Simulator upgraded to help better develop safety technologies, driver aids
Upgrades to Ford's full-motion virtual test track will help continue to develop and test active safety and driver aid technologies that warn drivers of imminent collision, drowsiness and other potentially dangerous scenarios behind the wheel. VIRTTEX, which features a spherical dome on top of a hydraulic system to mimic vehicle movement, now has upgraded image rendering technologies to provide a high-resolution, digitally projected, 360-degree horizontal field-of-view to test and measure driver acceleration, braking and steering performance as well as overall driver reactions in varying conditions.
Dan Pierce | dpierc41@ford.com | 313.594.0949
Ford takes OpenXC global
Whether they are in mature automotive markets like North America or Europe or in growth regions like India, drivers want to take advantage of increasingly ubiquitous mobile connectivity. At the NASSCOM India Leadership Summit, Ford demonstrated the OpenXC research platform and the potential of open-source application development for the automobile. OpenXC is an open-source hardware and software platform developed by Ford Research and Innovation and New York City-based Bug Labs to unleash the power of local developers to determine niche market-specific applications that take advantage of mobile connectivity.
Alan Hall | ahall32@ford.com | 313.594.3744
Ford earns top honors for supporting women-owned businesses
The Women's Business Enterprise Council selected Ford for its 13th annual listing of America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises, the first time an automaker has earned the award. Ford earned the honor for developing and driving innovative best practices that result in productive business partnerships with women entrepreneurs and valuable products and services for their customers. In 2011, Ford spent $1.06 billion with women-owned suppliers in the U.S., a 22 percent increase from 2010.
Todd Nissen | tnissen@ford.com | 313.322.4898
