Ford Technology: Ford unveils automated parking system for Lincoln MKS, MKT and other Ford cars soon

A while back, Ford unveiled new safety technologies to keep the driver and passenger away from accidents. Now though, they have turned their heads into parking technology, which frankly most automakers are doing these days.

Ford has announced that it will begin offering an automated "push-of-a-button" parallel parking assistance on two Lincoln models later this year. The Ford system, which is similar to that offered by Lexus and VW, uses ultrasonic parking assistance radar, electronic power steering, and back-up camera assist to navigate a Lincoln MKS or MKT into a parking spot without any physical input from the driver. Ford has also announced that the new system will be included to other Ford models with power electric steering.

However, to trust such complicated thing, we need to ask, how does it work? Well Ford answered by following:

* The driver activates the system by pressing an instrument panel button, which activates the ultrasonic sensors to measure and identify a feasible parallel parking space.
* The system then prompts the driver to accept the system assistance to park.
* The steering system then takes over and steers the car into the parking space hands-free. The driver still shifts the transmission and operates the gas and brake pedals.
* A visual and/or audible driver interface advises the driver about the proximity of other cars, objects and people and provides instructions.
* While the steering is all done automatically, the driver remains responsible for safe parking and can interrupt the system by grasping the steering wheel.

Active Park Assist works in tandem with other new technologies that will be offered on the 2010 MKS and MKT and other Ford vehicles, including Blind Spot Information System (BLIS™) and Cross Traffic Alert.

To understand all this, here's a video from Ford:

Source: [Ford]