‘Active City Stop’ Captures and Processes 15 Images in the Blink of an Eye
· Ford introduces the low-speed collision avoidance system Active City Stop in the new Fiesta in Europe
· In the time it takes to blink, a sophisticated sensor captures 15 images, calculates whether traffic is slowing or has stopped, and applies the brakes automatically if it determines a collision is imminent
· Ford Active City Stop can help prevent collisions at speeds of up to 15 km/h and to help mitigate the effects of impacts at speeds of up to 30 km/h
Even the most attentive driver has to blink, and by the time they have opened their eyes Ford’s Active City Stop low-speed collision avoidance technology that is being introduced to new Fiesta in Europe will have captured and processed 15 images of the road ahead in its search for potential hazards.
Active City Stop uses a sophisticated light detecting and ranging sensor to scan the road ahead 50 times every second – more than twice the speed of the movie industry standard frame rate – to help prevent collisions at speeds up to 15 km/h, and help reduce the severity of impacts at speeds of up to 30 km/h.
“Urban areas are breeding grounds for low-speed accidents caused by drivers failing to notice the car in front has stopped,” said Florian Schweter, new Fiesta Active City Stop development engineer, Ford of Europe. “High traffic volumes, lots of potential distractions and slow-moving, stop-start traffic mean Active City Stop can provide a much-needed extra eye on the road.”
Each year more than half-a-million people are injured in car crashes in cities in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain alone. Of these, approximately one-in-eight are hurt in rear-end shunts, the type that Active City Stop can reduce in severity or avoid altogether.
Active City Stop constantly monitors the gap to vehicles in front, calculates the risk of hitting a stationary or slow-moving object and pre-charges the new Fiesta’s brake system to deliver maximum braking response. If the driver does not respond, either by braking or evasive steering, the system simultaneously applies the brakes, reduces engine torque, and activates the rear hazard lights.
First launched on new Focus and ordered by more than 70,000 European customers to date, Active City Stop is already available on C-MAX, Grand C-MAX and the new B-MAX. It received a Euro NCAP Advanced reward on Focus in 2011.
“Active City Stop is designed to offer additional security for Ford drivers and fellow road users,” said Schweter. “Automatic application of the brakes is a last-ditch response and the system is carefully designed to minimise the potential for inappropriate application. We hope our customers will never need this feature but we believe it gives city drivers in particular peace of mind to know it is there.”
