Let’s talk BlueCruise

[Neil4Real]

I’m just hoping they really are making revisions based on Job 2 car data and feedback. It would really be a bummer if we are waiting all this time and literally get the exact same version. Then it really was almost half a year of them just needing to figure out OTA and doing nothing further to actual BlueCruise.

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[phil]

I’m curious… if you have blue cruise on, will the car make maneuvers to avoid an accident? Like if someone drifts into your lane or the car sees a deer cross the road, does it take appropriate action or do you, as the driver, need to take control?

I have never tested this, and do not ever intend to test it.

 

[Mirak]

I’m just hoping they really are making revisions based on Job 2 car data and feedback. It would really be a bummer if we are waiting all this time and literally get the exact same version. Then it really was almost half a year of them just needing to figure out OTA and doing nothing further to actual BlueCruise.

LOL. What has led you to believe that the delay is due to anything besides the OTA Total Fail? You think they’re holding back BlueCruise from us early adopters to give us a better experience than what is installed on newer builds?

 

[67 Stang Convertible]

Curious, just a smidge off topic; when Tesla 1st started to become mainstream a few years back some people would get around the "Keep your hands on the wheel" by using something to provide external pressure to the steering wheel. I believe someone even made an after market device. Has anyone tried that with the MME? And yes I understand it's illegal and I get that; I'm more interested in how the car handled more than trying to get one over on the car. **Just curious if there is a video out there.

I used the Lane keep assist with active cruise control twice for so far for more than 20 miles. 1st time during the day, almost perfect. 2nd time at night, the car was "iffy" tentative and confused, pulled hard to the right once; a little scary.

 

[RickMachE]

I’m curious… if you have blue cruise on, will the car make maneuvers to avoid an accident? Like if someone drifts into your lane or the car sees a deer cross the road, does it take appropriate action or do you, as the driver, need to take control?

You should review the videos and information that Ford provides. BlueCruise is hands off. Period.

No, it's not going to shift sideways to avoid the guy next to you coming over the line.

A deer crossing the road wouldn't be detected by the car even if it wasn't equipped with BlueCruise. We had one run across last night and the car didn't alert. I hit a small animal in October and no alert happened.


WHAT IS PRE-COLLISION
ASSIST
Pre-collision assist detects and warns of
approaching hazards in the roadway. If
your vehicle is rapidly approaching another
stationary vehicle, a vehicle traveling in the
same direction as yours, or a pedestrian
within your driving path, the system
provides multiple levels of assistance to
help avoid a collision.
HOW DOES PRE-COLLISION
ASSIST WORK
The system warns the driver of potential
hazards by providing three levels of
assistance.
If your vehicle is rapidly approaching
potential hazards the system provides the
following levels of functionality:
1. Alert.
2. Brake Support.
3. Automatic Emergency Braking.
E329466
Alert: When active, a flashing
visual warning appears and an
audible warning tone sounds.
Brake Support: The system is designed
to help reduce the impact speed by
preparing the brakes for rapid braking. The
system does not automatically apply the
brakes. If you press the brake pedal, the
system could apply additional braking up
to maximum braking force, even if you
lightly press the brake pedal.
Automatic Emergency Braking:
Automatic emergency braking may
activate if the system determines that a
collision is imminent.
Note: If you perceive pre-collision assist
alerts as being too frequent or disturbing,
then you can reduce the alert sensitivity,
although the manufacturer recommends
using the highest sensitivity setting where
possible. Setting lower sensitivity would
lead to fewer and later system warnings.
Each system has various levels of
detection capabilities. See Pre-Collision
Assist Limitations (page 240).
PRE-COLLISION ASSIST
PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: You are responsible for
controlling your vehicle at all times. The
system is designed to be an aid and does
not relieve you of your responsibility to
drive with due care and attention. Failure
to follow this instruction could result in
the loss of control of your vehicle,
personal injury or death.
WARNING: The system does not
detect vehicles moving in a different
direction or animals. Apply the brakes
when necessary. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in the loss of
control of your vehicle, personal injury or
death.
WARNING: The system does not
operate during hard acceleration or
steering. Failure to take care may lead
to a crash or personal injury.
WARNING: The system may fail or
operate with reduced function during
cold and severe weather conditions.
Snow, ice, rain, spray and fog can
adversely affect the system. Keep the
front camera and radar free of snow and
ice. Failure to take care may result in the
loss of control of your vehicle, serious
personal injury or death.

 

[Thesmoothdome]

Interesting that I just opened my connected services page on the ford website and Blue Cruise doesn't even appear anymore. It's either close to being released or "coming soon" has been reduced to "please don't remember we promised you this."

 

[RickMachE]

Interesting that I just opened my connected services page on the ford website and Blue Cruise doesn't even appear anymore. It's either close to being released or "coming soon" has been reduced to "please don't remember we promised you this."

