Nissan is advertising its ProPilot Park autonomous technology, which lets cars park themselves, in an innovative way: through the creation of "self-parking" slippers, floor cushions, TV remotes and tables. A traditional Japanese hotel ("ryokan") in Hakone, Japan is piloting the diverting devices.
With the implementation of motors, sensors and wheels, the objects return to their original location with the touch of a button. Slippers returning to line up at the entrance of a building accords with the Japanese tradition of leaving one's outdoor shoes at the door and donning slippers. The hotel keeps slippers available upon entry for this purpose. The autonomously-moving objects will reduce the staff's workload.
Nissan representative Nick Maxfield said the slippers are meant to "raise awareness of automated driving technologies and their potential non-driving applications."
Nissan's ProPilot Park is employed in the 2018 electric Nissan Leaf.
Quote source: https://af.reuters.com/article/africaTech/idAFL4N1PK3H