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The driver of a Ford electric SUV involved in a February fatal crash in Texas was using the company’s partially automated driving system before the wreck, federal investigators said Thursday. Super Cruise uses an HD GPS receiver that locates the vehicle within about six feet of its lane, so it knows where it is. Ford relies on cameras and sensors alone, so it is less aware of where it is. It can get confused near off ramps and wary of merging lanes. In my testing on both the Mach-E Mustang and F-150 Lightning, it tended to pinball between the lane for a longer period of time than some cars equipped with only active lane control. It seems to take longer to learn the road patterns, and on curves, ramps, merges, it can be as dodgy as a teenager in a driving test.
TechCrunch Mobility: Cruise robotaxis return and Ford’s BlueCruise comes under scrutiny
Then it activates the blinker, checks the blind spot, and even hustles a few mph over the setting to then clear out of the passing lane and back into the right lane once well clear of the passed car. Cruise, or speed, control dates as far back as the rivalry between America's top two automakers. Yet, the first car to feature a modern version of cruise control was the 1958 Chrysler Imperial that was advertised as "Auto-pilot." That's the same and now controversial name Tesla uses for its semi-autonomous drive system.
Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driver assist under investigation after two fatal crashes
Basemark, a Finnish company that developed AR and computer vision software used by automakers, raised €22 million ($23.6 million) in a Series B round led by ETF Partners. Other backers include Finnish Industry Investment, Constructor Capital, Business Finland, the European Innovation Council and private investors. Based in France, she has worked previously at Wired, Fast Company, and Agence France-Presse.
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To put it simply, we are here to make it as easy as possible for you to drive home in a new car. Stop by our Ford dealership today to test drive the perfect Ford for you. A police spokesperson said a person from the Hyundai was also on the roadway and was hit. The NTSB can only make recommendations, but NHTSA has the authority to take action, including seeking recalls for safety issues.
Within the infotainment center, the driver can choose either “manual” or “automatic” lane change options. When the automatic feature is selected and the ADAS is on, the vehicle will make automatic lane changes without driver input. As the car approached slower traffic, an arrow appeared on the instrument cluster (see photo), the system turned my indicator on and then made the lane change. This can be overridden by holding the steering wheel and keeping it in the lane. On the other hand, Tesla Autopilot is significantly more controversial than Ford's option. And given Elon Musk and Tesla's tendency to over-promise, it's best to pay extra attention.
There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Unlike Autopilot, BlueCruise can only be activated in approved "Blue Zones," which encompass some 100,000 miles of US and Canadian highways. It's the same approach General Motors is taking with its hands-free offering, Super Cruise. Exoes, a French-based startup that developed battery cooling technology for EVs, raised €35 million ($37.5 million) from BpiFrance and Meridiam Green Impact Growth Fund.
If the vehicle is not centered in its lane to start, the lightbar appears blue until the conditions are met for it to turn green. It's unmistakable that it's on, especially when the voice commands confirm it. What I really wanted to try was the advanced driver-assistance system, and specifically the automatic lane change feature, which I had yet to test. Surveys have shown that people often over-rely on ADAS, treating them as fully automated driving systems, with their reaction times slower than what is considered safe when it’s time to take back control. The first fatality occurred in San Antonio, Texas, after a 44-year-old Mustang Mach-E driver using the driver assist system crashed into a stationary Honda, killing the 56-year-old driver. Another Mach-E driver was involved in a fatal crash in Philadelphia on March 3, although it’s not known yet if the BlueCruise played a role.
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Tesla has also been in the game longer, and as Autopilot capabilities improve, they will continue to be upgraded by over-the-air software updates. While GM’s Super Cruise is usable in more places, the BlueCruise is considered one of the best available, and the crash is notable because it is the first to involve a hands-free driving assist available to the public. Also, Ford offers other passive safety features, such as Co-Pilot360 with forward collision warning and emergency brake and steering assist to avoid obstacles, so this news potentially points to failures in those systems as well.
Ford's Blue Cruise driver-assist tech in use during fatal accident, crash investigators find - Fortune
Ford's Blue Cruise driver-assist tech in use during fatal accident, crash investigators find.
Posted: Fri, 12 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
This is excellent, because you wouldn't want people to think they can go hands-free when they can't, or vice versa. Ford invited me to try out BlueCruise on a highway near its Dearborn, Michigan homebase in September. During my roughly 20 minute drive, I got a firsthand look at how easy the system is to use and how well it performs.
Lyft and Uber said they will pause on their planned exit from Minneapolis after city officials decided to delay the start of a driver pay raise by a couple of months. HysetCo SAS, a startup that rents hydrogen-powered EVs to taxi drivers in Paris, raised nearly €200 million ($218 million) in a round led by Hy24. A police spokeswoman said a person from the Hyundai also was on the roadway and was hit. The Pennsylvania State Police said Thursday that a Mach E was in the left lane when it struck a stationary Hyundai Elantra that earlier had collided with a Toyota Prius. The NTSB can only make recommendations, but NHTSA has the authority to take action including seeking recalls for safety issues. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks.
This is the first investigation into Ford’s ADAS, which has been available since 2021. Currently, BlueCruise 1.3 is the latest version, and the system includes adaptive cruise control, lane change assist, and the ability to reposition the car inside the lane if it strays outside the lines. According to Ford, BlueCruise works on 97% of the highways in the United States and allows for somewhat hands-free driving on a large portion of highways. Although judging by Ford's coverage map, you will need to take control of the vehicle on nearly every road that isn't a major highway. And for safety's sake, you should never have your hands off the wheel for any extended period of time whatsoever.
Surveys show that many people have difficulty distinguishing between ADAS and fully automated driving systems, which can lead to overconfidence in the technology. And there is compelling evidence that most driver-assist systems are less safe than normal human driving. Drivers tend to develop an overreliance on these systems even after a short period of use. And when it’s time to take back control of the vehicle, their reaction times are slower than what’s considered safe. Both NHTSA and the NTSB have investigated multiple previous crashes involving partially automated driving systems, most involving Tesla’s Autopilot. Ford’s Blue Cruise system allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel while it handles steering, braking and acceleration on highways.
It's possible to travel hours in a GM vehicle with Super Cruise activated without needing to intervene, or just by tapping the wheel. To engage the system, press the cruise control button on the steering wheel. A gray steering wheel icon in the center of the instrument cluster or at the top of it will turn green when its in Super Cruise territory. The lightbar in the steering wheel activates from nothingness to green.
Ford BlueCruise in the 2022 F-150 Lightning, with the driver monitor camera to the right. With BlueCruise enabled, the Mach-E confidently piloted itself down the highway without any noticeable hiccups. It drove in the middle of its lane and didn't twitch excessively to stay there, though it did veer slightly side to side.
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