Today, Ford announced that is moving forward with Mobileye, a supplier of cutting edge vision-assistance technology, to enhance its suite of driver-assistance programs. The Ford and Mobileye will collaborate to roll out the new tech across the auto manufacturer’s global product lineup. This long-term agreement will advance Ford’s Co-Pilot360 systems.

Collision avoidance systems

Collision avoidance systems, once a thing of the future, have increasingly become the norm. As governments worldwide have become more confident with the technology, they have increasingly mandated auto manufacturers to add the systems to their cars. So, automotive manufacturers across the globe have been incorporating various technologies and sensors to provide driver assistance. This includes the use of radar, lasers (LIDAR), GPS, cameras, and image recognition software to detect imminent collisions.

Ford already has a suite of driver-assistance programs

Ford already has a suite of driver-assistance programs available in its lineup called Co-Pilot360. This new agreement, however, will enhance the detection capability of the systems. Lisa Drake, Chief Operating Officer, North America; vice president, Global Purchasing, Ford Motor Company put it this way,

“By customizing Mobileye’s excellent software and sensing technology, Ford’s great driver-assist features will continue to evolve and provide customers with confidence on the road throughout the life of their vehicles.”

Ford’s current Co-Pilot360 safety suite

According to Ford’s website, the current Co-Pilot360 is a suite of systems that can cover a whole host of situations. Specifically, it can provide blind-spot and cross-traffic alerts, lane-keeping assistance, pre-collision assistance with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, reverse brake assist, a rearview camera, park assist, auto high-beam headlamps, blind-spot detection for trailer towing, trailer backup assistance, and hill descent control. It’s pretty extensive.

Ford is acting smartly

As technology advances, generally speaking, it becomes smaller, less expensive, and smarter. Smarter is the key. This new agreement between Ford and Mobileye proves that Ford is not standing still when it comes to technology and safety. Nor should any auto manufacturer. Anything that can enhance driver safety with more accuracy is something that is going to be pursued. After all, nobody wants a driver-assist program that can not rightly interpret a stop sign.

According to the press release,

“As part of the high-volume agreement, new production vehicles will use Mobileye’s EyeQ computer chips and software to support features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 Technology. Used to help precisely identify what the windshield camera in a vehicle can see – including lane markings, traffic signs, pedestrians and other vehicles – Mobileye’s technology will support features such as Lane-Keeping System, Auto High-Beam headlamps, Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking and Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, as well as Active Drive Assist hands-free driving coming to the all-new Mustang Mach-E and all-new F-150.”

This is a far-reaching agreement

It does not end there. Today’s announcement indicated that the collaboration between Ford and Mobileye will run throughout the life of Ford’s next-generation production vehicles. So, this is a long-term and high-volume arrangement. Also, this will not just be for the North American market. The press release continues to say that this agreement will affect the camera-based collision avoidance ability of Ford vehicles globally.

Ford’s new agreement with Mobileye will enhance Co-Pilot360. This will, in turn, make things a little safer for all drivers, occupants, and pedestrians. But it must be mentioned that no system is full proof. Drivers should still pay attention to their surroundings and maintain control of their vehicles. It makes no difference what safety systems are available, or what the name is of the auto manufacturer on the steering wheel. Safety is still everybody’s responsibility. Although, a round of applause is due to all the manufacturers that continue to make the safety systems better and better.