Coming soon: BlueCruise 1.3

[Deleted member 16048]

It's not really about NDA's ... it's more about the variety of testing that is needed and the difficulty testing every possible corner case. I am in the Early Access Program. Being in the program does not mean you are invited to every Early Access feature. I remember being asked to test a feature Ford was trying with their Ford Connected Charge Station (I have one) and it was a pretty cool idea. I asked if I was allowed to tell anyone and they encouraged me to do so.

Ford has internal test vehicles that get software updates first. Then they have employee company cars (management leases, etc.).

The limitation is that they can only test each car "once" because once the software is updated (whether or not it goes as planned) the car is no longer at the base software level. In the IT industry, you save the state of a system (backups, snapshots, etc.) and you can restore back to that point to re-test -- they can't do that with the cars. Also, there's not just one hardware configuration of these cars ... there are several variations and depending on the variation, software may need to be different for that car.

Next up they have the Early Access Program and this is the first opportunity for consumers to get exposure to new software updates. Even In that program they roll things out in "waves". In the software industry, it's very easy to have developers and QA testers run tests that pass -- because they can only test a limited number of conditions on a limited amount of hardware variations. When you roll things out to 'everyone' -- suddenly all kinds of issues start to show up.

Ford has to be very conservative as they roll things out. If there is any missed issue ... you can brick a lot of cars (even if the bricking is temporary) and that wouldn't be cool. Even being conservative about the rate that updates get pushed out to cars ... you can still read about the number of people who run into issues.

Great explanation here and totally agree. I think people forget that there are many different modals in the vehicle that can have different software versions at different times. This makes everything very complicated when the modules can cascade.

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[Just Lurking]

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’m surprised there’s so much hate for BC. I live in an area with extensive coverage and literally the second I get off an enterance ramp I’m using BC. I consider it a hassle now to actually have to drive lol

price is steep, but I’d be angry at this point if I lost bc.

Same. When I drive my 4 year old truck it feels like I'm driving a horse buggy conpared to BC. I feel so much less drained after a long trip. Stop and go traffic is much more pleasant.

As the above positive comments show (contrasted with the negative comments on Blue Cruise value), Blue Cruise hands-free (BC) functionality appears to be very location-specific. In the areas I drive most frequently, BC is either not available at all or it disconnects so frequently that it's barely worth using. In other areas, apparently BC works very well. I'm looking forward to BC 1.3 in the hopes that it let me speak as positively about BC as all of you.

I remember being asked to test a feature Ford was trying with their Ford Connected Charge Station (I have one) and it was a pretty cool idea. I asked if I was allowed to tell anyone and they encouraged me to do so.

Don't leave us hanging; what was the cool idea? ?

 

[ChasingCoral]

No YouTuber has tested a vehicle with BlueCruise 1.3 yet.

Wrong
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/coming-soon-bluecruise-1-3.29252/post-664169
It was posted on page 2 and another one since then.

 

[ChasingCoral]

If you want me to pay for new features, fix what is already supposed to work first.

Isn't that what they did in replacing BC 1.0 with BC 1.3?

 

[locks66]

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!

Great news but won't pay the new price of 800 a year. I get this feature costs money and requires mapping teams. This is just not an acceptable amount

 

[Hammered]

Wrong
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/coming-soon-bluecruise-1-3.29252/post-664169
It was posted on page 2 and another one since then.

He forgot to include 'competent', or in longer form, one who knows which end is up.

There's a difference between an unbiased review and a paid shill.

 

[Hammered]

Ford has to be very conservative as they roll things out. If there is any missed issue ... you can brick a lot of cars (even if the bricking is temporary) and that wouldn't be cool. Even being conservative about the rate that updates get pushed out to cars ... you can still read about the number of people who run into issues.

I disagree. Ford has a lot of data on owners, particularly those of us with FDRS. They've got a general lack of reaching out and bringing more people into active testing due to what could be described as general legacy auto incompetence.

 

[jgcom]

What is the Y axis supposed to be?

It is labeled "miles between hands-free disconnects," but there don't seem to be any numbers...

The best book on how to interpret that kind of graph was published decades ago, but it is still fun to read:
https://www.amazon.com/How-Lie-Statistics-Darrell-Huff/dp/0393310728?

 

[kennethjk]

I enjoy BC 1.0, relieves some stress of driving but I wouldn’t pay 800 a year.

I am more concerned that any OTA doesn’t break something else. They have been known to do that.

I am ok with a slow rollout that works for everyone.

 

[vvelocityy]

wish they would improve the braking curve. braking on regen and blue cruise braking are terrible. especially on the freeway when the traffic suddenly comes to a halt, blue cruise brake feels like emergency braking. and with manual braking on regen its hard to come to a smooth stop. if i shift into neutral, then yea the brake is smooth af.

 

[Atxsw]

wish they would improve the braking curve. braking on regen and blue cruise braking are terrible. especially on the freeway when the traffic suddenly comes to a halt, blue cruise brake feels like emergency braking. and with manual braking on regen its hard to come to a smooth stop. if i shift into neutral, then yea the brake is smooth af.

I would agree with the bluecruise braking, I have it set to max follow distance to try to avoid what feels like emergency braking, it would be good if it started to slow down as it saw traffic getting closer instead of waiting until the last minute. I am hopeful 1.3 does improve this some.

 

[hybrid2bev]

wish they would improve the braking curve. braking on regen and blue cruise braking are terrible. especially on the freeway when the traffic suddenly comes to a halt, blue cruise brake feels like emergency braking. and with manual braking on regen its hard to come to a smooth stop. if i shift into neutral, then yea the brake is smooth af.

Adaptive cruise is designed to match the deceleration/acceleration of the vehicle in front of you. If the traffic is already stopped ahead you should brake manually.

If I see the traffic ahead is stopped with 1PD I do this.
1. Press the accelerator until the green set speed number turns grey.
2. Press the cancel/resume button on the left side of the wheel to turn off cruise.
3. Modulate the accelerator to a buttery smooth stop.
This all can be done very quickly with practice.

Adaptive cruise braking is more aggressive (slower to respond) the fewer following bars that you have set. More bars set it will brake sooner.

 

[RickMachE]

Adaptive cruise is designed to match the deceleration/acceleration of the vehicle in front of you. If the traffic is already stopped ahead you should brake manually.

If I see the traffic ahead is stopped with 1PD I do this.
1. Press the accelerator until the green set speed number turns grey.
2. Press the cancel/resume button on the left side of the wheel to turn off cruise.
3. Modulate the accelerator to a buttery smooth stop.
This all can be done very quickly with practice.

Adaptive cruise braking is more aggressive (slower to respond) the fewer following bars that you have set. More bars set it will brake sooner.

Big issue with features is people's misunderstanding of how they work, and their unrealistic expectations.

 

[Swanlee]

So how do you tell what BC version you have and if you dont already have 1.2 is it likely you are not getting 1.3?

 

[hybrid2bev]

So how do you tell what BC version you have and if you dont already have 1.2 is it likely you are not getting 1.3?

As of now, if you have a '21 or '22 MME you have BC 1.0. If you have a '23 MME you have BC 1.2.

When the OTA's happen we'll all eventually move to BC 1.3 version.

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