Active Drive Assist -Lane Change?

[generaltso]

There has been no mention about lane changes but I hope they will implement it. Ford added 2 extra radar sensors they've never put on another vehicle that look straight to the side of the car so I would imagine that it is going to use those to possibly change lanes without you manually doing it.

I believe those are the radar sensors for Intersection Assist. It's possible those could be used for automated lane changes or front cross traffic alerting at some point, but Ford hasn't said anything about that.

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[breeves002]

I believe those are the radar sensors for Intersection Assist. It's possible those could be used for automated lane changes or front cross traffic alerting at some point, but Ford hasn't said anything about that.

From what I've read, intersection assist is for unprotected left turns. It looks for oncoming traffic, not traffic from the side.

 

[Mirak]

Pretty sure Tesla has turn-signal initiated lane changes during “autopilot” but I’m not sure whether this requires the $10,000 upgrade. Maybe a Tesla owner can confirm.

Regardless, I don’t really see what the fuss is. Whether you’re using the turn signal or the wheel, it still requires intervention.

Now if the Tesla / MME could self-initiate lane changes while on the highway in order to better maintain cruising speed, that would be really cool. I would officially consider that to be a true “autopilot.” That seems possible in highway settings, but I have personally witnessed many situations on the highway, particularly involving 18-wheeler blockades, where the car better be darned smart when deciding to start weaving around. And then there are the issues with construction zones reducing traffic to one lane....

 

[breeves002]

If you are referring to the four sensors on the front and rear sides. That is your Active Park Assist. Yes, it will park your car automatically parallel or perpendicular, without using the steering wheel. Read instructions before attempting this. One hint, have your foot on the brake to keep the speed during this feature under control. The Bliss and Cross Traffic sensors are behind the plastic bumper or rear quarter panels on most Fords.

No, I was not referring to the sonar bumper mounted sensors, but the 4 radar units which you cannot see. APA uses the radars for blind spot (rear most radars) to detect an open parking spot, then uses the sonar sensors to do the rest of the job.

 

[breeves002]

Now if the Tesla / MME could self-initiate lane changes while on the highway in order to better maintain cruising speed, that would be really cool.

Teslas do this already. You set how aggressive you want it to be too. "Mad-max" being the fastest setting. This does require the full self driving upgrade I'm pretty sure. Otherwise it will suggest a lane change and you hit the turn signal to enable it.

 

[Jimrpa]

Pretty sure Tesla has turn-signal initiated lane changes during “autopilot” but I’m not sure whether this requires the $10,000 upgrade. Maybe a Tesla owner can confirm.

Regardless, I don’t really see what the fuss is. Whether you’re using the turn signal or the wheel, it still requires intervention.

Now if the Tesla / MME could self-initiate lane changes while on the highway in order to better maintain cruising speed, that would be really cool. I would officially consider that to be a true “autopilot.” That seems possible in highway settings, but I have personally witnessed many situations on the highway, particularly involving 18-wheeler blockades, where the car better be darned smart when deciding to start weaving around. And then there are the issues with construction zones reducing traffic to one lane....

I ask because it’s also a feature that the newest iteration of Cadillac’s SuperCruise has and Ford seems to be modeling their Advanced Driving Assistance along the lines of SuperCruise. Hence, it seems reasonable to ask if there was feature parity.

 

[Mirak]

I agree that it doesn’t seem terribly complicated to add turn signal initiated lane changes, relative to the rest of the CoPilot360 features already or soon to be provided.

 

[StrWhtMME]

No, I was not referring to the sonar bumper mounted sensors, but the 4 radar units which you cannot see. APA uses the radars for blind spot (rear most radars) to detect an open parking spot, then uses the sonar sensors to do the rest of the job.

Sorry to disagree, the four side facing bumper sensors are for park assist. The bliss and cross traffic radar units are behind the body panels. I have an F-150 with Park Assist, and the four sensors are the same. The bliss and cross traffic sensors are in the tail light assembly (Due to metal fenders). Try to find those sensors on a XLT F-150. You won’t because it doesn’t offer APA. The same sensors are on all Ford vehicles with APA.

 

[breeves002]

Sorry to disagree, the four side facing bumper sensors are for park assist. The bliss and cross traffic radar units are behind the body panels. I have an F-150 with Park Assist, and the four sensors are the same. The bliss and cross traffic sensors are in the tail light assembly (Due to metal fenders). Try to find those sensors on a XLT F-150. You won’t because it doesn’t offer APA. The same sensors are on all Ford vehicles with APA.

I'm not sure if you were agreeing or disagreeing with me there. I think we are on the same page though but I'll clarify anyways...

Bumper sonar sensors are for APA. I am in 100% agreement. The radar sensors (tail light in trucks, behind bumper in cars) are for BLIS/CTA. However they are also used for APA. They're used to see if the parking space is open completely. It is what initiates the decision that the car can fit in that parking space and it isn't occupied by a motorcycle or something smaller. The sonar sensors don't have enough range to see all the way to the curb when you're driving past an open space. It probably also uses them for the park out assist to see if a car is coming (assuming it can see past the car behind you). This is how it has worked on past Fords, so I assume the MME is the same though it is always possible they change how it works.

