Ford has announced the release of a new connected transport infrastructure technology that enables drivers to prepare for and potentially avoid dangers on the road.
With Ford’s Local Hazard Information (LHI) system, when drivers ahead encounter a sudden hazard, the driver behind is given advance warning.
The triggers for the system come from what is happening in the cars ahead. For example, it could be that airbags have been activated, hazard warning lights are flashing, or windscreen wipers are in operation.
Previous traffic incident alert systems have relied on drivers to input information in order to generate alerts. LHI works autonomously, without the need for driver interaction, to generate information and issue warnings.
Hazards are only displayed – via the dashboard display – if the incident is likely to impact on the driver’s journey.
According to Ford, LHI is designed to be more beneficial to drivers than hazard information from current radio broadcasting systems, which can often deliver notifications not relevant to them.
Joerg Beyer, executive director, engineering, Ford of Europe, said: “What makes LHI different is that it is the cars that are connected via the Internet of Things.
“There is no reliance on third party apps. This is a significant step forward. Warnings are specific, relevant and tailored to try to help improve your specific journey.”
LHI technology is being rolled out across more than 80% of Ford’s passenger vehicle line-up by the end of this year.
Furthermore, information sent can be used to alert drivers of other manufacturers’ vehicles, and vice-versa.
Sensors monitor activities including emergency braking, fog lights and traction control to detect adverse weather or road conditions.
Data from these activities is then computed to determine the hazard location and whether a traffic incident has occurred.
The vehicle automatically provides updates through a secure connection to the cloud using the FordPass Connect modem.
Ford’s technology partner Here Technologies operates the central cloud-based platform that collates information from multiple vehicle brands, governed by a B2B agreement.
When many vehicles generate the same warning, others in the vicinity receive incident information from the cloud via the cellular network.
Additional information is sourced from public authority incident databases and traffic reports to provide drivers with further advance warnings.
These include approaching vehicles driving on the wrong side of the carriageway, animals or people in the road ahead, and roadworks.
