Ford Motor Company has introduced a new, innovative driver-assistance technology called “BlueCruise”. This feature is designed to take the stress out of long road trips by allowing drivers to take their hands off the wheel and relax during highway driving.
Ford’s BlueCruise technology utilises a combination of sensors and cameras integrated into the car which detect traffic conditions, lane markings, and road signs. Using data from these sources, BlueCruise can assist with adaptive speed control, lane centering and active lane keeping, and pre-programmed destinations depending on the model you own.
The Ford Co-Pilot 360™ suite of available driver-assist technologies is standard or optionally available on select Ford® models for added convenience and peace of mind. One term to remember when experiencing this great technology is that it is “hands free” – unlike Adaptive Driver Assist (ADA), drivers will not need to touch any buttons or move their hands away from the wheel before or during operation.
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What is Ford’s BlueCruise?
Ford’s hands-free BlueCruise driving feature is set to revolutionise how we drive. Now coming to some Ford models, like the F-150 and Mustang Mach-E, this feature will allow drivers to safely navigate the highways without the hassle of manual driving. With the press of a button, BlueCruise will take the wheel and handle the highway driving for you. Let’s dive into how this feature works and what it can do for drivers.
Ford’s Hands-Free BlueCruise Driving Feature Coming Soon to The F-150 and Mustang Mach-E
Ford’s BlueCruise is an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) that allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel and let the vehicle take over. The system enhances convenience and comfort with hands-free highway driving while providing drivers peace of mind.
BlueCruise utilises Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 suite of technologies, including lane centering features and adaptive cruise control, to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles in the same lane, accelerate up hills and decelerate going downhill. It requires specific features on each model to be effective: hardware such as pre-collision assist, lane-keep assist, BLIS® Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert and adaptive cruise control with stop & go capabilities. The latter three act as crucial sensors that provide alerts and adjust accordingly if a driver becomes distracted or turns operation of the vehicle to autonomous mode.
BlueCruise also incorporates Ford’s improved “Built for This” mapping system. A yearlong effort resulted in integrating enhancements that have made BlueCruise available for more than 120,000 miles of divided highways throughout all 50 states and Canada. Currently only certain Ford vehicles—2020 F–150s—are eligible for BlueCruise activation; however, plans are in motion while making it available on additional models everywhere soon.
Once BlueCruise is downloaded onto a SYNC® 3 infotainment system equipped vehicle and associated with an approved smartphone device through the Ford app, drivers may connect to hundreds of thousands of certified blue islands where BlueCruises are permitted when its GPS confirms eligibility upon entry into a qualified area.
What Features Are Included
Ford’s BlueCruise system is the automaker’s suite of semi-autonomous driving features in its passenger vehicles that helps maintain lane centring and a safe speed, to reduce driver fatigue and enhance the overall driving experience. This feature is standard or available for most Ford vehicle models in 2021.
BlueCruise is designed as a hands-free driving system that simplifies long trips by taking over several aspects of driving such as controlling the speed, maintaining lane centring, selecting the optimal gear shifting, and more. In addition, Ford’s BlueCruise system uses technologies such as radar, cameras, ultrasonic sensors and GPS to detect stationary items ahead on the road surface to help keep drivers within the legal speed limit.
The following are some of the features included in Ford’s BlueCruise:
- Speed Limit Alert: Receive audible alerts when your vehicle exceeds or exceeds a predetermined speed limit.
- Lane Centring Assist: Keeps your car in its lane with active steering support while highway driving.
- Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (Intelligent ACC): Maintain a predefined distance from vehicles ahead while travelling at a constant speed and automatically slowing down or speeding up based on changes to traffic speeds or posted limits.
- Stop & Go: If necessary, you can bring your car to a full stop after engaging Intelligent ACC and when traffic resumes you can press the resume button to get moving again.
- Navigation based Speed Limit Information System (SLI): Receive audible alerts when entering roads with new speed limits that are different from what is set in cruise control; SLI also alerts drivers when approaching intersections/destinations without needing visual manual input as needed for traditional navigation systems.
Safety Features
Ford’s Hands-free BlueCruise Driving Feature is a safety feature coming soon to the F-150 and Mustang Mach-E. This feature allows drivers to experience a hands-free, smooth drive, reducing driver fatigue. The feature uses advanced sensors and cameras to detect lane markers and alert the driver when a lane is crossed, ensuring that the driver remains in the correct lane at all times. First, let’s look at the safety features offered by this feature.
