Ford Tests Bosch’s Automated Parking Technology
Ford is to start testing automated car parking technology that turns the vehicle into its own valet parker.
The pilot is a joint experiment by the automaker, Bosch and parking provider Bedrock. It aims to show that connected Ford Escape test vehicles can drive and park themselves inside Bedrock’s Assembly Garage in Detroit using Bosch smart infrastructure. This is the first US infrastructure solution for automated valet parking where the vehicle will park itself inside a parking facility.
The research will take place in the Corktown neighborhood, the site of Ford’s new mobility innovation district, by Michigan Central Station. The district will draw mobility innovators and disrupters from around the world to develop, test, and launch new solutions to solve urban transportation challenges.
The connected Ford test vehicles operate using vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication with Bosch’s intelligent parking infrastructure. The infrastructure sensors recognize and localize the vehicle to guide its parking maneuver, including the ability to help avoid pedestrians and other hazards.
Ken Washington, chief technology officer at Ford, said: “We are continually searching for opportunities to expand our leading suite of Ford Co-Pilot360 driver-assist technologies that help people drive more confidently and we believe automated valet parking technology holds great promise. Our work with Bosch and Bedrock also aligns with our vision for the future, which includes increasingly automated vehicles that are more aware of their surroundings while requiring less on-board computing to help improve design, packaging and affordability.”
— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in London. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_
