Ford rolls out hazard information technology
Ford is to roll out its Local Hazard Information Technology, LHI, across more than 80 per cent of its vehicle line up by the end of the year.
Already featuring as standard and free of charge for the first year on the new Ford Puma, the technology is designed to help drivers prepare for, and potentially avoid, dangers on the road. When drivers ahead encounter sudden tailbacks, accidents or spilled loads, the driver behind – and possibly out of sight – is given advance warning. This could also apply to everything from freak hailstorms, to sudden flooding, or even landslides.
The triggers for the system come from what is happening in the cars ahead. 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 any driver interaction, to generate information and issue warnings.
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.
The more cars are connected to the network, the greater the efficiency of the system, claims Ford. When many vehicles generate the same warning, others in the vicinity receive incident information from the cloud via the cellular network, enabling drivers to reduce speed or take appropriate action.
Additional information is sourced from public authority incident databases and traffic reports to provide drivers with further advance warnings including approaching vehicles driving on the wrong side of the carriageway, animals or people in the road ahead, and roadworks.
Hazards are only displayed – via the dashboard display – if the incident is likely to impact on the driver’s journey. LHI is designed to be more beneficial to drivers than current hazard information from radio broadcasting systems, which often deliver notifications not relevant to them.
Importantly, the benefit will not be limited to those travelling in Ford vehicles either. Information sent can be used to alert drivers of other manufacturers’ vehicles, and vice-versa.
