Ford tests driverless car at U. of Michiganês Mcity
Ford last week became the first automaker to test autonomous vehicles at Mcity, the full-scale simulated real world urban environment at the University of Michigan.
Testing Fordês autonomous vehicle fleet at Mcity provides another challenging, yet safe, urban environment to repeatedly check and hone these new technologies, said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. Ford has been testing autonomous vehicles for more than 10 years.
The Ford Fusion Hybrid Autonomous Research Vehicle merges current driver-assist technologies, such as front-facing cameras, radar and ultrasonic sensors, and adds sensors to generate a real-time 3D map of the vehicleês surrounding environment.
Mcity, which opened in July, is a full-scale urban environment that provides real-world road scenarios, such as running a red light, that canêt be replicated on public roads. There are street lights, crosswalks, lane markings, curb cuts, bike lanes, trees, hydrants, sidewalks, signs, traffic control devices even construction barriers. Fordês research vehicle is tested over a range of surfaces concrete, asphalt, simulated brick and dirt and maneuvers two-, three- and four-lane roads as well as ramps, roundabouts and tunnels.
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