Ford has announced that it is developing “Traffic Jam Assist”, an intelligent driving feature that employs technology from the already-available active Park Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane-Keeping Aid and the PowerShift transmission to enable a vehicle to automatically keep pace with other vehicles on the road, using radar and on-board camera technology.
It also provides automated steering control to stay in the current lane, maintaining lane position in environments where there are no pedestrians, cyclists or animals, and where lanes are clearly marked.
The developing technology would be able to respond to changing traffic situations ahead and communicate any developments to the driver. Traffic Jam Assist would also incorporate features to help ensure the driver remains alert and in contact with the vehicle controls, even when the system is active.
Ford is currently evolving the Park Assist system – technology that enables parallel parking without touching the steering wheel – to offer hands-free perpendicular parking as well.
Early prototypes of these technologies are designed to interact with their surroundings to help reduce driver stress and traffic gridlock, and even cutting journey times and saving petrol costs, according to simulation studies.