Mach-E's Ford Co-Pilot360 Tech Overview Videos

jaredhimself

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Am I the only one who heard "hands free driving capability" at 33:00 in the reveal video? I'm assuming they were referring to something similar to Tesla's Autopilot. Hope so, anyways! Video link:
 

shoo

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Am I the only one who heard "hands free driving capability" at 33:00 in the reveal video? I'm assuming they were referring to something similar to Tesla's Autopilot. Hope so, anyways! Video link:
I heard it and one of the reasons I an getting one.. if not Model Y here I come.
 

Billyk24

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Many of these features already exist in other vehicles.
 


silverelan

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It will be more like Cadillac's Super Cruise
Ford has been working on autonomous vehicles sort of under the radar (compared to Tesla, Waymo and others). They've been testing their autonomous vehicle technology in arguably some of the toughest cities to drive thinking it's easier to go from learning to drive in Miami then transition to Des Moines then it is to learn in Des Moines then transition to Miami.

It's not clear to me if this is directly related to their hands-free highway driving project or not.
 

larryjwhite

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Ford has been working on autonomous vehicles sort of under the radar (compared to Tesla, Waymo and others). They've been testing their autonomous vehicle technology in arguably some of the toughest cities to drive thinking it's easier to go from learning to drive in Miami then transition to Des Moines then it is to learn in Des Moines then transition to Miami.

It's not clear to me if this is directly related to their hands-free highway driving project or not.
My guess is that Ford has licensed GM's Super Cruise technology and will put their own skin over it like Samsung licenses Google's Android system and puts its own User Interface on top of it. I think one of the most important parts of Super Cruise is the 200,000 miles of LIDAR mapped freeway maps that GM already has.
Also I saw a Q&A video where one of the lead engineers on the Mach-E called the hands free system "Auto Drive" but that may not be the release name for it. Unbridled drive mode was originally called Stampede in early development and I am glad they changed the name.
 

hybrid2bev

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Ford is developing their own autonomous driving tech with Argo AI. From what I’ve inferred from all the Mach E information is that Ford will release the full self highway driving software via a over the air update some time about a year after the vehicle hits the market. Since the vehicle will have all the required hardware at the time of sale.

With adaptive cruise control, stop and go traffic and lane centering it pretty much will drive itself on the freeway from the very beginning. You just have to keep a hand on the steering wheel.
 
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Billyk24

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Will this upgrade cost current owners an additional $5000 like Tesla charges?
 

hybrid2bev

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Will this upgrade cost current owners an additional $5000 like Tesla charges?
Don’t know. I could think of two ways it could go.

1. It should be a free update. We’ve already paid a good price for the vehicle and if the update is free then more people will be able to use it. Allowing Ford to get lots of free telematic data from our use of the feature.

2. This would be an additional revenue stream for Ford just like Tesla. The all mighty dollar has spoken.
 

benboy12

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Don’t know. I could think of two ways it could go.

1. It should be a free update. We’ve already paid a good price for the vehicle and if the update is free then more people will be able to use it. Allowing Ford to get lots of free telematic data from our use of the feature.

2. This would be an additional revenue stream for Ford just like Tesla. The all mighty dollar has spoken.
If they were going to charge, I’d be interested in seeing a monthly fee option. One option to buy outright and another monthly. It would be a good option for those leasing, not keeping the car long term, or who just want it for certain occasions (long road trips?)

obviously free is better, but I don’t see that as likely. Car companies want to make money. Even Tesla, which is known for its free OTA updates, is charging Model 3 owners for an acceleration boost update.
 
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larryjwhite

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Ford is developing their own autonomous driving tech with Argo AI. From what I’ve inferred from all the Mach E information is that Ford will release the full self highway driving software via a over the air update some time about a year after the vehicle hits the market. Since the vehicle will have all the required hardware at the time of sale.

With adaptive cruise control, stop and go traffic and lane centering it pretty much will drive itself on the freeway from the very beginning. You just have to keep a hand on the steering wheel.
After researching Argo AI I find it interesting that while all the Argo test cars that I have been able to find show LIDAR units on their roofs there aren't any on the Mach-E. Maybe Elon Musk was right when he said they were not needed. Volkswagen gave Argo AI 2.6 Billion dollars about six months ago to partner up with Ford for full self-driving research and development. With those kinds of costs, I don't think Ford will provide it for free. Maybe a free month of service to get you interested. Tesla charges $7000 for their Full Self Driving capability.
 

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Thought I read somewhere that it will be available on future MYs but will be an OTA update on first batch. Didn’t seem like there was going to be a charge, going to have to see if I can find that article.
 

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After researching Argo AI I find it interesting that while all the Argo test cars that I have been able to find show LIDAR units on their roofs there aren't any on the Mach-E.
As far as I'm aware, Ford hasn't made any connection between Argo AI and Mach-E. All they've stated for Mach-E is that they are planning a future OTA SW update to enable hands free driving for some scenarios. It sounds a lot like GM's Super Cruise, and even looks similar given that sensor bar above Mach-E's steering column.

Also, I don't think hands free driving is the same thing as self driving. Self driving cars, or autonomous vehicles, require little to no human input. Mach-E will always require an attentive driver behind the wheel. The main difference from other manufacuters' advanced driver-assistance systems, such as Nissan's ProPilot Assist or Tesla's Autopilot, is that you don't necessarily need to keep your hands on the wheel. This is what would make it similar to GM's Super Cruise. The system is monitoring your face and/or eyes instead of measuring torque on the steering wheel. It's arguably a better way to measure your attentiveness.

Tesla charges $7000 for their Full Self Driving capability.
It's important to remember that Tesla's "Full Self Driving" makes mistakes, requires an attentive driver, does not make the vehicle autonomous, and its capabilities are still very limited. Much of it is future promises to current owners, which may never be fulfilled.
 

larryjwhite

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As far as I'm aware, Ford hasn't made any connection between Argo AI and Mach-E. All they've stated for Mach-E is that they are planning a future OTA SW update to enable hands free driving for some scenarios. It sounds a lot like GM's Super Cruise, and even looks similar given that sensor bar above Mach-E's steering column.

Also, I don't think hands free driving is the same thing as self driving. Self driving cars, or autonomous vehicles, require little to no human input. Mach-E will always require an attentive driver behind the wheel. The main difference from other manufacuters' advanced driver-assistance systems, such as Nissan's ProPilot Assist or Tesla's Autopilot, is that you don't necessarily need to keep your hands on the wheel. This is what would make it similar to GM's Super Cruise. The system is monitoring your face and/or eyes instead of measuring torque on the steering wheel. It's arguably a better way to measure your attentiveness.



It's important to remember that Tesla's "Full Self Driving" makes mistakes, requires an attentive driver, does not make the vehicle autonomous, and its capabilities are still very limited. Much of it is future promises to current owners, which may never be fulfilled.
I've been watching YouTube videos on Tesla's updates to FSD and they are getting better but it kind of seems kind of like a roller coaster ride and waiting for the next event that it can't handle but thinks it can resulting in crashes. Super Cruise seems a lot more cautious and relaxing where if it has a situation it hasn't seen before it Alerts the driver and has them take over. Also it only does LIDAR mapped freeways and won't turn on anyplace else.
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