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TECH NEWS
Ford Front Split View Camera (source Ford.co.uk)Ford rolling out tech that helps drivers "see round corners"
Technology being rolled out by Ford could mean fewer collisions caused by drivers pulling out of a junction while their view of the road they are joining is obstructed, with the motor giant fitting 180-degree cameras to some of its new models to effectively allow motorists to see round corners.
The camera lens is embedded in the front grille, with the driver pushing a button to see the footage it provides shown on an 8-inch screen on the dashboard, and that means that rather than edging out into the road and hope nothing is coming, they can check more easily that the coast is clear.
Here’s a video showing how the Ford Split View Front Camera, which will be available as an option to the company’s latest S-MAX and Galaxy vehicles as well as the Edge SUV which comes to the UK later this year, works.
Ford engineer Ronny Hause said: “We have all been there and it’s not just blind junctions that can be stressful, sometimes an overhanging tree, or bushes can be the problem.
“For some, simply driving off their own driveways is a challenge. This is one of those technologies that people will soon wonder how they managed without.”
The camera is yet another example of how car manufacturers and others are using technology to improve the safety of road users.
But while the likes of Google, with its self-driving car, and Volvo, with a system that detects vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians, are seeking to eliminate the human error element that is a factor in most collisions, Ford’s camera for now does not.
So in terms of the safety of cyclists, there is likely to be a degree of apprehension that some drivers using the technology will be looking primarily for cars and other vehicles, and fail to spot someone riding in a bike lane, say.
With the pace of technological innovation in automotive technology that is being driven by major players in the automotive market, it’s perhaps not too much of a stretch to hope that a few years down the line, devices that improve what motorists are able to see may be combined with collision avoidance systems and come as standard on new vehicles.
Ford itself has already outlined its “Vision for the Future” in which it envisages “automated vehicles that still keep the driver in the loop to take back control of the vehicle, if needed.”
However, it admitted that “this vision will likely not be realised for many years,” and that “many technological details remain to be worked out, and drivers will need to become comfortable with the idea of giving up some measure of driving control to their vehicle, which will not happen quickly.”
Keith Freeman, a quality training manager for the AA quoted in a post on the Ford Social website, said that Ford’s new camera would make it much easier for motorists to spot cyclists than is the case at present.
“Pulling out at a blind junction can be a tricky manoeuvre for new and experienced drivers alike,” said Mr Freeman, who is also involved in the Ford Driving Skills for Life initiative, which is aimed at training young drivers.
“The best approach has traditionally been to simply lean forward to get the best view whilst creeping forwards with the windows wound down to listen for approaching vehicles, but cyclists are a particular risk as they can’t be heard,” he went on.
“This technology will certainly make emerging from anywhere with a restricted view so much safer and the experience less nerve-wracking for those behind the wheel,” he added.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
Latest Comments
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That's a hilarious price. I fail to see where the money is going on this. The mojito is under £100 so what makes this three times as much?
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If they can get out of paying...they will. Insurance is a gamble, until the banker loses... when it becomes a scam.
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我的媽和她的瘋狂的外甥都 ・ Wuh duh ma huh tah duh fong kwong duh wai shung
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It ought to be fairly easy to highlight moving objects on the monitor. Something like focus peaking on modern cameras: http://www.streamingmedia.com/Images/ArticleImages/ArticleImage.15862.jpg
Not saying they will, but they could.
"Safety interventions that do not alter people's propensity to take risks will be frustrated by responses that re-establish the level of risk with which people were originally content.
In the absence of reductions in people's propensity to take risks, safety interventions will redistribute the burden of risk, not reduce it."
J.Adams.
Broadly in favour of this. My only concern is that, like parking sensors, cars will be designed with this technology in mind but it will only be available as an option. If the option is not selected visibility could be worse than before.
Awright geezer?
Look this is proven technology from Dunton the home of Ford Research in Essex. I know this because of the number of arses who live around this way that have been testing this for years. It allows them to overtake on blind bends; on the wrong side of the road over the brow of a hill and most magically shrinks the car allowing them to overtake cyclists at pinch points. Absolutely ace and is disguised as furry dice hanging from the rear view mirror.
Volvo are introducing systems that will intervene if the driver doesn't stop for pedestrians and cyclists. If they perform as volvo are touting about zero deaths from a volvo car then other manufacturers will follow.
Nice Volvo advert there mate.
The "intervention" you are talking about will probably be no more than a beeping noise; just another item to ignore.
...or do you mean automatic braking, which Volvo have recently demonstrated to not work at all?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8nnhUCtcO8
Works pretty nicely in my mate's car, as do a lot of the other safety features. These things are all taking us closer, bit by bit, to driverless cars - and I reckon that's got to be a good thing for cyclists and cycling in general.
It stops your mate crashing into other motor vehicles (which is what it is really designed to do), or it stops your mate hitting pedestrians and bike riders?
I understand that for whatever reason the particular vehicle didn't have the pedestrian system fitted. Stupid of the demonstration not to check first. Doesn't mean these systems don't work!
Automatic braking works in my Volvo just fine - though you certainly wouldn't rely on it and its a surprise when it goes off! You're confusing a few different things though, there's the 'city safety' auto brake feature which is for cars, and then systems to auto detect and brake for pedestrians. Apparently they've now got cyclist detection too
http://road.cc/content/news/77811-volvo-unveils-its-cyclist-detection-sy...
I guess no technology is going to be perfect at first, however, and it is absolutely no substitute for looking where you're going.
But no, you're right - far better not to innovate with safety. We should keep things as they are, that way we get to keep our righteous indignation as vulnerable hard-done-by road users.
"coast is clear...well apart from that cyclist 20 ft away but, you know, fuck 'im"
*crash*
Judging by some of the manoeuvres I see on a daily basis, I thought that a large percentage of vehicles were already fitted with such technology.
This is too true!
Oh goodness, can you imagine how much worse drivers will be at spotting cyclists when looking for cars when they are doing it on an 8" 1 megapixel screen than when they are doing it with their own eyes?
This is one more reason to always cycle with bright flashing lights, even in bright daylight.
yeah, they should stick to what they can see through parked vans, much better than a small screen.
How about a technology that makes drivers see things in plain sight?
I'm broadly supportive of any initiative that improves safety but still sceptical. Such measures make drivers generally 'lazy' and thus a danger on the road elsewhere.
Despite all these fantastic improvements to cars drivers are still killing cyclists because they can't be bothered to look.
Most definitely this. While the application of technology helps to a point, all it does is further erode a drivers basic responsibility to drive with complete care and attention. How many stories have we seen about Muppets driving into lakes / canals / one way streets because their Sat Nav 'told them too' ? And this all assumes that a driver actually stops at the Give Way lines instead of sticking half their vehicle out of the turning first, THEN stopping to look for other road users.
'Oh, I pulled out into the cyclist because my car said it was safe' Right.
And don't get me started on that stupid Ford read-out-your-text-message gimmick either.
I might have ranted a bit.
actually this technology allows the driver to look without sticking their nose into the bike lane first.
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