Ford is launching their next-generation Fusion
Hybrid autonomous development car just in time for 2017 CES as well as the Detroit Auto Show in January. While the new
model uses Ford's current autonomous vehicle platform that made its debut three
years ago, it packs more processing power thanks to the upgraded computer
hardware.
Its electrical controls are closer to
being ready for production, while adjustments made by Ford to the Fusion's
sensor technology (including placement), allow the car to better see it's
surroundings. The new LiDAR sensors now come with a different design, featuring
a more targeted field of vision, which in turn enables the car to get the same
amount of data using just two sensors instead of four.
What makes this new-generation autonomous
development vehicle truly special, is the fact that it will
make a big leap in terms of its virtual driver system, where the goal is to
have a fully autonomous SAE-defined level 4-capable vehicle that doesn't need a
driver.
In order to do that, this Fusion Hybrid test car
features LiDAR, cameras and radar, but also new algorithms for localization and
path planning, computer vision and machine learning, highly detailed 3D maps
and more computational and electronics power.
The new-gen autonomous development
vehicle is meant to bring Ford a step closer to offering a fully autonomous car
by the year 2021 for ride-sharing and ride-hailing services.
