Ford Unveils Curve Control Technology

Ford Motor Company has unveiled a new Curve Control technology to help drivers maintain control of their vehicles when taking a curve too quickly.

Ford said that the Curve Control debuts as standard equipment on the all-new 2011 Ford Explorer going into production later this year, and will be offered on 90% of the company’s North American crossovers, sport utilities, trucks and vans by 2015.

Ford said that the the Curve Control technology senses when a driver is taking a curve too quickly, a situation found to contribute to about 50,000 crashes each year in the US and reduces engine torque and can apply four-wheel braking, slowing the vehicle by up to 10 mph in about one second.

Ford claimed that the Curve Control technology is effective on dry or wet pavement, and is expected to be particularly useful when drivers are entering or exiting freeway on- or off-ramps with too much speed.

Based on Ford's AdvanceTrac with RSC (Roll Stability Control), Curve Control uses sensors to measure roll rate, yaw rate, lateral acceleration, wheel speed and steering wheel angle, and runs calculations based on those inputs 100 times every second.

Sue Cischke, vice president of sustainability, environment and safety engineering at Ford group, said: Too many accidents stem from drivers misjudging their speed going into curves and freeway off- and on-ramps. Ford's Curve Control technology senses a potentially dangerous situation and reduces power and applies brakes more quickly than most drivers can react on their own.

Paul Mascarenas, vice president of engineering for global product development at Ford, said: Ford is developing technologies such as Curve Control and radar-based collision warning systems that can prevent crashes from happening in the first place.

These new active systems designed to prevent accidents are the perfect complement for Ford's leading passive safety systems - such as advanced airbags and high-strength vehicle structures - that protect occupants when a crash is inevitable.