Ford predicts self-driving, traffic-reducing cars by 2017

[Wretched]

“Never gonna happen” just got a lot closer. According to Ford the self-driving car will be here within five years, using technologies available today. The smart car will take over your morning commute on clogged freeways, improving your speed and reducing fuel consumption. The technology concept, known as Traffic Jam Assist, uses adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and the sensors from its active park assist.

While driver safety is the primary benefit, the environment wins as well. Ford makes this projection, based on simulator studies: If one in four cars has Traffic Jam Assist or similar self-driving technologies, travel times are reduced by 37.5% and delays are reduced by 20%. In other words, if the freeway part of your rush hour commute takes 60 minutes, it it will drop to 38. That’s because adaptive cruise control (ACC) is better at pacing the car ahead without continual brake, speed-up, brake cycles.

Here’s how it works: Stop-and-go ACC keeps pace with the car ahead, using a look-ahead radar and mirror-mounted camera. Lane keep assist keeps the car centered, also taking advantage of the camera in the mirror. Electric power steering is better for remote control than mechanical power steering; it can be guided by the Traffic Jam Assist black box. Sonar units — for blind spot detection and cross traffic alerts (cars crossing behind when backing) — monitor traffic to the side. Combine all those and you have a car that’s smart enough to guide itself during predictable, low-speed conditions.

Ford says Traffic Jam Assist can deal with a car cutting in ahead of you, but because ACC can maintain a tighter following distance than you would, there would be less cutting in line. The driver is always in control, if she wants to be, and can take over for the car at any time by moving the wheel or stepping on the throttle or brakes.

The other reason low-speed — this is Traffic Jam Assist after all — autonomous driving might happen first is the low speed. A car at 20 mph covers about 30 feet, or less than two car lengths, in one second. At 60 mph, it covers 88 feet. So it’s easier to slow and stop the car in traffic jams. Also, in the worst-case situation where the car doesn’t know what to do next, it can come to a dead stop in the travel lane at the same time it alerts the driver to take over. You can do that in a traffic jam but not when traffic is flowing at the speed limit.

For Traffic Jam Assist to work, Ford says you need a limited access roadway with no bicyclists, pedestrians, or animals (that you care about), and well-marked lanes.

Others, led by Volvo with City Safety and Pedestrian Safety, have created technologies that stop cars in potential accident situations on urban roads. Volvo doesn’t need a limited-access road, but City Safety is stop-only; it’s not continuous self-driving.

As an offshoot of Traffic Jam Assist, Ford says it will extend the capabilities of Active Park Assist, which is offered on cars now, from parallel parking to perpendicular parking, meaning parking at the mall or supermarket. In both cases, the car measures and steers while the driver controls the throttle and brakes.

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/1...ving-cars-2017

[Polyal]

Its just asking for trouble and opens a can of worms...not to mention the dumbing down further of society....if thats possible.

Just because we can do new things doesnt mean we should.

[EFFalcon]

only works if *EVERYONE* is using automated cars.
most people would prefer to be on facebook then drive their cars, so it suits the 90%.

those who enjoy driving, well they just get shafted.

[nipper575]

I've always hated the thought of this type of technology. I'm not even a fan of collision detection. They are problems that shouldn't need solving in the first place. For most people, a car is the most complex (and potentially dangerous) machine they will ever be licensed to operate, they need to appreciate that.

We do not need more features that will further remove people from the responsibility of driving their own vehicle.

[Angeldust]

and if there is a crash, then what? who is deemed at fault. lol

[Kryton]

For Traffic Jam Assist to work, Ford says you need a limited access roadway with no bicyclists, pedestrians, or animals (that you care about), and well-marked lanes.


Well that narrows that down substantially as to where it would work.

[Ben73]

Not for me thanks.

I hate sitting in the passengers seat. Its so boring. It would be worse to sit in the drivers seat and do nothing at all.

This wouldn't even work in Newcastle anyway thank god. Traffic isn't too bad here.

[lilmattie]

I'd hate to be in an automated car when one of it's computer related component's fail...

Being the in the computer industry myself - tech isn't made to last...

Just looking at that from a safety point of view, to reduce component failure - The maintenance on an automated car would need to rival the military. It would need to be more often and more expensive than a conventional vehicle.

I just wonder how it would handle emergency situations like blow-outs etc. I'd be interested to see a few and how they work..

[greenfoam]

Ford wont be here to see it unless they foresee better adds and a Diesel Falcon. (Or better adds and no Falcon)

[tweeked]

Cant wait.

Cant your car take the demerit points for you when this comes in?

[mik]

Originally Posted by davway

For Traffic Jam Assist to work, Ford says you need a limited access roadway with no bicyclists, pedestrians, or animals (that you care about), and well-marked lanes.


Well that narrows that down substantially as to where it would work.

very true, a cruise around Melbourne and much of the line marking is worn out and sometimes merging with other old lines they have`nt bothered to blast off.

[The Snout]

Great stuff. 'We don't need technology blah blah...' , in that case, turn in your air conditioning, cruise, power windows and sat nav. Can't have it both ways.

[Rockape]

Not for me thanks. I like driving to much.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by greenfoam

Ford wont be here to see it unless they foresee better adds and a Diesel Falcon. (Or better adds and no Falcon)

Ford Australia will still exist even if they no longer make Falcon or Territory.

Its not like they will stop selling cars here full stop

[Nikked]

Cool, just download the "hoon" patch, and you'll do the following:


1. Mouth of at ACA
2. Do skids out the front of various Maccas...
3. Line up against other stock cars at the lights, and enter a drag, to see who's mum has the fastest car
4. It will gain incredible lane switching speed...
5. A selection of Aussie Pride, Choose your own exsistance and southern cross stickers will appear on your window.

[brett7777]

Don't worry, panic over, it's only for women
QUOTE: "The driver is always in control, if she wants to be,"

[Tysonv48]

This sucks most people already can't drive manuals
After these cars people won't be able to drive at all

[aussie oz]

yeah, all good till one of the cars 30 computers has a glitch...
oz

[brett7777]

Originally Posted by aussie oz

yeah, all good till one of the cars 30 computers has a glitch...
oz

it won't matter, these cars will be so crap that noone will care if they crash them, would be like sweet mercy

[2011G6E]

Fantastic idea...until the guide line the car is following gets broken somehow, or the computer fails, or someone is too preoccupied doing something else (dozing, watching a movie, playing a game) when the self-drive cuts off at high speed and they are covering 30 meters a second...

I wonder how many people would get in one though and just let it do its thing? In Japan they have had self-driving remote control trains for decades...but they still employ someone to sit up the front in the "drivers cabin" because they found that if a train pulled up with no driver in it, commuters (even Jap ones used to high technology) would refuse to get on board unless they could see "a human driver" sitting up the front.

I also shudder to think what it would make of stretches of "interesting" highway I've come across where they have been doing roadworks and all of a sudden the lines all disappear for long stretches...if there's no other vehicles around, what do the cameras look for?

I'm also kind of reminded of this highly expensive prototype that was built and showed just how well a big company can get this sort of technology fitted to a car...
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/...in-safety-demo