When the newest model of the 3rd most popular midsize sedan is released this summer, it is going to have a system which looks for craters ahead and prevents the tires from dropping into them.
How it Works
There are 12 high-resolution sensors which anticipate when the vehicle will hit a pothole. This information is then sent to the car's onboard computer which adjust the shock absorbers to their stiffest dampening level. This prevents the cars suspension from sagging and allows the wheel to skip the void without banging into the base or into the other side of the hole harshly.
Physics and computers meshing cohesively and beautifully into one. Who says different forces cannot be unified? This is the like gun powder and the shell becoming an effective projectile.
The technology was showcased in a test video using ping pong balls. The wheels of the car didn't harm the balls in a pothole while the tires of rival vehicles crushed them.
Firsts
Ford said that this technology is a first for midsize sedans. The automaker is trying to separate itself from the segment leaders. Some high end cars have this system too. It is going to debut in Ford's Galaxy, S-MAX, and the Mondeo in Europe as well.
They said they were going to be implementing the feature in its global lineup.
Research
The American Automobile Association recently released a study in which they claimed that pothole damage led to costs upwards of $15 billion in terms of vehicle repairs in the last 5 years. This works out to around $3 billion per year. The average American driver spends $300 on repairing damage caused by potholes. What added to the frustration even more was the fact that the people whose cars experienced such damage had it occurring as frequently as 3 times over the last 5 years.
Some people could be a little more observant when they drive but there is nothing wrong with a little help from your car too. Your car can always be a little smarter!
Washington D.C.'s TRIP estimates this damage to cost motorists around $516 per year. Another item to look at is how much money America spends on defending South Korea, Europe, and Japan. How come America does this for free? On top of this, why is America going broke over socialized health care? Why did America bail out GM? GM owes America $16 billion dollars, this money could fix a lot of potholes!
Development
This pothole mitigation technology was developed by Ford after multiple passes over potholes in Romeo at the Michigan Proving Grounds. In the later stages of its development, the technology was tested on the roads of Detroit and the team even complained when certain holes were patched up by road crews.
Worldwide Problem
Potholes are a major problem in various other countries as well. Last year, more than 25,000 pothole related breakdowns were reported to the Royal Automobile Club which is a 25% over 2014.
Test Track
Ford has developed a 1.2 mile stretch in Lommel, Belgium which recreates the worst road hazards and potholes from countries such as Switzerland, Spain, Russia, Italy, Germany, France, and Austria. It contains tricky road surfaces such as Paris' cobbles, Belgium’s granite blocks, and Brazil's speed bumps.
The engineers here race over these hazards at speeds as fast as 45 mph. The sensors then record any loads and strains on the components or the suspension.
By incorporating real-world challenges in their testing facilities, Ford believes they could develop future vehicles which can better cope with the challenging conditions of poor and diverse roads.