Ford highlights smart mobility, new infotainment generation
Like Audi, BMW and others, Ford focused on automated driving – but not only under the angle of enabling a more relaxed and safe driving style. Instead, the carmaker tried to answer questions that go beyond technology and touch areas such as societal and legal issues. Nevertheless, the technology took centre stage. Ford’s automotive driving technology carrier utilises four roof-mounted Lidar sensors to scan its environment within a radius of some 70 metres. Though the approach with the roof-mounted sensors is regarded by competitors and suppliers as unrealistic for aesthetic and cost reasons, it offers a very exact and detailed image of the surroundings, enabling the vehicle electronics to identify pedestrians, cyclists and even small animals. The data captured by the rotating sensor are used to create a virtual 3D map of the surroundings.
At the CES, Ford also showed for the first time its new SYNC3 infotainment system, developed in close cooperation Texas Instruments and containing several contributions out of TI’s development department. The system is built around TI’s OMAP5 processor. For wireless communications it contains TI’s WiLink 8Q single-chip solution for WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 which also takes the part of navigation reception for all GNSS systems (GPS, GLONASS, Beidou and Galileo). Camera connection is established through FPD Link III SerDes chips. All together, these building blocks enable the SYNC 3 to offer handsfree Bluetooth connectivity, enhanced driver interactivity and improved voice recognition capabilities, claims TI.
With this WiFi platform Ford has created the foundation for further over-the-air software capabilities though this feature has not been confirmed yet. According to media reports SYNC 3 runs under a QNX operating system. While neither QNX vendor Blackberry nor Ford officially confirm this detail, it would represent a remarkable departure from Ford’s long-time partner Microsoft. The bad news: SYNC 3 won’t be available in Europe anytime soon. A Ford spokesperson said that since in Europe the rollout of SYNC 2 is just in full swing he would not expect the successor to be available in the near future.
The 25 projects of Ford’s ‘Smart Mobility Plan’ however address issues beyond sensors, circuits and algorithms. Instead, with these projects the carmaker tries to find answers how to maintain and perhaps improve mobility in the light of global megatrends such as explosive population growth, deteriorating air quality, expanding middle class and public health concerns. Several of these projects will take place Europe – four in London and one in several German towns and cities.
The London-based R&D projects include:
– City Driving On Demand. The project is designed to help understand what is needed for a highly flexible and integrated car-sharing scheme oriented at the needs of commuters in urban areas.
– Data-Driven Insurance: Involves monitoring individual vehicle use with the potential to create a personalised insurance quote. The smartphone-based app also enables users to remotely check the status of their vehicle. The data gathered could also be used to identify congestions and help authorities to improve traffic flow.
– Dynamic Social Shuttle: A new type of on-demand vehicle ride service that offers one-way, point-to-point journeys. The system aims at being more convenient than a bus and cheaper than a taxi while offering a pay-as-you-go payment scheme.
– Painless Parking: This smartphone app assists drivers in finding a parking space based on their preferences, taking into account the real-time parking situation in their target locale.
In Germany, Ford conducts a nationwide car sharing initiative that gives customers access to 3.600 vehicles in more than 200 cities and towns. The project that has been started already almost a year ago includes an internet-based booking system as well as an end user app that runs under Android as well as under iOS.
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