The minimization of the nuclear waste is the key problem for the long term and sustainable nuclear energy development.Accelerator driven system (ADS) is a kind of high efficient nuclear waste transmutation machine (or incinerator), which is the key technique to solve the nuclear water problem. The basic theory of ADS and driven influence of ADS on the advanced accelerator, advanced cooling technique, etc are introduced. Meanwhile the present research situations of ADS in some countries are compared. At last,the key problem of the ADS development and the relationship between ADS and the development of nuclear energy in China is discussed.