LONDON: Ford Motor has designed a light signal system for autonomous vehicles that company officials say helps solve the problem of self-driving cars safely interacting with pedestrians, bicyclists and human drivers.
Looking to prepare for this eventual reality, Ford Motor Company partnered with Virginia Tech Transportation Institute to conduct a user experience study to test out a method for a self-driving vehicle to signal its intent by soliciting real-world reactions from people on public roads.
The white light display, located at the top of the windshield, is designed to communicate intent to yield way or accelerate from a stop, which today is done through hand gestures, head nods and eye contact.
The cue for yielding to a full stop is two white lights that move side to side.
A rapidly blinking white light indicates the vehicle is beginning to accelerate from a stop, and a solid white light means the vehicle is driving under computer control.
“Understanding how self-driving vehicles impact the world as we know it today is critical to ensuring we’re creating the right experience for tomorrow,” said John Shutko, Ford’s human factors technical specialist.
Ford cars will ‘talk’ to pedestrians by light signals
Ford cars will ‘talk’ to pedestrians by light signals
