Ford Mustang dash
A $120, 000 research grant given to Alabama’s Auburn University in 2008 has started to bear fruit, as preliminary study results reveal that GPS satellites may one day be able to prevent car accidents.
Scientists from Auburn University’s GPS and Vehicle Dynamics lab along with Ford scientists have created algorithms capable of crunching vehicle data related to motion and inertia, combining that with upcoming road curve data pulled from GPS information, and communicating the results back to the vehicle stability system. In essence, this combination of GPS and sensor data enables the vehicle stability system to predict what needs to be done to avoid a crash.
The research team claims it is moving into the prototype phase and will be presenting its research findings at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics in San Antonio, Texas, Oct. 11-14.