Ford Moves One Step Closer to Autonomous Technology

Ford has moved one step closer to autonomous technology with a new generation of driver assist technologies like cross-traffic alerts, enhanced self-parking, evasive steering assist and pedestrian detection. These features will make life easier on the road for both drivers and for pedestrians.

Cross-traffic alerts are currently in the development stage and are meant to detect objects that are about to pass behind the vehicle while reversing. The driver is alerted through a warning sound and a wide-angle view on the backup camera. If he does not act in time, the car brakes automatically brake to avoid a fender bender. To make parking even easier, Ford is soon planning to roll out an enhanced pushbutton parking system that will require no input from the driver for parallel parking or for reversing into parking spaces.

The evasive steering technology uses information obtained through camera systems and radar to take proactive action when it detects slow or stopped traffic in front of your own vehicle. If you end up suddenly coming across a stalled car, even if you are moving at highway speeds, the new Ford model will serve to avoid it. According to Ford, the system will only be activated when it detects that just braking is not adequate to avoid a collision.

According to Ford, the new driver-assist system uses a combination of visual information and GPS data to inform drivers if they unknowingly drive down the wrong way on a one-way street. An infrared camera system is used to detect animals, pedestrians and cyclists to enhance awareness about even more hazards. It is expected that these new features will be seen in Ford models within the next two years. So, if you are planning to buy a 2019 Ford model, chances are good that you will get a very easy ride.