The one additional thing to add about the MME is it has FOUR behind bumper radar sensors instead of 2 like all other Ford vehicles that have BLIS. I believe the additional 2 (facing sideways/forwards behind the front bumper cover) may be used for automatic lane changes in the future. I don't know that for a fact, but I think it is a good guess to judge if the lane is clear without using a camera.

 

[StrWhtMME]

I'm not sure if you were agreeing or disagreeing with me there. I think we are on the same page though but I'll clarify anyways...

Bumper sonar sensors are for APA. I am in 100% agreement. The radar sensors (tail light in trucks, behind bumper in cars) are for BLIS/CTA. However they are also used for APA. They're used to see if the parking space is open completely. It is what initiates the decision that the car can fit in that parking space and it isn't occupied by a motorcycle or something smaller. The sonar sensors don't have enough range to see all the way to the curb when you're driving past an open space. It probably also uses them for the park out assist to see if a car is coming (assuming it can see past the car behind you). This is how it has worked on past Fords, so I assume the MME is the same though it is always possible they change how it works.

The one additional thing to add about the MME is it has FOUR behind bumper radar sensors instead of 2 like all other Ford vehicles that have BLIS. I believe the additional 2 (facing sideways/forwards behind the front bumper cover) may be used for automatic lane changes in the future. I don't know that for a fact, but I think it is a good guess to judge if the lane is clear without using a camera.

Yes, you are correct in most of the comments. The side facing sensors are for APA, the rear are not, that is for proximity to what's behind. I am speaking from experience, I have had 75-86 Ford vehicles over the past 13 years. Some with APA, some with Enhanced park assist, and without.

 

[jimbobiii]

Pretty sure Tesla has turn-signal initiated lane changes during “autopilot” but I’m not sure whether this requires the $10,000 upgrade. Maybe a Tesla owner can confirm.

Regardless, I don’t really see what the fuss is. Whether you’re using the turn signal or the wheel, it still requires intervention.

Now if the Tesla / MME could self-initiate lane changes while on the highway in order to better maintain cruising speed, that would be really cool. I would officially consider that to be a true “autopilot.” That seems possible in highway settings, but I have personally witnessed many situations on the highway, particularly involving 18-wheeler blockades, where the car better be darned smart when deciding to start weaving around. And then there are the issues with construction zones reducing traffic to one lane....

It does require the 10k package on Tesla. It's a FSD feature of the car, not one included with the basic Autopilot.

 

[littlD]

Ok, so it sounds like no supercruise type lane changes (I’m not sure, but I think Tesla also does turn signal initiated lane changes). Perhaps in future iterations of the Mustang Mach E or in other Fords (or Lincolns)

Tesla includes turn stalk initiated lane changes in Enhanced Autopilot and FSD, not in Basic Autopilot. It's one of my favorite features!

Navigate on Autopilot includes lane changes initiated by the car itself based on desired speed and upcoming highway exits.

 

[ab13]

I agree that it doesn’t seem terribly complicated to add turn signal initiated lane changes, relative to the rest of the CoPilot360 features already or soon to be provided.

I don't think it's that simple in the fact that the you would need to be able to see if an approaching vehicle is coming 95-100+ mph in the lane you are going to switch to. That's actually quite a far distance back to monitor.

 

[breeves002]

I have had 75-86 Ford vehicles over the past 13 years. Some with APA, some with Enhanced park assist, and without.

I'm sorry, you have owned 75+ Ford vehicles in the past 13 years? That is crazy! How is that even possible?

I also speak from experience and from reading description and operation in the workshop manual.

I don't think it's that simple in the fact that the you would need to be able to see if an approaching vehicle is coming 95-100+ mph in the lane you are going to switch to. That's actually quite a far distance back to monitor.

This is a good point, and the radar sensors can look back about 40 feet approximately. This is my guess with how it works on trucks with a trailer. Max trailer length is 32' and I'm guessing it looks a little bit beyond that.

I also will add the point that even a normal person seeing someone going 100mph may not recognize how fast they are going because it is rare people come up on you that fast. You or I may notice but many people will not.

 

[Jimrpa]

Tesla includes turn stalk initiated lane changes in Enhanced Autopilot and FSD, not in Basic Autopilot. It's one of my favorite features!

Navigate on Autopilot includes lane changes initiated by the car itself based on desired speed and upcoming highway exits.

My understanding of the way these stalk-initiated lane changes work (Cadillac SuperCruise OR Tesla) is that it’s a “request”. You use the turn signal to indicate that you’d like to perform a lane change, but the car only executes the maneuver when the car detects it is clear to do so. How long does it wait until the request “times out”?

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