Ford's technology: in R&D and hitting the market

[Ohio XB]

Originally Posted by JPFS1

don't know if you've already mentioned this one Ohio XB....

Ford are working on some pretty innovative active safety systems where by they are developing in conjunction with other manufacturers and the US department of Transport, car<->car comms and car<->infrastructure comms.

You can imagine the benefits here... imagine early warning of another car about to run a red at an intersection, or you are alerted because a car ahead has applied significant brake pressure.

all very possible and under test already.

I have not heard of that one before. Thanks for the info!

I know they have sonar sensor awareness to judge braking distances and the car will start braking for you if you are not noticing that the car ahead is stopping and your distance is too short for the speed being travelled.

I hope there isn't a need to totally idiot proof a car. You would think that people have to have some level of responsibility to drive. I know there are cars in California that, once on the highway, you sit back and the car drives itself. It's still a test but it's working. People read the paper while the car drives itself.


Steve

[Ohio XB]

Originally Posted by Grimus

thanks for the vids ect steve

it is great to get an inside bit of info as to what ford us are implimenting and not just sitting back and seeing what happens

Jason

You're welcome. Also realize that most all of what I have posted is already in the public realm which Ford has put out there.

So if Ford is willing to make this cool stuff public, imagine what they have under wraps!


Steve

[JPFS1]

Originally Posted by Ohio XB

I have not heard of that one before. Thanks for the info!

I know they have sonar sensor awareness to judge braking distances and the car will start braking for you if you are not noticing that the car ahead is stopping and your distance is too short for the speed being travelled.

I hope there isn't a need to totally idiot proof a car. You would think that people have to have some level of responsibility to drive. I know there are cars in California that, once on the highway, you sit back and the car drives itself. It's still a test but it's working. People read the paper while the car drives itself.


Steve

No problem.

Like you said there's the auto cruise control type technologies that monitor distance etc, but this is somewhat different.

As far as I know, the calibration could be as flexible as audible/visible alerts to intervention, I guess it comes down to the tests and what they can achieve.

I do believe there is already a particular intersection in Dearborn that is setup for this which they're currently using for testing purposes.

And on the idea's front, anybody that would like to submit their own ideas and maybe one day see it born by FoMoCo, go to http://fordnewideas.com ;)

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by JPFS1

Steve

This is being used currently in the Australian Falcon and i'm sure other models across Fords Global models.

It's a shame Ford Au don't use this style of advertisement to grab people's attention.

[Ohio XB]

Ford SYNC coming to Australia!!!!!!!!


http://www.cnet.com.au/cartech/enter...9294306,00.htm


Ford used its keynote speech at this year's CES to unveil a raft of interesting new car tech, including a new version of its Sync system, which will soon be coming to Australia, as well as intelligent instrument clusters and HD radio.


Steve

[axeray]

Looks good.

[Ohio XB]

Ford's Powershift transmission will have 6 speeds, two dry clutches, shift automatically or manually, and no transmission fluid. The system is 30 pounds lighter than current "wet" 6 speed trannies.

http://media.ford.com/article_displa...ticle_id=29738


PowerShift provides the full comfort of an automatic with a more sophisticated driving dynamic, thanks to uninterrupted torque from the dual-clutch technology, which consists essentially of two manual transmissions working in parallel, each with its own independent clutch unit. One clutch carries the uneven gears – 1, 3 and 5 – while the other the even gears – 2, 4 and 6. Subsequent gear changes are coordinated between both clutches as they engage and disengage for a seamless delivery of torque to the wheels.

In North America, a dry-clutch derivative of Ford’s PowerShift transmission will be used for added efficiency and durability. A dry clutch transmits power and torque through manual transmission clutch facings, while most automatic transmissions utilize wet clutch plates submerged in oil. As a result, the dry-clutch PowerShift transmission does not require an oil pump or torque converter, providing superior mechanical efficiency.

“A dry clutch is a real sweet spot for lighter vehicle applications,” said Piero Aversa, manager, Ford Automatic Transmission Engineering. “PowerShift is more efficient, it saves weight, is more durable, more efficient and the unit is sealed for life, requiring no regular maintenance.”




There's a lot more at the link.

Steve

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by Ohio XB

PowerShift provides the full comfort of an automatic with a more sophisticated driving dynamic, thanks to uninterrupted torque from the dual-clutch technology, which consists essentially of two manual transmissions working in parallel, each with its own independent clutch unit. One clutch carries the uneven gears – 1, 3 and 5 – while the other the even gears – 2, 4 and 6. Subsequent gear changes are coordinated between both clutches as they engage and disengage for a seamless delivery of torque to the wheels.

Owning a VW with a DSG (which is essentially the same thing as PowerShift), I can tell you the technology works remarkably. Sticking one behind an XR5 would be neat.

[Ohio XB]

I understand this transmission, or variant of it, is going in the Focus RS in Europe. Thanks for your comments from your experience with this type of transmission. Everything I have read about it sounds great so far!!!

