Coming soon: BlueCruise 1.3

[Neil4Real]

I have used Bluecruise twice, for. A few seconds each time, and did not like it at all. Could I get my money back on that part of the car?

It also gives you the 360 degree camera and front camera, so no. Try it again, once you get used to it, it is really nice, especially in traffic.

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[srogers]

 

[Mirak]

Thanks @hybrid2bev !

The information kinda sorta suggests, without actually saying it, that Ford enhanced the LC in some manner, as opposed to just expanding the geofence, what with all the talk of testing and the “continuous learning loop.” But it would be neat for them to say what they actually did.

Also, can any of the engineers on here explain the math behind these proclaimed performance improvements?

Ford sez…

BlueCruise 1.3 stayed engaged in hands-free mode for an average of 3X longer compared to BlueCruise 1.2. We saw an even larger performance improvement from BlueCruise 1.0 to BlueCruise 1.3 with an average of 5X longer engagement in hands-free mode.

Wut? On my typical road trip on a divided highway, my BC stays engaged probably 98% of the time. How does one keep BC engaged 5X longer than that? What is 5X greater than 98% without exceeding 100%?

 

[MuckyMach-e]

Our team at Ford is continuing to improve BlueCruise to make hands-free highway driving even better for you. We have a pleasant surprise for our Mustang Mach-E customers. We are delivering our latest software version of BlueCruise – BlueCruise 1.3 – even faster than anticipated.

• BlueCruise 1.2: Includes Lane Change Assist allowing you to change lanes by tapping the turn signal and once the path is clear and In-Lane Repositioning which helps keep the vehicle in its lane while subtly shifting position away from vehicles in adjacent lanes
• BlueCruise 1.3: Building on the previous version with all of the features of BlueCruise 1.2, it will help you stay engaged in hands-free mode longer including around curves and narrow lanes.

Mustang Mach-E customers with model years 2021-2023 equipped with BlueCruise can receive the update to BlueCruise 1.3 via a Ford Power-Up software update once it starts to roll out to vehicles later this summer. This means that vehicles with BlueCruise 1.0 and 1.2 will be updated to BlueCruise 1.3. Note, Ford Power-Up software updates are not deployed to all vehicles at the same time and this update will happen in waves.

To ensure you get this update and all the other latest and greatest software updates to your vehicle, make sure you:

1. Turn ON Automatic Software Updates – this keeps updates coming as they roll out
2. Set a recurring schedule –choose what is most convenient so you never miss a software update

For Mustang Mach-E customers who placed an order after May 2, 2023, or the vehicle was produced after June 30, 2023, your new electric pony will be delivered from the factory with BlueCruise 1.3.

Cheers to the next version of hands-free highway driving rolling out!

Thanks Ford, that’s great news but here in the UK we would settle for BlueCruise 1.0 for 2021 models. Any idea when, or if, that will happen?

 

[Chuck]

What I'd really like to see, and would pay for, is to turn off that horrible backup chime.

 

[Logal727]

Ah I see all the assisted driving experts showed up today

 

[Mike G]

I’m guessing IPC module too, for the added lane change graphics.

Sorry I should have been more specific. I was thinking of a car that already has BC 1.2 now.....will only need an IPMA update, given what I know about how the system works. But on reflection they might need to update the CCM as well.

For pre-BC 1.2 cars I would agree; IPC, IPMA, CCM, PSCM (if not already done), and probably the GWM again at least once.

 

[hybrid2bev]

Thanks @hybrid2bev !
Wut? On my typical road trip on a divided highway, my BC stays engaged probably 98% of the time. How does one keep BC engaged 5X longer than that? What is 5X greater than 98% without exceeding 100%?

So you don't change lanes?

Changing lanes with BC 1.0 counts as a disengagement. That's the main reason BCHF is reverting to BCHO for me every couple miles (plus a couple of curves). With BC 1.2/1.3 it can change lanes and stay in hands free mode (hands free from the steering wheel, you still have to engage the turn signal for now).

