Ford unveils their Fusion Hybrid Automated Research Vehicle

Ford has officially unveiled their Fusion Hybrid Automated Research Vehicle.

Co- developed along with State Farm and the University of Michigan, the research vehicle is a prototype that will be used to test current and future sensing systems as well as driver assist technologies. The company says that the goal is to advance development of new technologies with its supplier partners so these features can be applied to the company’s next generation of vehicles.

Ford didn’t reveal much about the car but confirmed that it uses four LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) sensors that scan the road 2.5 million times per second. The sensors bounce infrared light off everything within 200 feet (61 meters) to generate a 3D map of the surrounding environment. This map is then used to drive the vehicle and ensure it doesn’t hit anything.

In a statement, Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford said that the Ford Fusion Hybrid automated vehicle represents a vital step toward the company’s vision for the future of mobility. He further said that the future is of connected cars that will communicate with each other and the world around them to make driving safer, ease traffic congestion and sustain the environment.