Ford brings hands-free driving technology with BlueCruise (VIDEO)

Με την κανονιστική έγκριση για χρήση στο δίκτυο αυτοκινητοδρόμων στη Μεγάλη Βρετανία, η Ford σηματοδότησε πριν λίγες ημέρες ένα σημαντικό γεγονός με την εισαγωγή ενός προηγμένου συστήματος υποβοήθησης hands-free οδήγησης επιπέδου 2 – το πρώτο του είδους που εγκρίνεται στην Ευρώπη.

Drivers of 193,000 BlueCruise-equipped Ford and Lincoln vehicles have already driven more than 102 million kilometres hands-free in Canada and the U.S., where BlueCruise has won the award Consumer Reports Top Rated Active Driving Assistance System.

Now, the green light given by the UK Department for Transport for Ford BlueCruise technology means that drivers of compatible Mustang Mach-E models can use the hands-off, eyes-on driving technology on 3,700 km of pre-mapped motorways in England, Scotland and Wales, designated as Blue Zones.

Το BlueCruise προάγει τα πλεονεκτήματα άνεσης και ευκολίας της προηγμένης υποβοήθησης οδηγού στο επόμενο επίπεδο. Το σύστημα παρακολουθεί την οδική σήμανση, τις πινακίδες ορίων ταχύτητας και τις εξελισσόμενες συνθήκες κυκλοφορίας για να ελέγχει το τιμόνι, την επιτάχυνση, την πέδηση και τη θέση του οχήματος στη λωρίδα κυκλοφορίας, καθώς και για να διατηρεί ασφαλείς και σταθερές αποστάσεις από τα προπορευόμενα οχήματα – μέχρι και την πλήρη ακινητοποίηση σε συνθήκες κυκλοφοριακής συμφόρησης.

In addition, advanced infrared camera technology continuously monitors the driver's attention and alertness levels for safety and security.

"It's not every day you can say you're touching the future, but making Ford BlueCruise the first hands-free driving system of its kind to be approved for use in a European country is a significant step forward for our industry," said Martin Sander, general manager of Ford Model e in Europe. "Modern motorways can be demanding even for highly confident drivers, but at the same time intimidating for many. BlueCruise can lift the burden to make motorway driving less of a chore and give drivers extra confidence and comfort."

Owners of Ford Mustang Mach-E (M.Y. 2023) vehicles in Great Britain are the first to be able to activate BlueCruise through a subscription. The first 90 days are included with the purchase of the vehicle, and thereafter a £17.99 monthly subscription provides the flexibility to cover extended trips and holidays and activate the advanced driver support system according to the vehicle's intended use.

"Today marks a significant moment for our industry as Ford BlueCruise becomes the first hands-free driving system of its kind to be approved for use in the UK," said Lisa Brankin, managing director, Ford UK & Ireland. "We have always strived to make technology accessible to our customers and BlueCruise is the next step in that journey, making motorway driving a more comfortable experience."

Tailored during testing around the world for more than 1.1 million kilometres to deliver an intuitive experience that inspires confidence, BlueCruise is a milestone in Ford's journey to establish itself as a leader in mobility solutions.

"It is great news that Ford has chosen us to launch BlueCruise technology in Europe and I am delighted that our country is once again at the forefront of innovation," said Jesse Norman, UK Transport Minister. "The latest advanced driver assistance systems make driving smoother and easier, but they can also help make roads safer by reducing the margin for driver error."

Ford expects BlueCruise to be rolled out in other European countries when regulatory conditions allow, and expects to roll it out to other Ford vehicles in the coming years.

 

"Hands-off, eyes-at" driving

BlueCruise builds on the capabilities of Ford's Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (IACC), which enables the vehicle to automatically follow the flow of traffic within legal speed limits until it comes to a complete stop. The hands-free feature allows drivers in approved sections (Blue Zones) of the motorway to drive without having their hands on the wheel, as long as they continue to keep an eye on the road ahead - improving comfort levels during long journeys.

