Autopilot is the norm for planes, but are we ready for autopilot in the family sedan?
Wired Magazine profiles Ford Motor Company’s new radar-based adaptive cruise-control system (ACC). A driver can set a speed limit and then focus on steering while the car monitors surrounding traffic and then adjusts velocity.
As Engelman travels the turnpike, a radar emitter pings for potential hazards ahead and sends the data to a computer that weighs the information against velocity and other factors to determine whether you’re about to crash your democratized technology. If a collision is imminent, the car warns you, primes the brakes, and tightens the seat belts. In cruise control, the radar makes sure you’re a safe distance from the traffic you’re following.
It sounds very impressive, but I’m not convinced it will be a true autopilot. I could see it initially being introduced as a collision-avoidance system and eventually evolving as an expanded technology in cars.
I was a little concerned about these famous last words: “Engelman says the system is now pretty close to flawless”.
Tags: Cruise Control, Ford