Driver Monitoring
One of the defining features of Ford’s Hands-Free BlueCruise driving system is its driver-monitoring capabilities. As the car cruises, it monitors the driver’s attention level to ensure that they are paying adequate attention for safe operation and staying in their lane.
To do this, the system utilises an infrared camera mounted on the windshield to track head movement and special software algorithms to interpret these movements and ensure that hands remain off the wheel when in BlueCruise mode. The car also has a “Driver Attention Alert” which monitors eye movement and sends alerts if signs of drowsiness or distraction are detected. This ensures better safety while travelling longer distances with less fatigue.
The Hands-Free BlueCruise system helps decrease stress during long trips by allowing drivers to focus fully on things such as conversations or playing music, while knowing that their vehicle is tracking their attention levels and other safety criteria at all times. In addition, if something requires immediate action (such as another vehicle dangerously merging into your lane), the car immediately mutes any audio and provides visual and/or audible alerts so that you can react accordingly.
Lane Centering
One of the driving safety features associated with Ford’s new Hands-Free BlueCruise Driving feature is lane centering, which helps keep you centred in the lane. Lane centering uses cameras and sensors to provide a more comfortable driving experience by detecting the painted lines on roads and highways and then subtly adjusting your speed according to those lines. By keeping you in the centre of your lane, you can better maintain safety authority over your vehicle while reducing over-correction risks. In addition, if your car begins to drift away from its lane, this hands-free feature makes slight adjustments to return you into the line.
In addition, if an obstacle such as a construction barrel or a parked car is detected by one of BlueCruise’s sensors, it will alert you to slow down before it is too late. This extra layer of assistance gives drivers an extra sense of security when behind the wheel and makes it one step easier for them to stay focused on their driving.
Speed Control
Ford’s BlueCruise is an advanced driver assistance system that can provide speed control with hands-free driving. This system allows your vehicle to automatically maintain a certain speed and distance from the vehicle ahead using adaptive cruise control technology. It also monitors the condition of your vehicle’s systems to provide enhanced safety and reliability.
When BlueCruise is active, an icon of a crowned wheel will appear on the instrument cluster display. The crowned wheel symbolises that you have engaged the system and can now set a desired speed for the car to maintain, reducing fatigue from continual acceleration or deceleration as well as any need for manual switching of gears.
The system will then accurately monitor changes in vehicle speed due to traffic flow and slow down or accelerate accordingly while maintaining the pre-set speed and desired distance from other vehicles on the road, ensuring a safe and comfortable ride every time you drive. It can also stop in heavy traffic scenarios, often found on highways or busy roads during rush hour, or if you approach an obstacle such as railway crossings or toll plazas.
If strong crosswinds affect your vehicle’s movement, this feature will adjust its steering angle slightly to maintain stability on your journey. In addition, if you come close to exceeding a predetermined maximum road speed limit, it will sound an alert for you. All these factors ensure that your journeys are safe and enjoyable as Ford’s BlueCruise continues its mission of improving driver convenience and keeping drivers safe on every trip they take while behind their Ford’s wheel!
The Technology Behind BlueCruise
Ford’s hands-free BlueCruise driving feature is set to revolutionise how we commute. This advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) allows drivers to drive hands-free on over 100,000 miles of pre-mapped highways in the US and Canada. How does it work? In this article, we’ll explore the technology behind BlueCruise and explain how it works.
Cameras
Ford’s hands-free BlueCruise driving feature, available in select Ford models as of 2021, utilises various technologies to provide seamless, safe and relaxed driving. The stereo-mounted camera pair is one of the main camera components that make up the BlueCruise system. These cameras provide Ford with “a more accurate view of roadway borders, lane markings and other traffic details than traditional digital cameras,” according to Ford’s website.
The stereo-mounted camera pair can capture real-time data more accurately and provide more detailed images. The intelligence they “see” is then used by advanced processors to track where a vehicle is positioned in a lane within 25 cm accuracy and up to 200 metres ahead on divided highways.
The camera pair works in conjunction with radar sensors to provide such features as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Traffic Jam Assist and Lane Centering enabled through the BlueCruise system — Adaptive Cruise Control can maintain acceleration and deceleration when you’re navigating traffic;. At the same time, Lane Centering helps you stay within your current lane without needing additional input from the driver other than steering
wheel torque adjustments as needed while you drive.
