Ford’s suite of active safety technology is about to gain a new trick up its sleeve.
It’s called Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, and it functions no differently than the many systems available on the market today, including those offered by Ford. It uses a set of radars and cameras to scan the road ahead and alerts the driver if a collision is imminent. If the driver doesn’t respond on time, it will apply the brakes to lessen the impact or even prevent the collision.
For 2015, Ford will add a new function to the system that helps it detect pedestrians ahead. Similar to Volvo’s system, Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection scans for vehicles and pedestrians, and if speeds are low enough, can outright avoid potentially serious collisions with pedestrians.
During the day and in clear weather conditions, the system will scan the road ahead for pedestrians who are crossing in front of the car’s path. If a collision is imminent, it will sound an alert before improving brake responsiveness by reducing the space between the pad and rotor. If the driver still fails to apply the brakes, the system will do so automatically and could bring the car to a complete stop.
As innovative as the system is, Pedestrian Detection still has its limitations. Ford says it’s not a replacement for paying attention to the road ahead, and drivers should still take caution at night, during low and harsh lighting conditions or inclement weather, or with vehicles moving in different directions.
Initially, Pedestrian Detection will be offered on the 2015 model-year Ford Mondeo, which is essentially the European-spec Fusion. After that, Ford will expand Pedestrian Detection availability to other markets across the globe, including North America and Lincoln models.
