Ford has introduced a new technology that will park your car while you stand beside it and press a button. It's designed to help you park at the shopping mall or in a tight spot at school. Fully Assisted Parking Aid is an evolution of Active Park Assist, a feature currently available in vehicles like the 2014 Ford Focus that requires the driver to stay put.
Another new technology called Obstacle Avoidance can detect slow-moving and stationary objects (like people) from about 700 feet away. If the object is in your current driving path and you don't react, the car can take over steering and swerve or apply the brakes. Ford says it has tested the technology at speeds over 38MPH.
The research projects were announced this week in Belgium. There is no set timeframe as to when we'll see the technology in a Ford or Lincoln car at a dealer near you.
Earlier this year, Audi showcased a similar driverless self-park tech called Piloted Parking at CES 2013 in Las Vegas. Drivers can direct their car to find a parking spot. Ford did not state a range for Fully Assisted Parking Aid but the demonstrations show the driver standing within a few feet, hinting at a Bluetooth connection that covers about 30 feet.
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