Ford automaker is working hard to launch their latest iteration of the Fusion Hybrid, the next milestone in their self-driving endeavor. The Consumer Electronics Show that will take place next week at Las Vegas is where the showcase will take place.
What's New?
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ford_Fusion_Hybrid_2nd_gen.jpg
So what is new in the latest version? There is a forward facing camera mounted in the front. This will help the car maintain a safe distance from the car in front of the Fusion. There are pairs of short and long distance sensors that will help the vehicle determine the distance at which the objects in front of car is. Ford says that the brain of the car in located in the trunk, in the real.
This does not mean you can fall asleep when driving. You still need to remain awake and pay attention.
Chris Brewer, the chief engineer who is working on the project at Ford says that the brain is capable of generating about 1 terabyte of data within one hour, which is comparable to several high end computers.
Improved Performance
https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Fusion_Hybrid#Segunda_gera.C3.A7.C3.A3o
Ford, this time, has decided to do away with the number of Radar sensors and Light Detection (LiDAR sensors). They work by throwing laser lights at the objects around them to determine distance, shape, and size. This is not unlike what a jet fighter does in the air in combat and so on. This has helped the car achieve a more streamlined look.
On the other hand, Ford maintains that the performance of the car remains the same meaning that they have been able to achieve better results with minimum hardware. This was made possible with the help of improving the targeted field of vision.
Hence, there are two rather than four sensors. In case some of you are wondering, the forward facing camera has been strategically placed under the windshield. There are also two cameras that have been placed on the roof of the car on the stacks. This car has more cameras than some production companies!
Ford is now planning to test its driverless cars in the Europe. In the US, Ford is currently busy testing the car in Arizona and Michigan. Ford is confident that they will be able to launch a fully autonomous self-driving car by the end of the year 2021. Does this mean no more drunk drivers? Well, not quite since not everyone will have an autonomous car just because they enter the market. It will not be until the 2030s when almost everyone has an autonomous vehicle.
So drunk drivers are not going anywhere anytime soon!
The Competition
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bienal_Auto_BH_11_2013_Ford_Fusion_Hybrid_7355.JPG
There is a lot of buzz in the self-driving and autonomous tech industry at the moment with big brands like Fiat Chrysler, Google, and even Apple gearing up to succeed in the field. The latest company to join the foray is another smartphone manufacturer, Blackberry who lost on the smartphone war against the likes of Apple and Google. But at least Blackberry does not side with terrorists like Apple did in regards to giving up one password but that is another topic.
There are currently a number of Ford Fusion Hybrids running across the roads in Arizona and Michigan area, and they are now about to be treated with a new upgrade that will help make them better.
The CES is only weeks away and car enthusiasts are waiting with baited breath to see the results. It is a very exciting field. Following the Consumer Electronics Show will be the Detroit Auto Show that will further showcase some more autonomous cars from rival companies looking to grab a portion of this emerging pie.
Ford began testing self-driving cars in the year 2013, which means that it will take them 2 years short of a decade to launch a fully autonomous car in the market. Earlier, there were just 10 cars in their fleet, but now Ford has decided to increase the number from 10 to 30. This brings their number comparable to other major auto manufacturers but no one is on the same plateau as Ford and Ford never needed a bailout either.