Ford Debuting Self-Unparking Technology In 2015 Edge
Though Ford, Lincoln, BMW and others have mastered the art of parallel parking in tight spaces for their customers, it turns out the systems used do it too well, prompting Ford to give “unparking” a go.
Automotive News reports the 2015 Edge will include an improved automated parking system that will not only allow the crossover to parallel-park in those tight spaces, but be able to pull itself out. The system can also do perpendicular parking, such as the sort found at your nearest supermarket. An array of sensors — four up front, six in back — use echolocation to find objects and obstacles, allowing the crossover to calculate how best to get itself out of a rock and a hard place.
In addition, the Edge will have lane-keeping technology and adaptive cruise control, both using a combination of cameras and radar to safely guide the crossover from the house to the office and back.
All of the above will be available to consumers when the new Edge arrives in showrooms next March.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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Seriously? I parallel park even if I don't have to just to practice. Then again, I know people who will walk three blocks to avoid parallel parking, so...
Does the perpendicular unparking system require you to be in the vehicle to unpark? The Edge concept showed it being operated from the key fob, but I'm guessing they won't be putting that into production. I can parallel park just fine, but would welcome the ability to stop worrying about people parking me in in narrow urban perpendicular spaces.
Don't these systems just steer for you? I thought the driver had to do the gas and brake? That said, if you can't park, you should not have a license. Basic driving skills...
As I understood it from Ford's initial release on this system a year or two ago, part of the idea was that it would automagically back the car out in other tight situations, not just parallel parking. For instance, when someone parks so close to you in a parking garage that you can't squeeze in the driver's side door, you could remotely tell the car to start up and back itself out. I don't know if that part is headed to production in the Edge, though.