Ford Patents Technology that Allows Cars to Detect Lane Splitting Motorcyclists
Lane splitting may be allowed in Singapore, but that does not make it any less dangerous.
Luckily for us, though, automaker company Ford has recently filed a patent for a system that can detect the presence of lane splitting motorcyclists.
(Image taken from Motorcycle Central)
The technology comprises a system that uses cameras and a simple algorithm to detect motorcycles between lanes approaching a vehicle from behind.
How it works is that a trio of rear-facing cameras will be linked to a controller of the vehicle’s other advanced driver assistance (ADAS), and when it detects a motorcycle in the inter-lane region, an automatic steering or braking system will be activated.
(Image taken from Ford)
With the future of driverless cars imminent, this will be incredibly useful as well. Currently, most self-driving car platforms being tested have difficulty in detecting motorcycles in traffic, which means that riders may be put in real danger should these autonomous four wheelers roll out onto the roads.
Well, there is also the option of a riderless motorcycle, but where’s the fun in that, right?
Of course, Ford might not eventually come out with this technology in the end. After all, patents are sometimes filed to prevent competitors from developing something similar.
But if this technology can really be developed, it will really improve the safety of motorcyclists out there. (Hint, hint.)
If you are interested in reading the whole patent that was filed by Ford, here’s the link.
Be warned, though. As with all other patents, this one is long and largely boring.
You may also want to check out another quirky patent Ford has filed for - about a car that can deploy a motorcycle, just like the Batpod.