When a person calls for a ride, they may soon see a Ford Fusion picking them up without a driver.
TFL’s Andre Smirnov got a look at the self-driving Ford Fusion hybrid the American automobile company is developing that may be ready for the roads as early as 2021.
Andre spoke with a representative from Ford who explained how the new driverless vehicle operates. He also got a chance to go for a ride in the driverless Fusion as it cruised around Ford’s complex in Dearborn, Michigan.
Ford equipped the test Fusion with LIDAR, radar and cameras to help it navigate its surroundings. For each road the Fusion travels on, Ford has pre-mapped the terrain to ensure the vehicle knows its surrounds and can navigate safely.
The pre-mapping looks at the road and terrain, giving the vehicle information about the travel lanes, stop signs, restaurants and other landmarks. When pedestrians and other objects are in the area, the Fusion avoids them.
How did the Fusion drive through Ford’s complex, and what will the vehicle most likely be when it comes to market in five years? Find out by watching the complete TFL video above.
