Ford Motor Company was recently in Milwaukee demonstrating its new vehicle to vehicle technology. The technology allows vehicles to ‘communicate’ with each other wirelessly through advanced radar technology.
“Ford believes intelligent vehicles that talk to each other through advanced Wi-Fi are the next frontier of collision avoidance innovations that could revolutionize the driving experience and hold the potential of helping reduce many crashes,” said Sue Cischke, group vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering.
According to Ed Cadagin, Ford Automotive safety engineer, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that intelligent vehicles could help reduce the amount of police-reporter, light-vehicle crashes by 81 percent annually.
“The technology uses 360-degree detection to warn drivers of potentially dangerous situations,” said Cadagin.
The vehicle to vehicle technology expands on capabilities already available in some Ford models, he said.
“The new technology could alert drivers if the vehicle is on path to collide with another vehicle at a busy intersection, when a vehicle suddenly stops or slows ahead or if there is a change in traffic patterns on a busy highway,” he said.
According to Cadagin, Ford is leading the way with the development of this technology, but the company is also working side-by-side with seven other auto manufactures.
“Ideally we want the system to be all encompassing,” he said. “We don’t want Ford vehicles only talking with other Ford vehicles. We’re also working with international manufacturers to produce this technology so that cars being shipped across markets will be able to communicate with other vehicles the same way.”
The federal government is funding a significant portion of the research related to this technology, Cadagin said.
“In 2012, the federal government will launch a pilot program in Ann Arbor, Michigan using 3,000 cars outfitted with this technology,” Cadagin said. “The results of that study will determine how things move forward.”
The company is also working on an independent kit that could be used to retrofit older vehicles on the road as well.
“The technology won’t be as useful if it’s only available in new cars,” he said. “We’re working on the development of a portable gps-like device system that would give older cars some of the capabilities of the new technology.”
Ford expects the technology to take at least 5 to 10 years before it’s regularly implemented in mass production, he said.
To watch a video interview with Cadagin and a demonstration of the technology click on the image below.
