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Ford's self-driving named "BlueCruise"


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https://www.autoblog.com/2021/04/14/ford-f-150-mustang-mach-e-hands-self-driving/

 

Ford's new hands-free self-driving suite has a shiny new name and a release date, the company announced Friday. BlueCruise will be made available on the Mustang Mach-E electric crossover and F-150 later in 2021 to compete with GM's Super Cruise and Tesla's Autopilot/Full Self-Driving suites. 

BlueCruise will be offered as an upgrade to the existing Co-Pilot360 system that has been bundled on the 2021 Mach-E and F-150. It offers true, hands-free operation in designated highway "Blue Zones," of which there are 100,000 miles so far in North America, and Ford validated its new system by driving them all in what the company is calling the "Mother of All Road Trips."

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"There are highway intricacies and driving conditions that you simply cannot replicate in a lab," said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford chief product platform and operations officer. "Sending these vehicles out for real-world driving experience is just one of many ways we ensured that BlueCruise technology offers confidence and convenience for drivers all across the continent."

 

BlueCruise is an SAE Level 2 driver-assist system, Ford says, like the aforementioned Autopilot and Super Cruise. Unlike Tesla's effort, BlueCruise and Super Cruise can operate hands-free within the designated Blue Zones. Because the system relies on sensors and cameras rather than wheel feedback to determine driver attention levels, it will only prompt for manual control if it senses that the driver's gaze has wandered or the car has left a Blue Zone. Ford also points out that it does not use the cameras to record any visual data, protecting owner privacy. 

Purchase of any BlueCruise package includes a $600, three-year software "service" charge (Ford doesn't actually call it a subscription). On the F-150, BlueCruise is included in the Ford Co-Pilot 360 Active 2.0 package ($1,595), which is standard on the Limited and available as an option on Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum models. On the Mach-E, BlueCruise is standard on CA Route 1, Premium and First Edition; it’s available as part of the Comfort and Technology package on the Select for $3,200.

Those who purchased a 2021 model with the Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0 Prep package can upgrade their vehicles to BlueCruise via an over-the-air software purchase. Ford will start selling BlueCruise-equipped Mach-Es and F-150s in the second half of 2021. 

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7 minutes ago, rmc523 said:

 

I don't love it either, but meh.

 

I guess Blue = Blue oval?


It has no connection to what it is, there is no description in the name.

pro pilot, autopilot, super cruise, traffic jam pilot all give an idea what they do. Co-pilot drive or advanced co-pilot would have made sense as you capitalize on the name Ford has been building in the market for the past 3 years. But they would rather have it sound like a kids tv program. Did they learn nothing from the 96 Taurus on what happen when you look to the blue oval for inspiration. 

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2 hours ago, jasonj80 said:


It has no connection to what it is, there is no description in the name.

pro pilot, autopilot, super cruise, traffic jam pilot all give an idea what they do. Co-pilot drive or advanced co-pilot would have made sense as you capitalize on the name Ford has been building in the market for the past 3 years. But they would rather have it sound like a kids tv program. Did they learn nothing from the 96 Taurus on what happen when you look to the blue oval for inspiration. 

 

Super Cruise doesn't give an idea either.

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On 4/14/2021 at 7:47 PM, ausrutherford said:

So, I hope Lincoln calls their "Star Cruiser"...

 

I was going to ask what will Lincoln call their version...I kinda like Star Cruise....not sure if you would want to use the term "Sextant" with all the pervs lurking here...we already are yukking up "Blue Balls"....???

 

image.png

Edited by twintornados
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4 hours ago, twintornados said:

 

I was going to ask what will Lincoln call their version...I kinda like Star Cruise....not sure if you would want to use the term "Sextant" with all the pervs lurking here...we already are yukking up "Blue Balls"....???

 

image.png

The answer is in the illustration. Call the Lincoln version Celestial.

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38 minutes ago, tbone said:

I think of booze cruise when I hear this.  I think there could have been better options.  

 

Good one tbone sir. Hopefully drivers won't get the idea that it's OK to consume booze while their BlueCruise equipped Ford vehicle operates in a "Blue Zone". ? :)

Edited by rperez817
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17 hours ago, rperez817 said:

 

Good one tbone sir. Hopefully drivers won't get the idea that it's OK to consume booze while their BlueCruise equipped Ford vehicle operates in a "Blue Zone". ? :)

Hope not! You can only do that if you are driving a vehicle with an autopilot function. ;)

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

SAE created a new graphic describing standard J3016 "Levels of Driving Automation". As mentioned earlier in this thread, BlueCruise is currently in the Level 2 category. Hopefully, Ford's advancements to the system over the years should eventually get it to Level 5.

 

sae-j3016-visual-chart-5-3-21-1620398914

 

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Slightly off-topic, but here's another new name: "Power-up," which will be the name for Ford's new OTA Sync 4-linked system. This will also enable what they hope to be a highly-profitable new data service to fleets and commercial customers. Here's a link: 

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/13/ford-plans-over-the-air-tech-upgrades-to-millions-of-cars-like-tesla.html

 

KEY POINTS
  • Ford announced that it expects to produce 33 million vehicles capable of significant remote updates by 2028.
  • The new technology would create a massive global fleet that would collect data on millions of consumers and commercial customers.
  • It could give the automaker access to lucrative new markets and potential streams of revenue.
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On 5/8/2021 at 10:30 AM, rperez817 said:

SAE created a new graphic describing standard J3016 "Levels of Driving Automation". As mentioned earlier in this thread, BlueCruise is currently in the Level 2 category. Hopefully, Ford's advancements to the system over the years should eventually get it to Level 5.

 

sae-j3016-visual-chart-5-3-21-1620398914

 

Very cool post. This really makes me wonder what generation of people will no longer need to know how to drive. It's mind boggling. I purposefully ordered my truck without the co-pilot assist so that I don't get tempted to use a self-driving car lol

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5 hours ago, joseodiaga4 said:

Sounds good but so far We haven't heard anything about any Lincoln getting this tech and Cadillac already has Super cruise 

 

F-150 is the crown jewel, so it often gets tech first.

 

I'd imagine they're probably waiting for the upcoming Navigator refresh to announce something (assuming it's tech/systems are able to handle it on just a refresh)

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