Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) put its first-build self-driving car through one of the toughest challenges – that of driving through snow. The test, which is one of the first of its kind in the autonomous car industry, was held in Michigan’s simulated test area, Mcity.
Director of Autonomous Vehicles and Controls at Ford, Randy Visintainer, the car was tested in snow to help in evaluation of the car’s performance. Additionally, things that needed improvement too were noted.
Visintainer also noted that the snow testing was an important phase to making the car user friendly in most weather conditions. He stated that it was also a way to inform future buyers that the car was evaluated and designed to meet conditions such as snow. Moreover, the test also allowed the technical team to make the systems robust and work in such inclement weather conditions as snow.
Self-driving car band wagon
Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) is one of the main automotive industry majors to aggressively pursue a plan to build autonomous vehicles or self-driving vehicles. Ford continues to work with different technology majors to improve its self-driving car, including tough ‘testing.’
Nearly every major technology company today is fascinated by self-driving or ‘autonomous’ cars. Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) is also testing its own self-driving car technologies, while Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) automated car is a step ahead with the hardware and initial software already in place. Apart from the tech-trio, the auto manufacturers themselves are at various stages of building their own autonomous car models.
Tripling fleet
Apart from Ford Motor Company(NYSE:F) snow-tests, the company’s Chief Technology Officer, Raj Nair, announced that the tripling of its fleet. The company said that the number of Fusion Hybrid autonomous cars for research would increase by three times. As Ford works strategically towards the new generation of ‘shared transport,’ it also introduced its concierge service-FordPass. It allows Ford owners to seek on-road assistance, reserving or paying for parking in advance.
Anthony Young
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