Ford introduces latest semi-autonomous vehicle technology

Leading the way to the futuristic autonomous vehicles we once only dreamed of, Ford has just revealed it has begun testing automotive prototypes with innovative Fully Assisted Parking and Obstacle Avoidance technologies.

Ford’s Research and Advanced Engineering division has been working hard to produce a Ford Focus that includes existing Ford technologies such as, Active Park Assist and Ford PowerShift transmission, with the new next-generation push-button parking technology – the Fully Assisted Parking Aid. It will operate steering, gear selection and forward and reverse motion. Ford has cleverly produced a YouTube video demonstrating how this new aid works and like a life sized R/C model car, it can even be operated from outside the car by remote control. You can view it by clicking here.

Now, if parking made effortlessly by a touch of a button wasn’t enough, Ford also went and devised Obstacle Avoidance, which issues warnings if it detects slow-moving objects, stationary obstacles or pedestrians in the lane ahead. It will automatically steer the Focus and brake to avoid a collision if the driver fails to steer or brake following the warnings.

With other manufacturers also developing systems that can take over elements of driving for us, we really aren’t too far away from the dream of sitting behind the wheel of a fully automated vehicle. Today a Ford Focus, tomorrow, a Ford Custom Transit van? I can just imagine how much safer, more efficient, and perhaps even punctual a delivery van could become with the addition of these new and forthcoming technologies.