Ford is testing Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology that will allow electric vehicles produced at Ford’s EV Center in Cologne, Germany to roll off the assembly line without a driver behind the wheel
For more than 100 years, vehicles around the world have rolled off Ford assembly lines. Until now, there was someone at their helm, but that could soon change.
Ford is testing an automated driving technology with Artificial Intelligence (AI) designed to make the process more efficient. As part of the project, the vehicles not only roll off the assembly line by themselves, but also drive autonomously to final testing stations and charge themselves before parking ready for delivery to customers.
The E-SELF program is part of a series of initiatives Ford is exploring as it prepares its $2 billion EV Center in Cologne, Germany, where EV production will begin this year.
“Ford is redefining its vehicle portfolio in Europe and exploring how we produce our EVs is an integral part of that process,” said Ford project manager Frank Schwarz. “Introducing self-driving technology to the assembly line could support efficiency and safety while allowing workers to focus on critical tasks.”
Last month, Ford unveiled the new all-electric Explorer, which will be the company’s first mass-produced electric passenger vehicle at Ford’s EV Center in Cologne. By 2026, Ford plans to sell 600,000 EVs in Europe each year and is committed to offering an all-electric passenger vehicle portfolio by 2030.
In this two-and-a-half-year trial, Ford is collaborating with the Institute of Automotive Engineering of the Technische Universität Braunschweig and Kopernikus Automotive. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection provided funding of 2 million euros.
The E-SELF program uses vehicle-to-infrastructure communication to control and track vehicles. Sensors located around the plant can detect hazards in the vehicle’s path, such as a person or another car, with the latter slowing or stopping as needed.
Final tests alone may involve a dozen or more runs between different locations before the vehicles are parked ready for pickup and delivery by road, rail and sea. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, vehicles will simply be able to drive autonomously and charge up so they are ready to go. The above applies to all vehicles equipped with automatic transmission, electronic stability control system, electric parking brake and power steering. All that is needed in addition is a smart communication module to enable interaction with the infrastructure.
Source: Skai
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