Nissan has developed two new systems that communicate safety and fuel-efficiency information to car drivers through force feedback of the pedals and steering wheel.

The first, called side collision prevention, uses a millimeter-wave radar to monitor the blind-spot -- the area just to the rear of a car where other vehicles and objects can't be easily seen in the car's mirrors -- and indicate the presence of an object with a small light positioned near the wing mirror. It works with other systems in the car to sense when a dangerous maneuver is being attempted.

"All sorts of technologies are combined," said Yasuhisa Hayakawa, an engineer at the advanced engineering group of Nissan's technology development department. "Apart from the millimeter system it also uses a camera and measures the relationship between the lanes so all this sensor information is combined to detect that a vehicle is approaching from behind and also that the driver is trying to do a lane change."

When the driver attempts a lane change with a car in the blind-spot, an audible warning sounds and the steering wheel gently resists the turn.

In a test drive of the system, it was remarkably effective and letting me know that I really shouldn't be attempting to change lanes. It would have been fairly easy to push through the resistance if I really needed to change lanes but in normal use it should prove enough of a warning to avoid a collision with a vehicle moving up from the rear.

The side collision prevention system is one of Nissan's "Safety Shield" family of four technologies intended to make driving safer. Two of the technologies are already available in some Nissan cars: distance control assist gently eases back the accelerator and applies the brake if you get too close to a vehicle in front while lane departure control monitors the road markings and provides a warning if you begin straying out of your lane.

The fourth technology, back-up collision prevention, watches for objects coming into the car's path when its reversing. Nissan will demonstrate this technology at the ITS World Congress that is due to take place in New York in November this year.

Nissan is also applying some of the same basic technology to make driving more environmentally friendly. The actuator pedal used in the distance control assist to add resistance to the accelerator is being employed to indicate when a car is being driven efficiently.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.