 

[Mike G]

What is the Y axis supposed to be?

Tears from people without a working frunk button?

Ummm the Y axis (Blue Bar) is the estimated "cool factor". Meaning they are trying to indicate just how very cool this is going to be, for those who don't grasp such nuances.

 

[awp0]

Wut? On my typical road trip on a divided highway, my BC stays engaged probably 98% of the time. How does one keep BC engaged 5X longer than that? What is 5X greater than 98% without exceeding 100%?

I would speculate that the difference is "percentage of the time engaged" versus "how long you can go before it disengages". I think those are different.

Also, I bet they're including data gathered from user-initiated disengagement, not just when BC disengages itself. In other words, if you disengage BC (like I do) when it starts ping-ponging, or when there's traffic and it's keeping you too close to the cars on your right, maybe Ford's beta testing shows that you'll do this a lot less frequently in BC1.3 because it's more natural feeling.

 

[dmastro]

Can adaptive cruise and lanekeeping be used together without using BC? That would be enough for me, no need to pay for a subscription.

 

[Mirak]

So you don't change lanes?

Changing lanes with BC 1.0 counts as a disengagement. That's the main reason BCHF is reverting to BCHO for me every couple miles (plus a couple of curves). With BC 1.2/1.3 it can change lanes and stay in hands free mode (hands free from the steering wheel, you still have to engage the turn signal for now).

Ok. So let's use a much lower percentage just as a hypothetical. Let's say BC 1.0 stays engaged 50% of the time. What is 5X longer than 50% in Ford-speak?

I mean, if it was being measured in terms of events, like number of time BC disengages, then I could definitely see Ford touting a 5X decrease in the number of disengagements (that would be great, btw). But Ford says the upgrade results in "5X longer engagement" which I don't think is mathematically possible unless we're starting at less than 20% engagement.

 

[ThomF]

Thanks @hybrid2bev !

The information kinda sorta suggests, without actually saying it, that Ford enhanced the LC in some manner, as opposed to just expanding the geofence, what with all the talk of testing and the “continuous learning loop.” But it would be neat for them to say what they actually did.

Also, can any of the engineers on here explain the math behind these proclaimed performance improvements?

Ford sez…



Wut? On my typical road trip on a divided highway, my BC stays engaged probably 98% of the time. How does one keep BC engaged 5X longer than that? What is 5X greater than 98% without exceeding 100%?

Yeah, when technology moves into the realm of advertising, things like this tend to pop up. I'm assuming that Ford's testing shows the time BC is disengaged has decreased to 1/3rd of what was typically experienced by the previous BC version. And somebody turned this around to state that the engagement time increased by 3.

 

[generaltso]

Not going to fall for it @Ford. Not going to get my hopes up again.

Don't take it out on poor Robert.

 

[plosfas]

Ok. So let's use a much lower percentage just as a hypothetical. Let's say BC 1.0 stays engaged 50% of the time. What is 5X longer than 50% in Ford-speak?

I mean, if it was being measured in terms of events, like number of time BC disengages, then I could definitely see a 5X decrease in the number of disengagements. But Ford says it stays "5X longer engagement" which I don't think is mathematically possible unless we're starting at less than 20% engagement.

As was said above, they're not comparing percentage of time engaged (as that wouldn't really make any sense), but average miles between disengagements. So, if it disengages currently (hypothetically) for 1 second every 100 seconds, that would be only 1% disengagement by percentage, but an average of only 99 seconds _between disengagement_. If that then improved to 10 seconds of disengagements, but only every 1000 seconds, it would be the same _percentage_ engaged, but would have gone from 99 seconds between disengagements to 990 seconds between, so a 10x improvement.

It looks like Ford is measuring by mileage between disengagements, not time, and obviously the numbers will be much larger, but hopefully that helps demonstrate what they're actually talking about.

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