CONNECTED VEHICLES: Ford reveals work on electronic dashboard brake signal

Ford recently unveiled several new connected-vehicle technologies it has been developing as part of the Safe Intelligent Mobility-Testfield Germany (SIM-TD) research project, including an electronic dashboard brake signal. The technology is one of 20 new concepts being explored by Ford under the parameters of SIM-TD.

In its current format, when a vehicle equipped with the Electronic Brake Light hits the brakes, it sends a wireless signal to trailing cars; a light then activates on the dashboard of those cars, notifying them that the lead vehicle is braking.

Such an early warning system would allow drivers to notice when a vehicle several cars ahead is braking, a feat not always possible through direct line-of-sight. Ideally, this would allow earlier braking and reduce or mitigate damage from collisions.

Also at SIM-TD, Ford examined a Public Traffic Management system which could potentially identify different traffic scenarios and their resulting impact on the spot, rather than at the point of departure.

No timetable was given for further development or wide release of these or any other technologies from SIM-TD.