Ford is also working on a system that shuts the engine off at stops and positions it to instantly start and seamlessly take off in cars with this specific transmission in order to save more fuel. It sounds like Ford is looking to eliminate idling all together.


Steve

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by Ohio XB

I understand this transmission, or variant of it, is going in the Focus RS in Europe. Thanks for your comments from your experience with this type of transmission. Everything I have read about it sounds great so far!!!

Ford is also working on a system that shuts the engine off at stops and positions it to instantly start and seamlessly take off in cars with this specific transmission in order to save more fuel. It sounds like Ford is looking to eliminate idling all together.


Steve

There was a fifth gear episode recently with a Smart car using the same tech. The broad said that after 20 or so minutes, you never noticed that the car's engine shuts off and starts up during stop start and feels natural after awhile.

Would be good for commuting around Sydney or Melbourne.

[last fairlane]

Hi all I can remember back in the sixties VW had set up a test track with wires buried under the bitumen and the cars 3 or 4 of them one behind the other just hooking in and keeping the same distance apart with out using the pedals at all dont know what ever became of it though
John

[Ohio XB]

Originally Posted by last fairlane

Hi all I can remember back in the sixties VW had set up a test track with wires buried under the bitumen and the cars 3 or 4 of them one behind the other just hooking in and keeping the same distance apart with out using the pedals at all dont know what ever became of it though
John

There's a couple lanes on the highway in California that has magnets implanted in it and cars that are built for it drive themselves down the highway, hands free, while the driver reads the newspaper. I think the idea of building cars and highways like this has gone by the wayside now that they are building cars that can "see".


Steve

[quirdan]

Originally Posted by Ohio XB

I think the idea of building cars and highways like this has gone by the wayside now that they are building cars that can "see".

Yes, the idea seems to be to keep the road infrastructure how it is and get the car to read the road like a human would without any machine-only aids embedded in the road -- only in/on the car.

[ILLaViTaR]

pffffft this parking technology belongs in Toyota's.

It will just result with more incompetent drivers.
However it's a good technology if you have a wife.

[FPV8U]

Originally Posted by Rodp

Owning a VW with a DSG (which is essentially the same thing as PowerShift), I can tell you the technology works remarkably. Sticking one behind an XR5 would be neat.

Would make my GF very happy..

[Ohio XB]

STUDY: FORD RANKED AS INDUSTRY LEADER FOR QUALITY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF TECHNOLOGY PATENTS

http://media.ford.com/article_displa...ticle_id=29773


DEARBORN, Jan. 28, 2009 – A new study by the world’s leading patent analyst, The Patent Board™, found that Ford Motor Company outperformed all other automakers in the quality and significance of its technology patents.

“Ford’s patented technologies are closer to the cutting edge than its competitors,” says Christine Wren, director of business development for The Patent Board, which tracks and analyzes patents across 17 industries globally.





That's just the first two paragraphs. The whole article is a good read.

Steve

[Gobes32]

Hi steve, Is there a market for liquid injection LPG in the states? It seems to be the latest craze down here in OZ. Seems to be bigger savings both in fuel costs and environmentally if you believe all the hype.

[Ohio XB]

I know a bloke that built his 351C in his 1968 Mustang to run on LPG but that's only because he does LPG systems for a living. Otherwise, no, not much talk or publicity about converting to LPG here. As popular as it is there I am not sure why.

If there was any enthusiasm for it I am sure the oil companies would fix that like they did the other fuels that are being used.

Diesel, which had always been cheaper than gasoline because it is less refined, is now about 90 cents more a gallon than gasoline and did reach more than one dollar more per gallon. A diesel car would get much better fuel mileage than a gasoline car so if diesel costs enough to balance out to there being no cost savings then the deterent is there.

E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) has a priced fixed so that it cannot be more than 50 cents cheaper than gasoline. With there being a 30% loss in fuel milage with E85 there is now no savings in fuel cost because it cannot be cheap enough to make up the difference. The oil compaines, my understanding is, lobbied to get this safety net for themselves made into a regulation.

So if there was a big push for LPG here they would lobby that to also not be beneficial from a regular cost standpoint.


Steve

[Gobes32]

Someone will no doubt correct me, but Australia is abundant with LPG to the point that it costs more to store it than a service station makes in profit selling it?

However, I was also told that if we could find a way to set up a natural gas service station network, it would cost $3 a tank (70ltrs) to fill your car and drive around 380kms (250miles)

[Ohio XB]

Originally Posted by Gobes32

Someone will no doubt correct me, but Australia is abundant with LPG to the point that it costs more to store it than a service station makes in profit selling it?

However, I was also told that if we could find a way to set up a natural gas service station network, it would cost $3 a tank (70ltrs) to fill your car and drive around 380kms (250miles)

That would be a deal!!


Steve

[Gobes32]

In Australia 90% of plant mobile equipment (forklift, tug motors etc) in Ford's factories run on natural gas due to the low running cost. Also, in Geelong, our buses all run on natural gas. It's the only way they can run profitably due to low numbers of usage.