Ford will – for the first time ever – publicly demonstrate its smart electrification technology at the 18th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in Orlando this Thursday, Oct. 20.
Ford researchers first gave a glimpse into how cloud-based technology could be used to improve powertrain operation at the Google I/O Developers Conference and since have highlighted it as part of Ford’s technology future in the Evos Concept car.
The 3 Intelligent Areas of the cloud Innovation
Ford researchers and engineers will showcase technology designed to personalize the driving experience that is centered on three areas of cloud-based innovation: intelligent routing, intelligent driving and intelligent operation.
“With this technology we are talking about pure customer benefit – creating the right individualized and optimized experience for each person, vehicle and situation,” said Paul Mascarenas, Chief Technical Officer and vice president, Ford Research and Innovation. “As our transportation system evolves – say, with lower emissions zones – the research we are doing now will help us meet the future needs of our customers. For example, cars could one day adapt their powertrain performance to these types of varying driving conditions.”
Ford already offers cloud-based services through Ford SYNC, but those services thus far have been used for infotainment, navigation and real-time traffic purposes to empower the driver,” said Ryan McGee, technical expert, Vehicle Controls Architecture and Algorithm Design, Ford Research and Innovation, who will be presenting during the conference. “This technology has the potential to empower our vehicles to anticipate a driver’s needs for various reasons, such as optimizing a vehicle’s powertrain efficiency.”
Escape Plug-In Demo
At the World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, researchers will show how a prototype Escape Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) could use a combination of cloud-based and proprietary technology to learn when to switch from being gasoline-powered to all-electric upon entering a lower emissions zone. Cities such as London, Berlin and Stockholm already have such zones
McGee said if a vehicle was able to predict exactly when it might be entering such a zone, it could optimize itself to comply with regulations and at the same time optimize energy usage over the total distance of the route by switching the engine to all-electric mode at specific times.
Bill Ford to Speak
In addition, Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford will be speaking at ITS about the future of transportation. He will discuss how intelligent vehicles and innovations such as smart electrification can help solve emerging transportation issues on roads around the world.
