Last week, Ford Motor Company revealed for the first time technology developed to enable drivers to park at the touch of a button from inside or outside their car; and also a prototype system that uses automatic steering and braking to avoid collisions with vehicles or pedestrians.
Experts from Ford’s Research and Advanced Engineering organisation have harnessed advances made in existing Ford technologies Active Park Assist and Ford Powershift to deliver a Ford Focus test car equipped with prototype Fully Assisted Parking Aid system. The next-generation parking technology controls steering, gear selection and forward and reverse motion to facilitate push-button parking that can even be operated by remote control.
Ford has also revealed Obstacle Avoidance technology developed as part of a Ford-led and European-funded research project. Ford’s Obstacle Avoidance-equipped Focus test vehicle issues warnings first if it detects slow-moving objects, stationary obstacles or pedestrians in the same lane ahead. If the driver fails to steer or brake following those warnings the system will then automatically steer and brake to avoid a collision. Both technologies were demonstrated for the first time, last week, at Ford’s test facilities in Lommel, Belgium.
“The future for Ford means developing innovative products and technologies – including Fully Assisted Parking Aid and Obstacle Avoidance – that help deliver a safer, more convenient, more desirable, more personalised and greener driving and ownership experience,” said Barb Samardzich, vice president Product Development, Ford of Europe. “Ford is focussed on making sure the vehicles, technologies and features we develop better meet changing customer expectations and values.”