Safety is a massive part of any automobile and when one innovative piece of technology is debuted, it doesn’t take too long for that system to become adopted by others. On system in particular will soon be available for Fords: Lane Keeping System. Usually reserved for premium cars, the technology uses cameras and a vehicle’s guidance to determine if a driver is beginning to stray out of their lane. When the 2012 model year rolls around, the system will no longer be a luxury-only item as many mainstream Fords will offer the safety device.
“We’ve put a lot of effort into ensuring the accuracy of the lane detection and the smoothness of the assist,” said Michael Kane, Ford development engineer. The first car to be shown with the Lane Keeping System will be the next generation Ford Fusion. When it debuts at next month’s North American International Auto Show, it will be the first midsize sedan in the U.S. to offer the technology. Using a front-mounted digital camera, the Fusion will be able to tell if a driver is becoming distracted or drowsy. Integrated with the electric power steering, the Lane Keeping System will vibrate the steering wheel to alert the driver. If they fail to respond fast enough, the Fusion will be able to gently steer itself back into the proper lane. There will be three levels of assistance: Lane Keeping Alert, Lane Keeping Aid and Driver Alert. Each one must be selected by the driver after the entire system is turned on. A Fusion can be driven without the lane keeper active.
“Fusion’s Lane Keeping System combines a digital imaging sensor with our own state-of-the-art control software to process images and determine what level of warning or assistance to provide to the driver,” said Kane. After the sedan, the 2012 Explorer will be the next Ford to offer the technology.
Source: Ford
