Ford has launched a new technology that could just change the way we drive. The second-largest U.S.-based automaker is hoping to prevent accidents and speeding tickets by introducing the Intelligent Speed Limiter on its new Ford S-Max that is slated to go on sale in Europe in the summer of 2015.
The Intelligent Speed Limiter technology is developed by Ford’s European arm and combines two other Ford technologies: Adjustable Speed Limiter and Traffic Sign Recognition, both of them are already available on models including Focus, Mondeo and Kuga SUV.
A special windshield-mounted camera scans the road for traffic signs. Then the system recognizes the text and the shapes of the signs and limits the speed by adjusting the amount of fuel delivered to the engine and making deceleration smoother.
In addition, when traveling downhill and the car exceeds the specified speed, the driver is alerted by an alarm. The range of more than 20 new technologies includes a system that detects people and objects in the road ahead, warns the driver and then automatically applies the breaks. Other semi-autonomous techs to come with the new car: Lane Keeping, Collision Warning, Active Park Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control.
