The automotive industry is experiencing moments of profound change. The turn towards electrification is the unequivocal sign that something is changing in a sector historically linked to combustion engines. This paradigm shift, which in Europe will materialize definitively in 2035, the date from which the sale of new vehicles with emissions will be prohibited, is accompanied by another far-reaching revolution: autonomous driving.
Currently, it is already possible to see autonomous cars circulating in various countries around the world. At Moveo, we have echoed experiences of this type in the United States, China and Japan, nations that lead automated driving. However, some incidents involving these vehicles make it clear that there is still a long way to go before level 5 - the most advanced in terms of autonomous driving - becomes a global reality.
Before reaching this final stage, it is crucial to overcome the previous levels of fully autonomous driving. Car companies are experimenting with new technologies and it is becoming increasingly clear that what was once a wish will become a tangible reality. A concrete example is Ford, which is testing a hands-free autonomous driving system that it hopes to implement in Spain before the end of the year.
This technology, called BlueCruise, autonomously drives the vehicle as long as the driver keeps their eyes on the road. An infrared camera mounted behind the steering wheel continually checks whether the driver has their eyes on the road, so if it detects that the motorist's gaze is away from the road, the autonomous driving system will disengage. BlueCruise also takes control of the pedals, so the driver can be in a more relaxed position.
This advanced driver assistance system has already been approved by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) for use in Germany. Spain could become the second country in the European Union to approve Ford's BlueCruise. Sources from the US company have confirmed to Moveo that from the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) "they see no impediment for this technology to be approved." "It is possible that the approval of the system will arrive before the end of the year," adds the Ford spokesman.
Both the DGT and the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism have witnessed a demonstration of this level 2 autonomous driving system. Fernando Acebrón, head of government affairs for Ford in Spain, admits in statements to the Efe agency, that the Relations with these organizations are "intense, fluid and collaborative with the authorities."
Using sensors such as the front camera, the Ford BlueCruise system is capable of identifying lane markings, speed limits and changes in traffic conditions. Based on this information, the advanced assistance system takes control of the vehicle's steering, acceleration, braking and position within its lane.
By adjusting its operation according to speed, the system maintains an appropriate distance from other vehicles on the road, even stopping and restarting in congested traffic situations. The latter is possible thanks to the automatic stop and start function. At the same time, an infrared camera, located behind the steering wheel and facing the driver, monitors whether the driver is paying full attention to the current traffic situation.
Six seconds after BlueCruise detects that the driver is not looking at the road, the system itself emits an audible alert. If the motorist does not retake visual control of the situation, Ford's new technology persists this time with two consecutive light brakes and finally begins to reduce speed until the driver regains control.
BlueCruise technology is limited to reading the GPS-sensed route of a single lane, so to pass another vehicle, the driver has to regain control and merge into the other lane. The same happens in the case of wanting to take a detour.
Ford is currently developing the cartography of Spain to be able to introduce the country's roads into the BlueCruise GPS systems. "The system only works in the so-called blue zones, that is, on highways and highways," they point out from Ford, warning that it is deactivated in the sections under construction. In the case of sharp curves, BlueCruise is automatically deactivated and reconnected once the car has passed them.
From the American company they hope to implement their own level 2 autonomous driving system in Spain this year. In both the United States and the United Kingdom, driving an autonomous car hands-free with the help of your gaze has been a reality for months now. In the United States and Canada, more than 189,000 Ford and Lincoln vehicles have already driven more than 102 million kilometers in BlueCruise mode, and in Europe it has been tested for 160,000 kilometers on public roads. In all cases, the tests have been satisfactory.
During tests in the UK, Ford teams have confirmed that the assistance systems can handle a variety of challenges. Its vehicles have proven to be able to successfully overcome worn lane markings, inclement weather and work zones.
