Ford Experiments with Snow-Capable Autonomous Cars
Autonomous cars; they’re coming whether you like it or not. Self-driving cars are a new concept for most of us, and although a fully functional model is many years away, Ford’s autonomous testing is running at full speed.
As you’re reading this, Ford and the University of Michigan have researchers, engineers, software geniuses, astrophysicists, and other mega-intelligent people doing laps around an autonomous winter facility in northern Michigan. The purpose of this massive undertaking, is to teach computers what humans know about driving on slippery winter conditions, such as recognizing potential dangers, geographical locations that may be covered in snow, and how to avoid wintery trouble.
Ford claims that its Lidar system onboard the autonomous Ford Fusion is so powerful, that it can recognize and differentiate between a snowflake and a rain drop, and therefore is able to adjust driving behavior accordingly. Not only that, but its advanced 3D mapping system can process over 600 gigabytes mapping data per hour, and is many times more accurate than any current GPS system available to the public.
Even more shocking, is Ford’s introduction to their press release; in which they state that autonomous vehicles are in fact—a reality.
What do you think?
Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>
