Ford patents app to inform pedestrians when autonomous vehicles won't stop

The automaker says it's just a patent, not a product plan, for now, but we've a couple questions about this tech nevertheless

Buckle up, readers — there’s a lot to unpack in Ford’s most recent patent which is, well, peculiar. Ready? In July 2022, Ford filed a patent for a smartphone app that enables cars using self-driving mode to communicate with pedestrians via their phones. Half-points awarded for an attempt at reducing pedestrian fatalities and injuries....

U.S. Patent 11396271 explains that it’d alert “vulnerable road users” (read: pedestrians) to the presence of a nearby autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle (AV) would communicate its intentions to the pedestrian through an “augmented reality” overlay on their phone, and gather info via machine learning to power “an impact event prediction indicative of a future impact between the AV and the mobile device.”

An image from a 2022 Ford patent for a pedestrian app Photo by Ford via U.S. Patent Office


So, lemme get this straight... You have to be a "distracted pedestrian" in order to be warned that the vehicle bearing down on you will not stop for you?

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"I drank WHAT?" (Socrates)

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Recent article abou GM's system. Worth a read.

How GM's Super Cruise Became the Best Driver-Assistance System on the Market

Robert
SWCA #2906

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

Interesting. I'm not about to trust any such technology at this point, though. Fortunately I'm not in the market for a new vehicle either. But if I were, it wouldn't be from GM since another article I read says,

"GM’s ‘Optional’ OnStar plan is actually a mandatory US$1,500 "Some buyers aren’t happy about the automakers choice of description for the digital service"

I will not have any vehicle that is connected to anything, never mind being forced to pay for an "optional" feature!

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"I drank WHAT?" (Socrates)

It raises the old sticky problem - when a autonomous vehicle is involved in a collision, who is at fault? The passenger (is he a driver)? The manufacturer? The software designer? Public works (or whoever is responsible for maintaining the road)?

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Common sense isn't so common.

This ^^^ And the only winners in such a scenario will likely be the lawyers, whose bank accounts will swell from the years of litigation that will no doubt result.
I could just be getting unreasonably cynical in my old age, though

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"I drank WHAT?" (Socrates)

I cannot imagine getting in any vehicle I own, and for which I am ultimately responsible...and ceding all control of that vehicle to a computer.

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Where Law Ends, Tyranny Begins

I understand your point, but honestly, I've seen some folks who lack the intelligence and skills to drive3 so much that artificial intelligence would indeed be an improvement.

One scenario I see developing is when habitual drunks utilize AI cars as a crutch to get them home. "Hey car, I'm to drunk to drive, take me home."

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Live long and prosper

I still recall that Mercedes yelling get away, do not approach me.
The problem was it was parked near the front door of a Supermarket and lots of folks were going in-out.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I was told by a person that is in the know, that all of these systems are ultimately designed to allow, in the future, "authorities" to control/disable the vehicle if the need arises. Think giving chase or failure to renew insurance etc.

Makes one wonder.



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Death? Smile back...

Don't need autonomous driving for that... any new ford can be tracked and shut down remotely...

I have two early warning sensors permanently installed in my eye sockets. Original equipment, and no extra cost.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Better get a horse & buggy then as ALL the new ones are connected. It doesn't matter if you "subscribe" to it or not.

I rented a Uhaul truck recently. It used a real key, had no fancy gizmos, and was a truly refreshing retro driving experience.

I have Otto.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Bummer if you need to use the emergency inflation device.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

The flight attendant?

Fortunately my 2011 Ford Ranger should last me for a good number of years yet. And by the time I need to replace it, I'll be sure to have found ways to disconnect any invasive electronic claptrap.

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"I drank WHAT?" (Socrates)

GM's "super cruise enabled roads" , means only on interstate highways where they mapped. I consider this brain-dead functionality.

This is a joke, right?

Currently, the Tesla FSD and Autopilot REQUIRE the driver to pay attention. Every 15 seconds the driver must wiggle the steering wheel or it screams and forces the driver to take control. It is not autonomous, currently ! This is the way to run a beta and keep it safe ! Tesla has 100,000 drivers in their beta now. Did you know Tesla constantly scores your driving. Unless you are in the very top of their 3,000,000 drivers, you don't get the BETA. I didn't qualify. Because it's just too damn much FUN. FUN, GUN to drive.

Tesla FSD is a decade in front because of Elon insisting that they not go down a dead-end road like the others. Tesla took the long view, not the short-sighted attempt to get a quick foot in the market. Elon, AI, neural nets, and visual computing will lead to an understanding of the real world, however it looks and changes.
Geo fencing and "enabled roads" require a static world with no changes. This is the dead-end. Interstate highways are easy, and GM super cruise is limited to that small segment of driving. GM super cruise can NOT operate on city streets.

Not only is Tesla beta operating on city streets, Tesla has the proof that even the current software is better than a human driver when counting accidents. Their 3 million EVs in the "fleet" sends the mothership new driving data every night to analyse and prepare the automatic update.
It gets significantly better every night !
No one else is even close to that giant chunk of data and no one is using a DOJO supercomputer to analyze it.

This is a complex topic that requires an understanding far beyond what most folks possess. Even your professional programmer needs years to transition to AI, neural nets, and visual computing. If you aren't a math wiz in probability, you have no chance.

I've put several hundred hours into reviewing the Tesla alternatives, and I believe them to be temporary work arounds to a narrow driving need.

GM is doing marketing and lying to you. Tesla Haters love these ridiculous main street media stories. Biden is a Hater on Elon Musk and Tesla; but he loves Mary Barra of GM. Need I say more?


Prescut

It's because the kids that got high on glue are all grown up now. The car industry is getting worse and worse!

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Jorge

Happens all the time in redneck divorce settlements.

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213th FBINA

If the car is named Lucile, we already do! And, we thought it was about a woman.

73,
Rick

Would be interesting if the programming were based on regional driving habits. Boston programming would blow through yellow lights AND give pedestrians the finger. NYC would floor it, yell "GTF outta the way ….". SF drivers would casually turn left from the right hand lane.

I'm guessing the yentas in FL would do 35 MPH in the left hand lane?