Fords with an innovative camera
Crossroads with limited visibility are a real headache for drivers. The driver has to lean towards the windshield and slowly drive out into the street to assess the traffic situation and join the flow.
Ford Motor Company is introducing a new camera that can see obstructed objects, thereby reducing driver stress and preventing possible collisions.
The innovative front camera — optional on the Ford S-MAX and Galaxy — has a wide field of view with a 180-degree field of view. The system, installed in the grille, facilitates maneuvering at intersections or parking lots with limited visibility, allowing the operator to see other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.
“We are all familiar with situations that don’t just happen at intersections – sometimes a sagging tree branch or a bush growing along the road can be a problem,” said Ronnie House, electronic driver assistance systems engineer, Ford of Europe, whose team, together with colleagues from the United States worked on this project. “For some drivers, even leaving the house is a problem. I suspect that the front camera will be similar to the rear view camera - soon everyone will be wondering how they could live without this solution until now.
The first of its kind system in the segment is activated by pressing a button. The grille-mounted 1-megapixel camera with 180-degree viewing angle displays the image on the eight-inch touch screen in the center console. The driver can then follow the movement of other road users on both sides of the car and merge with the traffic at the right time. Dirt is prevented on the mere 33mm wide chamber by a high-pressure washer that works in conjunction with the headlight washers.
Data collected under the SafetyNet project by the European Road Safety Observatory shows that about 19 percent of drivers who have been involved in crashes at intersections complained of reduced visibility. As many as 2013 per cent of all accidents in the UK in 11 were due to limited visibility, according to the British Department for Transport.
“We tested the front camera during the day and after dark, on all possible types of roads, as well as on crowded city streets with a lot of cyclists and pedestrians,” Hause said. “We have tested the system in tunnels, narrow streets and garages in all lighting conditions, so we can be sure that the camera works even when the sun shines into it.”
Ford models, including the new Ford S-MAX and the new Ford Galaxy, now offer a rear-view camera to assist the driver when reversing, as well as Side Traffic Assist, which uses sensors at the rear of the vehicle to alert the driver. when reversing out of a parking lot in front of other vehicles, it is more likely to arrive from a cross direction. Other technical solutions available for the new Ford S-MAX and the new Ford Galaxy include:
- Intelligent speed limiter, which is designed to monitor passing signs of speed limits and automatically adjust the speed of the car in accordance with the restrictions in force in the area, thereby protecting the driver from the possibility of paying a fine.
- Collision avoidance system with pedestrian detection, which is designed to reduce the severity of a frontal or pedestrian collision, and in some cases may even help the driver avoid it.
- Adaptive LED headlight system with high beam providing maximum illumination of the road without the risk of glare that detects oncoming vehicles and then extinguishes a selected sector of LED headlights that can dazzle the driver of another vehicle, while providing maximum illumination of the rest of the road.
The new Ford S-MAX and Galaxy are already on sale. The front-facing camera will also be offered on the new Ford Edge, a luxury SUV that will be launched in Europe early next year.
