Ford testing self-parking, collision avoidance tech

Following Volvo’s autonomous self-parking vehicle concept and animal collision avoidance system, Ford is now working on technology that will enable drivers to park at the touch of a button from inside or outside their car, plus a prototype that will automatically steer and brake to avoid collisions with vehicles or pedestrians.

A Ford Focus equipped with the prototype Fully Assisted Parking system has been produced by the carmaker’s Research and Advanced Engineering division. The system, which can be controlled remotely from outside the car, takes charge of steering, gear selection, as well as forward and reverse motion.

According to the video, cars have grown wider by as much as 16% on average over the past 20 years, but many parking spaces in Europe are still the same size. With the Fully Assisted Parking system, the driver could get out of the car and remotely squeeze the car into a tight spot that would be difficult to alight from. Needless to say, the technology is also useful when leaving a parking space.

The Focus is also equipped with Obstacle Avoidance, which warns the driver of slow-moving objects, stationary obstacles or pedestrians in the lane ahead. If the driver fails to react to the warnings, the system automatically steers and brakes around the obstacle. The system uses radars, ultrasonic sensors and a camera to scan the road up to 200 metres ahead.

The results of the Obstacle Avoidance project are due to be presented at the end of the year.

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Jonathan James Tan

While most dream of the future, Jonathan Tan dreams of the past, although he's never been there. Fantasises much too often about cruising down Treacher Road (Jalan Sultan Ismail) in a Triumph Stag that actually works, and hopes this stint here will snap him back to present reality.

 

Comments

  • I hope cars in future could choose not to let reckless drivers driving them. It would be nobel prize if someone invented it.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 0
    • Yea… Cars with robotic hand that will slap those idiot right in their face each time they drive recklessly

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 25 Thumb down 1
  • Denaihati on Oct 09, 2013 at 2:15 pm

    These are really great, very useful and safety first.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • so in future we also might have self-driven car from home to office. the driver just hop in the car, continue sleep and only wake up once the car reach office.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 2
    • sonic31s on Oct 09, 2013 at 4:43 pm

      Yes is does exist, now is waiting for cheaper cost to mass production the technology… too bad need wait more than 20 years.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Kelvin on Oct 09, 2013 at 5:09 pm

        This is our vision and rough plans.

        http://www.continental-corporation.com/www/pressportal_com_en/general/ov_automated_driving_en/automated_driving_intro_en.html

        Main obstacles are actually regulations and liability.

        Cost and technology can be made feasible through time.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • BeemerFreak on Oct 09, 2013 at 11:57 pm

      Actually such a thing existed ages ago, it is called the taxi

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Kelvin on Oct 09, 2013 at 2:27 pm

    More cars will be equipped with sensors in the future. Currently most features are still comfort features. In the future, safety features will be mainstream, such as Emergency Brake Assist.

    EU NCAP will soon award full stars only if the vehicle includes an active safety feature as standard. We will see more manufacturers including at least one of these in their vehicles soon.

    I’m working in the development of radar, camera and lidar sensors in the European consortium mentioned. We are feeling the pressure due to the barrage of customer projects we are receiving. Not that it’s a bad thing, of course :)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • shame_Loo on Oct 09, 2013 at 3:26 pm

    Great tech…but in case of malfunction…could it be dangerous & costly to repair/replace?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
  • Black Dog on Oct 09, 2013 at 3:40 pm

    Our parking space is worse, much smaller, as though only catered for Myvi’s!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2
  • i thought … BYD already has this technology ?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Black Dog on Oct 09, 2013 at 4:15 pm

    ‘cars have grown wider by as much as 16% on average over the past 20 years, but many parking spaces in Europe are still the same size’

    But here we are much worse, parking space are drawn as though catered for Myvi’s only!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 3
  • Ryan.C on Oct 09, 2013 at 4:24 pm

    if besides car doesn’t have this function..

    then need to enter the car from another side.

    means all have to FORD now??

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • “With the Fully Assisted Parking system, the driver could get out of the car and remotely squeeze the car into a tight spot that would be difficult to alight from. Needless to say, the technology is also useful when leaving a parking space.”

    This can only work if every car is equipped with this system. Else, you’ll get a door full of chips and scratches from the car next to you.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • jameshy on Oct 09, 2013 at 6:44 pm

    Audi, Volvo also ready with this fully self parking technology. but none of them ready to push out for the market.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Kelvin on Oct 09, 2013 at 9:54 pm

      The good thing about this feature is due to the usage of sensors which are already in the car for safety features such as Autonomous braking, collision avoidance etc.

      Once safety features like these are made standard, this feature will be provided as well (most likely for a price, but at an affordable price due to usage of the same sensors).

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • jameshy on Oct 09, 2013 at 6:45 pm

    Audi, Volvo already ready with above technology. But none of them ready to push out for the market.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • dino years on Oct 09, 2013 at 8:29 pm

    oops. valet parking out of business.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Not quite. This system cannot search for available spaces. Valet parking still got business.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • yoolang on Oct 09, 2013 at 10:05 pm

    this one got already in current ford focus

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
  • No need high tech parking gadget if G Implement rm 40 per hour..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • then those not driving Ford’s car will just knock your car when they getting up or down their car when your high tech Ford squeeze into that space.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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