Radar
Radar sensors are at the core of BlueCruise. This technology switches back and forth between long-range, low-resolution and short-range, high-resolution sensing. For example, when drivers put their vehicle in cruise control mode with BlueCruise engaged, two long-range radar sensors bounce signals off the road’s surface to detect lane markers and judge the vehicle’s speed. Meanwhile, if a vehicle veers too close to either side, four additional radar sensors come into play with a more precise reading that will help guide the driver around obstacles or steer them back into lane keeping mode.
These radar sensors also allow for greater safety by being able to detect cars in other lanes and react before the driver even has an opportunity. For example, suppose a car pulls into view ahead of yours or appears to be signalling to merge. In that case, BlueCruise can see it and apply appropriate steering inputs that allow you to maintain your speed while maintaining safe distances away from danger.
Ultrasonic Sensors
Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driving feature is made possible by combining advanced sensors and processing technology. The system uses several ultrasonic sensors placed around the exterior of the vehicle. These sensors measure the distance to surrounding objects, allowing BlueCruise to determine the vehicle’s position on the road and approximate width, even on winding and undulating roads.
BlueCruise utilises sophisticated electronic camera systems for identifying lane markings and monitoring blind spots, reversing manoeuvres, object detection/avoidance, traffic signals and more. Ford also employs patented algorithms to process this data rapidly enough to account for constantly changing conditions. This means that along a long stretch of highway drive time, the system may be able to sense when you’re getting tired or distracted and will alert you with visual or audio prompts.
BlueCruise is designed to be used with active driver engagement, not as an automated substitute for attentive driving. However, when activated correctly and used correctly it provides additional support for precise navigation by utilising both a forward-looking camera and mounted sensors with an extended range from 3-15 metres (9-49 feet).
Availability and Pricing
Ford’s hands-free BlueCruise driving feature will soon be available in the F-150 and Mustang Mach-E automobiles. This feature is designed to make your drives easier and more enjoyable by giving you the hands-free ability to cruise the open road. But, first, let’s talk about the availability and pricing of the Ford BlueCruise feature to ensure you’re ready to take advantage of this exciting new technology.
Models with BlueCruise
Ford’s BlueCruise is a hands-free driving feature that allows drivers to take their eyes off the road and focus on more important tasks like navigating. It works by using a camera to detect lane markings and sophisticated computer algorithms that continuously monitor the driver’s inputs so they can maintain their path of travel.
The technology is available on most Ford models*, including sedans, hatchbacks, crossovers, and SUVs. Specific models currently offering BlueCruise include the Mustang Mach-E, F-150, Escape, Explorer, Edge, EcoSport, Corsair & Bronco Sport.
Ford has also announced that it plans to make BlueCruise widely available across its 2021 lineup including the Fiesta and Fusion models. Pricing for this feature varies depending on the model you select; however it generally ranges from $495 – $1,645 (not including installation).
*Due to its low-speed limitation not all vehicles are eligible for this system
Cost of The Feature
Ford’s Hands-Free BlueCruise Driving feature is available on select Ford models and can be added to specific trim levels for an additional fee. The exact cost of the feature will depend on the make and model of the vehicle you choose and which trim level you select for your vehicle. Depending on the model and trim level, it may cost anywhere from $595 to $995. The cost also depends on whether or not it is added after the purchase or factory installed in the vehicle.
When purchasing a vehicle with the Hands-Free BlueCruise driving feature pre-installed, you may see extra charges related to this technology in the Order Summary of your purchase. These fees can range in price depending on your chosen make and model, but should be marked in your summary as a fee specifically applied to BlueCruise technology.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Ford’s Hands-Free BlueCruise driving feature is a great way for Ford owners to stay safe and relaxed while maintaining an enjoyable driving experience. By leveraging advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), the BlueCruise feature allows for hands-free driving using an exclusive Ford Lightning Camera, giving drivers access to lane centering and adaptive cruise control and the ability to maintain speed on steep inclines so they can stay focused on the road.
The system also uses predictive data to prevent dangerous situations before they occur. Integrating the emerging 5G network with Ford BlueCruise technology ensures that safety protocols are always up-to-date with real-time data updates. This gives consumers more confidence in their vehicles’ performance in any condition.
Using these groundbreaking technologies, Ford sets a higher bar for safety and convenience in today’s vehicles. With the continued emphasis on technological advancements to enhance consumer driving experiences, there will certainly come a day when all transportation companies turn to autonomous vehicles as an innovative solution for their customers.
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