I just got 2.1 and I have it still showing.

 

[2393]

I drove one of my kids from Delaware to Manhattan yesterday morning in our MME GT. I used BC for nearly 120 miles northbound on the NJTP. It worked nearly flawlessly. I believe that the BC system dropped out of hands-free maybe three or four times, but only for extremely short distances... under a mile, as I recall.

Our return trip, however, was a completely different experience. BC very rarely engaged at all during the 120 mile southbound trip on the NJTP. When BC did engage, on the trip southbound, it would engage for only a few seconds before the dash display would revert back to a request for me to put my hands on the wheel.

Given the stark contrast in the performance of BC on northbound and southbound trips, it was absolutely maddening that BC would only engage sporadically on the southbound trip. I even tried switching from the outside Cars/Trucks/bus lanes to the inside Cars Only lanes. Switching lanes had no impact on BC performance at all.

I can only assume that the low afternoon sun shining from in front of us might have had something to do with the poor performance of BC on the southbound part of the trip.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

BlueCruise? BlueCruise is a myth and all those folks claiming to run it? Bots.

 

[Mirak]

Curious, just a smidge off topic; when Tesla 1st started to become mainstream a few years back some people would get around the "Keep your hands on the wheel" by using something to provide external pressure to the steering wheel. I believe someone even made an after market device. Has anyone tried that with the MME? And yes I understand it's illegal and I get that; I'm more interested in how the car handled more than trying to get one over on the car. **Just curious if there is a video out there.

I used the Lane keep assist with active cruise control twice for so far for more than 20 miles. 1st time during the day, almost perfect. 2nd time at night, the car was "iffy" tentative and confused, pulled hard to the right once; a little scary.

This isn’t really unique to Teslas or the Mach E. Lots of cars nowadays have some form of optical lane centering and a torque sensor to monitor hands on the wheel. I was driving a cheapo rental Hyundai the other day with the same basic tech.

As you’ve observed, the optical sensors are not infallible. They require decent lane markings, and changes in lighting can also screw them up. For example, driving under a shaded overpass can trip it up briefly. The sun being at a certain severe angle (low in the sky) can also cause the cam to go haywire.

Likewise, the steering wheel torque sensor isn’t that sophisticated. Yes, you can fool it with an ankle weight placed off center (you have to find the right balance to apply enough torque to trick the sensor while not applying too much so as to be constantly fighting the lane centering). And conversely, even when your hand is on the wheel, you might not be applying enough resistance to satisfy the sensor.

Finally, I don’t know that it is de facto “illegal” to trick the torque sensor. Several things to consider here:

1. It generally comes down to whether you are driving “inattentively” or worse “recklessly” (some states might use slightly different terminology).
2. I’m not aware of any state or municipal codes that have updated these standard laws to accommodate newer driver assistance tech.
3. Some laws specifically require hands on the wheel, so you’d be sunk either way.
4. Regulatory agencies like the NTSB and NHTSA are well aware of these new technologies, they have not banned them, and they have arguably even tacitly approved them, but they’ve certainly never officially approved or certified them. The agencies have thus far taken a somewhat “hands off approach” (pun very much intended).

Ok, so put all that together, and let’s look at the likely outcomes. Arguably, as long as you’re keeping your eyes on the road, you are driving no more inattentively with an ankle weight than you are with one of these new techs. (Hell, Tesla’s Full Self Driving and GM’s Super Cruise don’t even require an eye nanny).

But from a practical matter, you’re more likely to be issued a ticket for using the ankle weight, and to be convicted, because you can argue and logic until you’re blue in the face but you’re deliberately bypassing a manufacturer safeguard and no lizard-brained municipal judge is likely to take your side. You could likewise be convicted for using the hands free tech - no regulator or law that I’m aware of has given us a get out of jail free card - but the risk is lower.

 

[Mirak]

I can only assume that the low afternoon sun shining from in front of us might have had something to do with the poor performance of BC on the southbound part of the trip.

Your assumption is correct. Has nothing to do with BC. The severe angle of the sun was playing havoc with the optical sensor.

 

[Logal727]

Interesting that I just opened my connected services page on the ford website and Blue Cruise doesn't even appear anymore. It's either close to being released or "coming soon" has been reduced to "please don't remember we promised you this."

Interesting I looked at mine as well and it's gone there too. Hmm...

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Interesting I looked at mine as well and it's gone there too. Hmm...

Missing on mine as well.

 

[KevinS]

I just got 2.1 and I have it still showing.

That's interesting - I had the same experience of it dropping off after receiving 2.1.0.

 

[Logal727]

Maybe the cameras need to be


That's interesting - I had the same experience of it dropping off after receiving 2.1.0.

Yay something else to speculate about on here! haha

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