Ford & Google Combine

Making Cars Smarter! 

Ford has been a market leader in auto technology since introducing the SYNC system in 2007. The manufacturer’s most recent venture is a collaboration with search engine giant Google to create cars that can work out where you’re going and the quickest way to get there.

Ford is tapping Google’s Prediction API to develop cars that are smart enough to determine where you are going based on where you have been. The API predicts probable outcomes for events by adding a pattern-matching capability to existing could-based datasets. Linking this to cars would allow them to learn from our behaviour and adapt to it.

Once the car has built up a personal driver profile of where you typically go and at what times, it can tap into the Google Prediction engine to suggest a route that will avoid congestion, road works or other hold ups. Not only this, Ford says the car would optimise itself for the trip, adjusting the powertrain and improving efficiency.

Ryan McGee in Ford’s vehicle controls architecture and algorithm design division said, “Once the destination is confirmed, the vehicle would have instant access to a variety of real-time information so it can optimize its performance, even against factors that the driver may not be aware of. This information can ultimately be used to optimise vehicle performance attributes such as fuel efficiency and drivability.”

The cars are still in the early stages of research and development, but Ford is committed to the project. Maybe one day, your new Ford Fiesta will be giving you the quickest route home with a smarter, more efficient performance.