Ford has set aside $1 billion for the establishment of Argo AI in Pittsburgh. The move was in response to automobile market behavior which pinpointed autonomous driving to be the next big thing. To gain an edge over Tesla and other brands, the American automaker looks to gain self-driving car technology in within four years.
As per announcement of Ford CEO Mark Fields, the Ford Argo AI would be a project about combining advanced technology and the experience the company has enjoyed in the automobile world for years. The brand has gained the reputation of being one of the brands who constantly improves their model features and expands their competence. With that, the billion-worth project would include the self-driving vehicle platform with the development of sensor technology and virtual driving system, reported Extreme Tech.
Since self-driving technology was introduced into the market, Ford saw that the rules of the feature were dull. The driver would have to stay in the middle of the lane to enjoy the autonomous driving feature which mitigated its complexity on the road. The Ford Argo AI project would develop a safer alternative when a vehicle would enter a traffic circle or enable it to wait for a bigger opening. Autonomous driving feature such as dealing with a right-lane closure or blocked lane would also be addressed.
In other news, Wired reported that the project would improve road safety, reduce congestion, and offer mobility to all models installed with the feature. Furthermore, establishments of engineering hubs in Southeastern Michigan and the Bay Area of California will be utilized for the project. In fact, Ford will employ 200 employees for operations and work on the six levels of self-driving cars.
Ford Argo AI project is a collaborative effort between the American automaker and major technological companies who also aim to develop their own autonomous cars. Will this development bring Ford to the top developing brand in the automobile industry? Has Tesla finally met a serious competitive force in the self-driving cars category?
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