Ford is working on a mobile app designed to alert drivers to pedestrians and bicyclists nearby. The function is intended to complement, not replace, its Co-Pilot360 advanced driver assistance system.
The app, scheduled to debut at the Intelligent Transportation Society of America’s World Congress in Los Angeles this week, uses Bluetooth Low Energy to send a location alert from a pedestrian or cyclist’s smartphone to passing Ford vehicles equipped with the latest infotainment system. The system then calculates potential crash risks, providing screen and audio alerts.
The safety package includes features such as automatic lane keeping and blind spot assistance. Instead of relying upon cameras or radar, which can only detect people and objects in line of sight, Bluetooth Low Energy uses radio waves to sense behind buildings and other obstructions.