The new Ford technology that avoids potholes on the road

The Ford map system uses crowdsourcing (real-time data transmission) to warn us of the presence of potholes and offer us alternative routes.

Ford has begun researching virtual maps that warn of the presence of potholes on the road. The average repair cost of a pothole is estimated at 508 euros; considering we are living through one of the coldest winters in history, the possibility of encountering one is very real. In the United Kingdom, local authorities receive claims for damage caused by uneven road surfaces every 17 minutes.

The virtual map of Ford has been presented today. This technology uses the method of crowdsourcing (real-time transmission of data to the cloud) to show the location of potholes, their depth and the option of taking alternative routes on the vehicles’ screens. This system is possible thanks to the use of cameras and a modem

fitted in the car.

“The virtual map could flag a new pothole the very minute it appears and could warn other drivers almost immediately of what awaits them on the road,” says Uwe Hoffman, research engineer for Advanced Chassis Control Technologies at Ford Europe. “Our cars already incorporate sensors that detect potholes, and now we want to take this technology to the next level”.

Some Ford models such as the Galaxy, the Mondeo and the S-MAX already incorporate onboard sensors that enable Continuous Damping Control, which detects potholes through sensors and adjusts the suspension to help reduce potential damage.

Across Europe, poor road conditions contribute to more than a third of accidents every year. In 2011, a total of 20 million potholes were recorded in Europe, but only half were repaired, at an estimated cost of more than 1.2 trillion euros.

Ford has already begun testing the technology to avoid asphalt irregularities in its new models. The tests will take place at the Lommel circuit (Belgium), a track of almost two kilometres in length that recreates some of the worst potholes in the world.

Source: Newspress