With Nissan’s driver-assist tech, you can putt like a pro

NISSAN’S ProPilot 2.0 driver-assist technology is set to debut on the new Nissan Skyline in Japan in September. The system is designed for on-ramp to off-ramp highway driving. It engages with the vehicle’s navigation system to help maneuver the car on a predefined route over designated roadways. The system, according to Nissan, is the first in the world to combine this function with hands-off driving capability (while cruising in a single lane, that is).

Now, Nissan uses the tech on its ProPilot golf ball, which can follow a predefined route to the hole. The carmaker said players are assured they will reach their target effortlessly with each putt.

Using technology influenced by Nissan Intelligent Mobility — the company’s vision for how cars are powered, driven and integrated into society — the ball navigates its way across the green and into the cup on the first putt, providing a stress-free golf experience.

Nissan explained an overhead camera detects the position of the ball and cup. When the ball is hit, a monitoring system calculates the correct route based on the ball’s movement and adjusts its trajectory. Combining sensing technology with an internal electric motor, the ProPilot golf ball stays on route until reaching the cup — letting novice golfers putt like pros.