Ford Develops Research Initiatives in Silicon Valley

Ford has expanded its collaboration with companies in Silicon Valley to research and develop technology for autonomous vehicles, 3D printing and a smartwatch application.

For self-driving cars, the Ford Research and Innovation Center is furthering the Ford Smart Mobility plan. This initiative aims to take the company to the next level in connectivity, mobility, the consumer experience and Big Data, a press release states.

“During the next five years, we will move to migrate driver-assist technologies across our product lineup to help make our roads safer and continue to increase automated driving capability,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “At the same time, we are working to make sure those features and the whole way you shop for, buy and own a Ford vehicle provides an outstanding customer experience.”

The company is currently working on the required sensing and computing technology for testing and refinement algorithms. It has also announced its Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, which the organization plans to launch in 2019.

Ford has also been working with Carbon3D to utilize the company’s CLIP 3D printing systems. With Carbon3D, Ford has been able to produce parts up to 100 times faster than conventional methods. The company is using 3D printing to create automotive-grade parts.

To enhance the user experience, Ford is continuing to develop the MyFord mobile app and make it compatible for a variety of smartwatches. This application provides customers the ability to check the driving range, battery charge for hybrid vehicles or locate their parking spot.

For more information, visit Ford.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.