META ONE concept bristles with new technology

In Lane Departure Warning, vehicle position is evaluated by a camera system mounted behind the windshield that measures the lateral distance from the camera's centre line to the left and right lane markings. The system works during the day or at night while headlights are in use. Naturally, the system does not warn the driver if the turn signals are used before changing lanes. The system is still under development for conditions without clear lane markings and overall system reliability. Collision Mitigation by Braking (CMbB )

Developed by the Research and Advanced Engineering group of Ford Motor Company, in cooperation with researchers at the Volvo Safety Center, Collision Mitigation by Braking or CMbB system is fitted to the Mercury Meta One concept to demonstrate how crash severity can be reduced.

Sensors are used to gauge the likelihood of an impending frontal collision. If the driver fails to react to a situation that the system decides will result in a collision, the system applies the brakes. This will significantly reduce the impact speed and crash energy. If the driver reacts with full braking, CMbB provides enhanced system response that quickly initiates full ABS braking. Importantly, the system assumes the driver has ultimate authority; it will not interfere with any potential evasive maneuver the driver initiates. The system functions in high speed and low speed situations.

Every mile per hour that a vehicle is slowed before impact reduces the energy of a crash, which in turn, can potentially reduce possible injuries to drivers and passengers.

Ford's CMbB utilizes a camera and radar to sense vehicles on the road ahead and an on-board computer, which determines whether a collision is imminent based on the position, speed and direction of other vehicles. The CMbB system, based on its estimates of collision threat and driver intent, provides driver warning and enhanced brake control when needed. Depending on speed and road factors, the automatic braking can reduce vehicle speed before contact by five miles per hour or more. The radar and camera systems are under development so that the system works reliably in heavy rain, fog and other adverse driving conditions.

"A reduction of even a few mph in the speed of an impact can make a difference," said Priya Prasad, Ford Technical Fellow, Safety Research and Development. "The amount of energy at impact is a strong function of speed, so even a slight reduction in speed offers a significant reduction in force." Meta One Integrates Personal Electronics

The Mercury Meta One concept showcases an electronics system that integrates the latest level of in-vehicle technologies with a factory-installed interface.

Chief among these technologies is "Wi-Fi," the rapidly growing wireless technology used most often by laptop computers. Meta One has a factory-installed wireless "portal" that can be used to tap into a wealth of information and entertainment services.

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