Engineers at Ford develop auto-pilot technology for swift movement in jams

The engineers of the American based innovative automaker Ford Motor Company have developed a futuristic technology that enables a car driver to switch over to an auto-pilot option to escort through heavy traffic jams providing a considerable relaxation to the driver.

In just the push of a button, the driver can activate the auto-pilot termed as ‘Traffic Jam Assist’. With a camera and radar behind the rear view mirror, the technology detects jams by scanning the road ahead and signals are directed to the ‘brains’ of the system installed in computer central processing unit or ‘black box’. On detection, a voice command is raised by the car to ask the driver if he wishes to activate the traffic jam assist.

On activation, the system applies brake to avoid collision with the car ahead and slows down to maintain the speed in accordance with the flow of the traffic and even takes immediate action in case an over-speeding car rushes into the traffic. Once the traffic jam end and the car reaches a speed of 30 mph, the traffic jam assist hands over the control of the car to the rejuvenated driver.

This cutting-edge technology is anticipated to be equipped in several Ford models in the next five years and it has been reported that at present, the prototypes of such cars are being tested.

Dr. Pim van der Jagt, MD, Ford Research Center Aachen said that such car is capable of applying brakes, accelerating and handling steering independently in a jam.

As per experts, the adoption of this new technology by the masses would enable traffic to move at a speed higher by 37 percent, thereby curtailing the travel duration by 20 percent.