Ford wants to take the stress out of every element of the daily commute, from coping with stop-start rush hour traffic to quickly and safely maneuvering into a parking space at journey's end.
"For many drivers, experiencing heavy traffic on the way to work can leave them stressed and angry, even before the work day begins," said Reid Steiger, technical expert, Automated Driving, Ford of Europe.
Ford's potential solution, Traffic Jam Assist, is currently in the testing stage and works by combining a number of already developed individual active driver aids -- adaptive cruise control and lane keeping.
"Traffic Jam Assist helps the driver maintain the distance to the vehicle ahead and helps to keep the vehicle centred in the lane. The system aims to reduce driver stress in dense traffic," explains Steiger
When activated via the push of a button, in a traffic jam situation, the car's radar and cameras monitor lane markings and how far away the car is from the vehicle in front. It can then take over, moving forward when space opens and slowing to a halt again in time with the traffic. The driver can take over at any time and the system monitors steering wheel interaction to make sure the driver is still alert and ready to step in if needed.
The second system being put through its paces is called Remote Park Assist that enables the driver to park the car, via a key fob command, remotely. Standing outside the vehicle in a parking lot or underground garage, the car will be able to maneuver itself into a perpendicular space without any assistance.
Ford is by no means the only carmaker working on these types of systems. The latest BMW 7 Series will park itself remotely with the push of a keyfob button.
Likewise, the Volvo XC90 semi-autonomously drove the mayor of LA through rush hour traffic on his way to the Connected Car Expo just three weeks ago.
Meanwhile, Tesla Model S owners can let their cars take the strain on the highway, slowing down when the car in front stops or even autonomously overtaking and returning to the right lane.
However, unlike BMW, Volvo or Tesla, Ford is a truly mass-market brand. The overwhelming majority of drivers globally are most likely to get their first taste of autonomous driving technology when it arrives in a Ford or GM car. The strides that Ford is making, both in Europe and the US, means that autonomous technology for the masses will arrive sooner than you think.
