Ford connects with VRU safety

First published at ITS America - June 7, 2019

Ford Motor Company is demonstrating two solutions that are designed to make the streets safer for vulnerable road users (VRUs), whether they are on foot or using new micromobility modes such as e-scooters.

Ford has committed to deploying cellular Vehicle to Everything (C-V2X) technology in all new US vehicle models from 2022. At the Annual Meeting it is showing off ‘bridge’ technology that enables communication before that happens. “The simulator was developed to help explain the user experience,” says Erik Kiledal (pictured), connected vehicle technology engineer, connected vehicle – platform and products at Ford. “We can simulate different scenarios.”

One product allows pedestrians to ‘talk’ to a vehicle via a phone app – in effect ‘asking’ traffic whether it is safe to cross. C-V2X-enabled vehicles pick up the app request and slow to allow the pedestrian across the road.

The technology can also be used for scooter riders – a relatively new phenomenon that authorities in US cities are currently wrestling with. Using Ford’s technology, scooters can communicate with vehicles via Bluetooth to alert them of their presence in the vicinity. “Scooters are presenting a bit of a challenge for safety,” says Kiledal. “Our main topic is safety for VRUs. Anything we can do to improve VRU safety is something we support.”

Ford has been carrying out a number of tests using the technology and there are some limited, geofenced C-V2X deployments in the US at present from other car manufacturers as well.

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