The Ford Motor Company is working with Commsignia, The Ohio State University, T-Mobile, and Tome Software to research innovative smartphone-based tech that has the potential to warn drivers of pedestrians, bicyclists, and other people blocked from the driver’s view. That means those Ford F-150 lease deals might start coming with some extra capabilities in the near future.
How Does It Work
The idea behind this new tech is that a smartphone app can run on the pedestrian’s phone using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) messaging to let Ford vehicles know they are nearby. If the system determines a potential crash risk, Ford’s Sync software will alert drivers via the infotainment screen. Various other alerts will also help drivers know that a pedestrian may be on the road.
Newer Ford vehicles, like fresh Ford F-150 lease deals, already come with a suite of driver-assist safety features (Ford Co-Pilot360) that can already detect and warn drivers of upcoming pedestrians. These systems can also apply the vehicle’s brakes if the driver doesn’t respond in time. Ford engineers want to expand this capability to help drivers in areas where they may not be able to see.
BLE connectivity tech sends wireless signals in the 2.4-gigahertz band to communicate with similar devices. It is also compatible with Ford’s SYNC software and is available on the majority of smartphones. That means this tech could easily be added to phones and vehicles without any significant hardware changes.
Ford engineers are exploring how BLE technology can communicate with devices at acceptable ranges to increase safety on and off-road. Since BLE does not rely on line-of-sight detections as you find with cameras or radar, it can detect pedestrians around blind curves, behind buildings, and more. It also rapidly changes communications channels (frequency hopping) to minimize any potential interference.
This system can differentiate between walkers, joggers, and bicyclists based on their traveling speeds. It can also extrapolate where a pedestrian will be based on their speed and traveling direction to determine if there is a chance for a collision.
It’s only a matter of time before Ford engineers perfect this technology, which will make it safer for everyone on the road.
About The Ford Motor Company
Ford is an international company based in Dearborn, Michigan. Along with being one of the largest American auto manufacturers, Ford is committed to building a safer world. Ford develops and delivers advanced safety features, autonomous driving systems, and connected services to provide an overall better experience on the road. Ford employs over 182k worldwide.
You can learn more about The Ford Motor Company, its dedication to creating a safer driving experience, and the innovative Ford F-150 lease deals at your local Ford dealer or at corporate.ford.com.
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