Ford’s Automated Steering to Avoid Bling-Spot Swipes

Paul Myles

TU-Editor

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5th November 2020

Ford has linked its existing blind-spot detection and collision automated steering functions to mitigate accidents involving a side-swipe.

The new feature is aimed at the situation where a driver, when checking mirrors and surroundings before beginning a lane change, suddenly finds another vehicle has appeared behind or alongside, seemingly out of nowhere. UK data suggests this switching lanes maneuver where failing to spot or properly judge another road user’s speed or direction was a factor in more than half of road accidents during 2018.

Now Ford’s Lane-Keeping System with Blind Spot Assist makes its global debut on the all-new Ford Kuga SUV. The technology monitors the driver’s blind spot for vehicles approaching from behind and claims to be able to apply counter-steering to warn the driver and discourage a lane change maneuver if a potential collision is detected.

Kuga’s Blind Spot Assist radar sensors scan parallel lanes for vehicles up to 94-ft behind, 20 times per second, while driving at speeds from 40mph to 124mph. An intervention can be automatically activated if the control system senses a lane-change by monitoring road markings using the forward-facing camera, and the technology calculates that the two vehicles are on a collision course.

Glen Goold, Kuga chief program engineer “Many drivers will at some point have been caught by surprise when another vehicle seemingly ‘appears out of nowhere’. Lane-Keeping System with Blind Spot Assist is like having an extra pair of eyes in the back of your head, helping prevent just a second’s lapse in judgment from escalating into something more serious.”

— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in London. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_