Is this the first real step in automation, wonder why they don’t put it on all their models. It will be on most of the motorways soon
FORD BLUECRUISE
BRINGING YOU HANDS-FREE MOTORWAY DRIVING
Our vision for the future just accelerated with Ford BlueCruise†, our latest innovation in Advanced Driver Assistance technology – the first of its kind in Europe. Mustang Mach-E owners can now enter a new era of mobility, and be the first to experience L2 hands-free driving in designated ‘Blue Zones’.
At last…
Driving standards will improve.
It`s only level 2.
Active Cruise Control, plus Lane Departure connected to the steering wheel.
Blink your eyes, or look away, and it`ll tell you off, or disconnect, or whatever.
The system monitors road markings, speed signs and traffic conditions to control steering, acceleration, braking and lane positioning, as well as maintaining safe and consistent distances to vehicles ahead, right down to a complete halt in traffic jams.
In addition, infrared camera technology continually checks driver attentiveness for safety.
“It’s not every day that you can say you’ve placed one foot in the future, but Ford BlueCruise becoming the first hands-free driving system of its kind to receive approval for use in a European country is a significant step forward for our industry,” said Martin Sander, general manager, Ford Model e, Europe.
“Modern highways can be demanding even for the most confident drivers, and intimidating for many. BlueCruise can do some of the ‘heavy lifting’, to make highway driving less of a chore, and give drivers that little extra confidence and convenience.”
Owners of Ford Mustang Mach-E model year 2023 electric vehicles in Great Britain are the first to be able to activate BlueCruise. The first 90 days are included with the vehicle purchase, after which there is a £17.99 monthly subscription.
“Today marks a significant moment for our industry as Ford BlueCruise becomes the first hands-free driving system of its kind to receive approval for use in Great Britain,” said Lisa Brankin, managing director, Ford UK & Ireland. “We have always strived to make technology accessible for our customers, and BlueCruise is this next step on this journey, making motorway driving a more comfortable experience.”
“It is great news that Ford has chosen us for the European launch of its BlueCruise technology, and I am delighted that this country is once more at the forefront of innovation,” said transport minister Jesse Norman.
“The latest advanced driver assistance systems make driving smoother and easier, but they can also help make roads safer by reducing scope for driver error.”
Ford expects BlueCruise to be activated in further European countries as and when regulatory conditions permit, and will roll out the system to further Ford vehicles in the coming years.
BlueCruise operates up to a maximum speed of 80mph and before transitioning to hands-free driving, it confirms that lane markings are visible, that the driver has their eyes on the road and that other conditions are appropriate.
It uses a combination of radars and cameras to detect and track the position and speed of other vehicles on the road. A forward-facing camera detects lane markings and speed signs and, it uses an infrared driver-facing camera located below the instrument cluster to check the driver’s eye gaze and head pose – even when they are wearing sunglasses – and ensure their attention remains focused on the road.
If the system detects driver inattention, warning messages are first displayed in the instrument cluster, followed by audible alerts, brake activations, and finally slowing of the vehicle while maintaining steering control. Similar actions are performed if the driver fails to place their hands back on the steering wheel when prompted when leaving a Blue Zone.
Franglais:
It`s only level 2.Active Cruise Control, plus Lane Departure connected to the steering wheel.
Blink your eyes, or look away, and it`ll tell you off, or disconnect, or whatever.
Lane departure steering is pants tbh. My Skoda has it, if it can see the lines on the roads which half the time it can’t, it steers against you if you drift too far in lane. If you take your hands of the wheel it steers itself to keep it in your lane, then tells you to put your hands back on the steering wheel. No idea how long it will actually steer for, presumably up until it can’t see the lines anymore.
Sent from my CPH2173 using Tapatalk
simcor:
Franglais:
It`s only level 2.Active Cruise Control, plus Lane Departure connected to the steering wheel.
Blink your eyes, or look away, and it`ll tell you off, or disconnect, or whatever.Lane departure steering is pants tbh. My Skoda has it, if it can see the lines on the roads which half the time it can’t, it steers against you if you drift too far in lane. If you take your hands of the wheel it steers itself to keep it in your lane, then tells you to put your hands back on the steering wheel. No idea how long it will actually steer for, presumably up until it can’t see the lines anymore.
Sent from my CPH2173 using Tapatalk
My Actros can see the lines the vast majority of the time. Sometimes it will be confused by random other lines on the road, (expansion gaps or previous lines etc.) I wish I had the option of it steering for me instead of just berating me. This ford system says you can take your hands off the steering wheel for as long as you want.
All the Actros trucks 2015-2022 and Ivecos I’ve driven often get it wrong and it shudders me to think what would happen if left to self drive. Progress?
My OH’s Kia Niro on a 70 plate has active cruise. It actively steers you round bends too, although not with the same sort of line a driver would take at times.
At other times you can feel it trying to steer you and actively fighting you for control.
Actros lane departure is usually always off when I’m driving.
Active brake assist can be a pain as it regularly mistakes road signs on bends for obstacles, mostly just sending a warning, rarely cutting cruise off and braking, though when it does brake it brakes hard.
idk, nearly all of our side lane cameras (for the lane departure warning) are malfuncioning either not recognizing when you go over or randomly bleet when you get within less than a foot from either lane. And that’s on trucks <2 years old. On the even newer DAFs I think only 1 out of the 5 the cameras work correctly. Perhaps the system needs recalibration every so many hours
I wonder why Tesla did not get approval of their system.