Ford has introduced Ford Co-Pilot360, which the automaker describes as “the most advanced suite of standard driver-assist technologies among full-line brands.”
Ford Co-Pilot360 includes standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a blind spot information system, a lane-keeping system, a rear backup camera and auto high beam lighting. The suite will roll out across Ford’s new passenger cars, SUVs and trucks up to F-150 in North America, starting on the new 2019 Ford Edge and Edge ST this fall.
“Though our vehicles today are safer than ever, drivers tell us they are still stressed about getting in a potential accident,” said Jim Farley, Ford president, Global Markets. “That’s one reason why we’re making these must-have technologies accessible to millions of customers each year.”
Ford Co-Pilot360 starts with standard automatic emergency braking – called pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection – that can help drivers avoid collisions with other vehicles or pedestrians who might accidentally cross in front of the vehicle’s path. If a potential collision is detected, a warning flashes and an alert sounds, and if the driver’s response is not sufficient, the system can automatically apply the brakes to help minimize a frontal collision.
The technology addresses Ford research showing a growing trend of people worrying about hitting pedestrians – and will be standard on 91 percent of Ford vehicles in North America by 2020.
Blind spot information system, or BLIS, uses radar to identify a vehicle entering the blind spot and alerts the driver with an indicator light in the side-view mirror. Cross-traffic alert can warn drivers of traffic behind when slowly backing out of a parking spot or driveway.
The lane-keeping system has three functions:
- Can notify drivers through steering wheel vibration that they need to correct course when the system detects the vehicle
drifting close to lane markings
- Provides steering torque to steer back toward the center of the lane
- A driver alert system, continuously monitors driving pattern using a forward-looking camera and provides visual and audio warnings when the system estimates the driver’s vigilance level to be less than that of an attentive driver
Commercial customers also can benefit from Ford’s expansion of driver-assist technologies. By 2020, E-Series, F-650, F-750 and F59 chassis will come with available automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, driver alert system and more. Ford plans to add available technologies to F-Series Super Duty like blind spot information system with cross traffic alert and lane keeping alert.
A National Transportation Safety Board study shows having technologies such as AEB can help prevent and mitigate rear-end crashes, which can help customers lower their cost of ownership
The company also is investing $500 million the next five years to continue developing new driver-assist and safety technologies. Key areas of focus will be simplifying the technologies so they work as people expect – especially as driving controls become more automated.
