FORD PILOTS CONNECTED CAR TECH FOR BETTER JOURNEYS IN SMART CITIES WITH TARGETED ALERTS SENT DIRECT TO DRIVERS’ SCREEN
Many apps enable drivers to avoid traffic jams, road closures and accidents. However, notifications are usually sent to mobile phones. It may also be that such updates do not distinguish between traffic information and other updates, and do not take the device’s location into account.
Ford is now piloting a secure and effective messaging system that sends updates directly to vehicles. This could help create smoother traffic ecosystem sand safer, more sustainable cities.
For the pilot in Madrid, Ford is partnering with Alcobendas City Council, and tech companies Indigitall and Rad Mas to integrate Ford’s SYNC3 AppLink connectivity system with the Alcobendas City Council’s city app.
Warning of works on the road in the city of Alcobendas — Source: Ford
Don’t drive while distracted or while using handheld devices. Use voice-operated systems when possible. Some features may be locked out while the vehicle is in gear. Not all features are compatible with all phones. Commands may vary by phone and App Link software.
Now, city authorities there will be able to send real-time notifications – such as accidents, road closures, and congestion–specifically to Ford drivers in the vicinity. Messages are geospecific to ensure selected, relevant information is tailored to the specific vehicle location. That information appears on the vehicle screen to avoid potential smartphone distractions.
«This is another example of Ford’s strong commitment to connectivity as a tool for safer and more efficient mobility. Much of the intelligent infrastructure needed for a truly connected world is already in place today, and Ford vehicles already have the technology needed to design cities that prevent accidents or lost time due to traffic problems», said Jesús Alonso, president and CEO, Ford of Spain.
Residential and school zone approach warning in the city of Alcobendas — Source: Ford
The Ford Mobility project is a test of how connected vehicles will be progressively integrated into virtual driver information systems, complementing traditional traffic signs and information panels. Connecting smart vehicles with smart cities will help generate greater knowledge of the environment, and lead to more livable cities and more sustainable commerce. The anonymised data collected by Ford could also help other cities make improvements.
«This project has three points. On the one hand, that from the City Council we bring together very large companies with other small or incipient ones that also have fantastic projects. On the other, that Alcobendas is a great urban laboratory; and thirdly, that the collaboration between the public and private sectors is fundamental for the development of a city», said Rafael Sánchez Acera, Mayor of Alcobendas.