The traffic jam, the natural enemy of the driver. And yet - we motorists somehow seem to love the traffic jam, because I can't explain otherwise that we meet again and again and so often for this spontaneous automobile-stand-behind-me flash mob. (I, for example, in the last 3 days in a row, each time in completely different regions of Germany - but always together with many, many, many, other drivers.)
Whoever hugs the enemy immobilizes them.
This Nepalese proverb can also be applied to traffic jams. So - something like that. In the sense of the Buddhist way of life, one could discover the positive in traffic jams and use the time during the lethargic driver flash mob to do meaningful things. (Facebook status update, tweeting, blogging or make-up?)Of course, many people are already doing this today, but as a result this often ends in rear-end collisions and near-crashes because the driver was distracted and no one else was behind the wheel for him.
Traffic Jam Assist - The traffic jam butler ™
At FORD they are working on a traffic jam assistant that is supposed to help the driver in traffic jams in the form of an autopilot. Equipped with numerous sensors and modern camera eyes, the “Stau-Butler ™” can relieve the driver of the task of driving himself in traffic jams and convoys.
Fascinatingly, this function would not only help the driver in the vehicle directly, but also automatically shorten the traffic jam. Because if a vehicle is able to follow the one in front automatically and partially autonomously, then the delays decrease and the traffic jam becomes more fluid. The FORD “Traffic Jam Assistant” (I stick to my creation of the word “Stau-Butler ™”) is able to automatically follow the vehicle in front with the help of the adaptive cruise control and the new sensors ensure that the car does not leave the lane and that it reacts fully automatically to changed situations. A vehicle would be recognized when changing lanes and the “Stau-Butler ™” would keep the distance, avoid a collision and, based on the known lane data, remain in its own lane.
In the end, of course, the driver always remains the responsible vehicle driver and is always able to determine the situation himself! A video from FORD shows the assistant in its intended environment:
™ = Trademark - and no, I have mine "Traffic jam butler" not protected, one Research but also showed that this word mark is not protected in Germany - dear FORD people, should you be of the opinion that STAU-Butler would be the right name for the assistant, then at least send me a small check BEFORE you save this name 😉
All contributions to the visit to the FORD research center can be found under this link: FORD Aachen - Development Center.
