drivers

By combining real-time sensor data with information received from outside the vehicle, I2V could provide advance awareness of situations beyond the driver’s direct line of sight.

• Pedestrians, vehicles or obstacles hidden behind buildings or around corners
• Traffic congestion and conditions farther along the route
• Available parking spaces
• Road, weather and visibility information
• Navigation guidance placed within the driver’s field of view

The purpose is to supplement normal observation and driver-assistance systems, not eliminate the driver’s responsibility to watch the road and respond safely.

Connecting the real and virtual worlds

I2V also explores ways to bring remote people and services into the vehicle through three-dimensional avatars. A remote guide, instructor, family member or other participant could appear virtually inside the cabin and communicate with the occupants in real time.

This part of the concept extends beyond safety. Nissan has presented I2V as a possible way to make travel more informative, comfortable and interactive.

How the concept works

The proposed system depends on several technologies operating together:

• Exterior sensors monitor nearby vehicles, pedestrians and road conditions.
• Interior sensors observe conditions within the cabin and may help the system respond to the driver.
• Cloud connectivity supplies information that cannot be collected by the vehicle alone.
• Data analysis combines current observations with predictive information about the road ahead.
• Augmented or mixed reality presents digital information within the occupants’ view of the physical environment.

A future-facing technology

I2V should be understood as a research and development concept rather than a standard feature available across current Nissan vehicles. Any production version would require dependable sensors, communications, mapping and display technology, as well as safeguards against distraction and inaccurate information.

Existing driver-assistance features may reflect parts of the same general direction, but they should not be assumed to provide the complete I2V experience. Vehicle owners should consult the documentation for their specific model to determine which safety, connectivity and driver-assistance systems are actually installed.