Ford is really hard at work developing the new Explorer SUV because they want to be as good as possible in every single aspect. They’ve come up with a new system for it called the Curve Control. It’s an advanced version of electronic stability program, and as its name suggests will help drivers to handle the curves more safely!
In fact Ford realized that too any accidents happen due to the driver’s mistake in judging the car’s abilities and going in to corners way too fast. So this system has been developed to prevent it. Curve Control, with its sensors and computers, constantly monitors the car’s steering wheel angle, wheel speed, tilt and other factors and if it sensed a possible roll over or even a spin, it’ll reduce the power or even applies the brakes.
Curve Control will be fitted as standard on all 2011 Ford Explorer models, and will be offered on 90 percent of the company’s North American crossovers, sport utilities, trucks and vans by 2015.
Curve Control 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. When a vehicle enters a curve too fast, the system responds to the driver’s steering input by rapidly reducing torque and increasing brake pressure to help keep the vehicle under control.
The patent-pending system works by measuring how quickly the vehicle is turning and comparing that with how quickly the driver is trying to turn. When the vehicle is not turning as much as the driver is steering – also known as “pushing” – Curve Control activates. The system applies the precise amount of braking required on each wheel to enhance the individual wheel braking of the traditional stability control system.
Based on Ford’s exclusive 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.
“Ford is developing technologies such as Curve Control and radar-based collision warning systems that can prevent crashes from happening in the first place,” said Paul Mascarenas, Ford vice president of Engineering for Global Product Development. “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.”
Curve Control is one of several new driver assist and safety technologies to be offered on the all-new Explorer. Other technologies include next-generation adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, state-of-the-art pressure-based airbag technology, the industry’s first inflatable rear seat belts and intelligent four-wheel-drive terrain management system.
