![\"Ford](\"https:\/\/www.thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Ford-Silicon-Valley-Worker.jpg\")
The company is engaged in a research partnership with Commsignia, PSS, Ohio State University, T-Mobile and Tome Software. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group is looking into developing an affordable smartphone-based communication technology that could potentially warn drivers of pedestrians, bicyclists and other hazards \u2014 even those hidden from direct view of the driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Builds on other safety advances<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNewer Ford vehicles already with Ford Co-Pilot360 Technology can detect and help warn drivers of pedestrians, bicyclists, scooter riders and others \u2014 and even apply brakes if drivers do not respond in time,\u201d said Jim Buczkowski, executive director, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are now exploring ways to expand vehicle sensing capability, for areas drivers cannot see, to help people drive even more confidently on roads increasingly shared by others using their two feet or two wheels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Mercedes](\"https:\/\/www.thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Mercedes-Bosch-AV-ride-hail-car-1024x576.jpg\")
The concept involves using a smartphone app, which would run on a pedestrian\u2019s phone, using Bluetooth messaging to alert a Ford vehicle of the pedestrian\u2019s or cyclist\u2019s location. If the vehicle senses a potential crash risk, Ford Sync can alert drivers using the in-vehicle touchscreen showing graphics of pedestrians, bicyclists or with audio alerts sounding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The consortium expects to demonstrate the technology at the Intelligent Transportation Society of America\u2019s World Congress in Los Angeles this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Longtime problem<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ford\u2019s effort isn\u2019t a new recognition of the issue within the industry. Automakers have been searching for ways to make the roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists \u2014 as well as motorcycles \u2014 for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Honda experimented with a wireless technology in 2013, dubbed the Dedicated Short-Range Communications system, or DSRC<\/a><\/u><\/strong>. It was able to track pedestrians and the like, even when outside the line-of-sight of the driver, like behind a parked car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The system functioned much like today\u2019s advanced driver assistance systems do, flashing a visual message to the driver with an audible warning sound. Honda wasn\u2019t the only automaker looking for ways to reduce crashes and, in particular, spot pedestrians stepping into traffic. Volvo\u2019s City Safety technology has won numerous kudos \u2014 and discounts from insurers who find it effective at reducing car-to-car and car-to-pedestrian collisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The technology never reached its full potential as the 5.9 GHz spectrum the system relied on \u2014 set aside for automakers in 1999 by federal regulators for this purpose \u2014 was reallocated to allow other Wi-Fi-based uses. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia last month ruled against the industry\u2019s appeal, which claimed the move endangered pubic safety, of the change in usage, according to Automotive News<\/a><\/u><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Car makers have something of a love-hate relationship with smartphones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Smartphones are at the root, according to research and police reports, of an upsurge of traffic fatalities caused by distracted driving where texting while driving is involved. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration data estimates traffic fatalities increased 13% to 7,342 in 2021 versus the prior year, while bicyclist traffic fatalities increased 5% \u2014 to 1,000 \u2014 during the same window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Traffic fatalities, deaths of pedestrians struck by motor vehicles, are trending up again this year with speeding and distracted driving enabled by smartphones getting much the blame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, smartphones connections as well as technology such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have brought navigation and entertainment into the vehicle, by passing the more expensive systems offered by car makers. They also could ultimately undercut the efforts of carmakers to sell subscription type services to their retail customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, customers are increasingly interested in having the latest technology on board their vehicles and car makers don\u2019t want to disappoint them. Car makers have obliged by developing smart phone apps unlock vehicles and start them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe see other possible applications for this technology, including detecting road construction zones and construction workers,\u201d said Buczkowski. \u201cFord innovates for the masses, so it\u2019s very promising to start with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology that\u2019s already become part of our everyday lives because it\u2019s affordable and effective,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By creating a wireless personal area network using radio waves in the 2.4-gigahertz band, the technology can communicate with similarly equipped devices. Already in use in smartphones, it\u2019s compatible with Sync-connected vehicle technology without any hardware changes to the vehicle, according to Ford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Honda](\"https:\/\/www.thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Honda-Motorcycle-Detection-System.jpg\")
Smart phones critical for auto companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Volvo-XC90-Cyclist-detection.jpg\")