The second new technology to make its debut on the Meta One is Collision Mitigation by Braking (CMbB), developed hand-in-hand
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| The Collision Mitigation by Braking system is able to gauge and predict whether a frontal collision is about to occur and will automatically amplify the brakes and apply the hand brake to reduce the speed of the impact. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada |
with Swedish safety experts, Volvo. By use of radar and cameras, the system is able to gauge and predict whether a frontal collision is about to occur, and will automatically amplify the brakes and apply the hand brake to reduce the speed of the impact. The CMbB system's computers use data from the sensors to determine the position and speed of the vehicle, as well as the position, direction and speed of other vehicles. The concept is grounded in a solid goal to reduce the momentum of the collision; a reduction, even by one or two km/h, can ultimately make a difference in passenger protection.
With the information gathered from the sensors, the Meta One's on-board computers can estimate, using collision threat potential and driver intent, whether or not to apply the brakes. Ford claims that depending on the road conditions and vehicle speed, the system can reduce collision speeds by up to 8 km/h (5 mph) and in some cases, even more. Currently, the safety feature is being tested in poor visibility conditions, and work is being done on the system's override feature which allows the driver to potentially make any evasive maneuvers.
Other safety features that Ford has included in the Meta One concept include a variety of real-world technologies, some of
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| While the systems are new to North America, Ford has derived the innovative features from production vehicles around the globe. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
which are currently in production. For instance, Ford's Rollover Safety Canopy, featured in its lineup of sport utility vehicles, is a system which fires the inflatable side curtains, triggered by sensors that inflate the airbags ahead of time to prevent any injury to passengers. The Safety Canopy works hand-in-hand with Ford's Roll Stability Control which uses a roll-rate sensor and the vehicle's brakes to help drivers keep the vehicle under control in even the most extreme handling maneuvers. Another innovative system, the Personal Safety System featured around the globe in many Ford passenger vehicles, includes a comprehensive suite of sensors which measure crash severity and passenger weight to determine at what power the airbags should be deployed.