Before switching to hands-free driving, vehicles with BlueCruise confirm that lane markings are visible, that the driver has his or her eyes on the road and that other conditions are suitable. The system uses animated text and blue lights to communicate that the system is in hands-free mode, which proves effective even for those who are colour-blind.

Λειτουργώντας με μέγιστη ταχύτητα 130 χλμ./ώρα, το BlueCruise χρησιμοποιεί ένα συνδυασμό ραντάρ και καμερών για να ανιχνεύει και να παρακολουθεί τη θέση και την ταχύτητα άλλων οχημάτων στο δρόμο. Μια κάμερα στραμμένη προς τα εμπρός ανιχνεύει τις διαγραμμίσεις των λωρίδων και τις πινακίδες ορίου ταχύτητας. Ιδιαίτερα σημαντικό είναι ότι το σύστημα χρησιμοποιεί επίσης μία κάμερα υπερύθρων που είναι στραμμένη προς τον οδηγό και βρίσκεται κάτω από τον πίνακα οργάνων για να ελέγχει το βλέμμα και τη θέση του κεφαλιού του οδηγού – ακόμη και όταν φοράει γυαλιά ηλίου – ώστε να διασφαλίζει ότι η προσοχή του παραμένει εστιασμένη στο δρόμο.

If the system detects driver inattention, warning messages are first displayed on the instrument panel, followed by audible alerts, brake activation and, finally, deceleration of the vehicle while maintaining steering control. Similar actions occur if the driver does not reposition his hands on the steering wheel when requested to do so when exiting a Blue Zone.

Ford is also working with regulators and exploring opportunities to deliver BlueCruise through a future Ford Power-Up software update on Mustang Mach-E models equipped with the optional Tech Pack or Tech Pack+ and built before 2023.

 

The Mother of all Road Trips

Ford engineers conducted 160,000 kilometres of testing on European roads to validate the latest generation of advanced driver assistance systems, including BlueCruise and its supporting features, over 965,000+ kilometres in the US and Canada before the system was launched in those markets last year. Validation runs in the UK helped demonstrate handling capability in conditions and circumstances that drivers face on a daily basis, such as worn lane markings, bad weather and roadworks.

"There's a reason why Ford BlueCruise is the first hands-free driving system of its kind to be approved for use in a European country: We've proven that it can support the driver while requiring the driver's eyes to be on the road for the safety of themselves and their passengers while the system is active. This means BlueCruise can help make other road users' journeys more comfortable too," said Torsten Wey, chief engineer, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, Ford Europe.

BlueCruise is the latest addition to the Mustang Mach-E technology suite that also includes Pre Collision Assist, Active Park Assist 2.0 and Ford's SYNC 4A connectivity system supported by a 15.5-inch touchscreen.

In addition, Ford Power-Up software updates can use the connectivity provided by FordPass Connect to continuously improve the vehicle and add new features without the driver even leaving the house.

Προσφέροντας έως και 600 χιλιόμετρα ηλεκτρικής αυτονομίας μεταξύ των φορτίσεων και υποστηριζόμενο από το δίκτυο φόρτισης BlueOval Network της Ford – το μεγαλύτερο της Ευρώπης, με περισσότερους από 450.000 φορτιστές που συνεχώς αυξάνονται – η Mustang Mach-E είναι ένα από τα εννέα αμιγώς ηλεκτρικά οχήματα που σχεδιάζει να προσφέρει η Ford στην Ευρώπη μέχρι το 2024. Η Ford σχεδιάζει να επιτύχει μηδενικές εκπομπές ρύπων για όλες τις πωλήσεις οχημάτων και ουδετερότητα ως προς τον άνθρακα σε όλο το ευρωπαϊκό αποτύπωμα εγκαταστάσεων, logistics και προμηθευτών της μέχρι το 2035.