Why Ford Made a Man Dress as a Car Seat

WESTLAND, Mich.,–– Andy Schaudt, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute researcher, has spent this past August dressed as a car seat. Yes, you read that correctly. Shaudt, along with several other Virginia Tech researchers, has been commissioned by Ford to help test their new driverless vehicles. He spent his summer in Arlington, dressed in a car seat costume, observing the reactions of other drivers and making sure Ford's autonomous vehicles are able to run efficiently. Find out why Ford made this man dress as a car seat and discover how close we really are to the future of self-driving cars.

Andy Shaudt and other drivers had the chance to give these autonomous vehicles a firsthand look, driving over 1,800 miles and collecting over 150 hours of 360-degree video from cameras mounted on their Ford Transit vans. Ford's goal with this testing and research is to employ "standard visual language" to allow driverless vehicles to communicate with other drivers. Autonomous vehicles will be equipped with a bar of flashing white lights on the windshield to indicate acceleration, yielding, and braking while the vehicles drive. These lights will help other drivers spot autonomous vehicles to help them differentiate between driverless vehicles and regular drivers on the road.

"The Virginia experiment was the brainchild of Ford engineer John Shutko, who has been pushing the idea of the light bar with colleagues from other car companies around the world. He said Ford doesn’t see a competitive advantage in the research but instead wants to share its findings as a way to improve safety and get people more comfortable with driverless vehicles.

Duke robotics expert Missy Cummings — who has raised safety concerns about a hasty driverless rollout — applauded the idea of publicly identifying the vehicles. “I want them painted flashy hot pink or something really obvious, so I know and can give them due deference,” she said." - The Washington Post

While we still have a few years of testing and research until self-driving vehicles are available to the public, the technology may become available sooner than we think! Check up on our blog regularly to find updates on Ford news, new vehicle offers, vehicle brochures, and much more. Now that you know why Ford made a man dress as a car seat, you can expect to see several other self-driving Ford vehicles driving around large urban areas like Detroit. If you're interested in getting a closer look at the Ford vehicles the researchers tested, take a look at our model lineup to view the Transit and other Ford models featured in the video above! Check in with our manufacturer and regional incentives frequently to find discounts on Ford vehicles, service, and more! We hope to see you soon at North Brothers Ford!

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

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The Salvation Army Drives New Ford Transit to Provide Meals

WESTLAND, Mich. –– The Salvation Army has long been known as a philanthropic organization that focuses its energy on providing clothing and jobs  to disenfranchised individuals at its national storefronts.

But one of its most impactful deeds happens to be feeding the homeless, and to do that The Salvation Army is driving a new Ford Transit to provide meals to individuals on Washington’s streets through its Grate Patrol program.

“Ford is proud to support The Salvation Army’s mobile meals program as part of our commitment to help build strong communities everywhere our employees live and work,” said Janet Lawson, director, Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company. “Transit – America’s best-selling commercial van – has the size and flexibility that make it the right vehicle for this program.”

After their previous van of 10 years ran its course, The Salvation Army opted for a Ford Transit 350 HD with a 3.5L V6 engine. Ford is a top contributor who helped fund The Salvation Army’s new conversion of a Ford Transit to provide meals.  The new van has been overhauled for Grate Patrol to effectively provide meals to Washington’s homeless, including customizations such as a sink, refrigerator, food preparation space, service window, and cabinets.

Since Grate Patrol began over 30 years ago, The Salvation Army has provided over 1.3 million meals to homeless individuals and others in need. Grate Patrol delivers 150 balanced meals, healthy snacks, and hydration on a nightly basis, and the new converted Transit van should make the organization’s goal of feeding as many men and women possible easier to achieve.

Ford is a perfect example of how a large company can use its influence and products to make positive changes in our world. We strive to do the same at our used car dealer near South Lyon, MI, where we provide affordable options on used cars and trucks to individuals looking to save money. Stop by for a test-drive or just to look anytime you’re in the area.

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by, or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

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The 2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon is the #Unminivan

WESTLAND, Mich - The 2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon is the #Unminivan, bringing adaptability, style and efficiency all into one affordable package. As a seven-passenger people mover, the Ford Transit Connect is unlike any other Ford vehicle and offers much more than any ole mini van. The Transit Connect provides customers with the three F's -fuel efficiency, flexibility and fun- and is ready to take on whatever activities life brings. Now, you may be wondering why the 2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon is the #Unminivan? To put it simply, the Transit drives like a car, has the flexibility of a utility vehicle and can haul the payload of a full-size pickup. Ford customers now have a brand-new alternative to the traditional people mover; a vehicle that can quite literally do it all. 

The unminivan is the ultimate vehicle for Ford's most passionate customers. Transit Connect owners use their vehicle has a way to express their hobbies, interests and entrepreneurial skills. Whether it is a mobile workshop or a transporter for sports equipment, customers get plenty of use out of the Transit's flexible seating and spacious interior. Not to mention, the starting price of the Ford Transit Connect leaves some customers with some extra cash that can be put towards their interests and hobbies -the things that they really enjoy in life. 

If you're in the market for a new Ford vehicle, look no further than North Brothers Ford. We take the time to understand our customer's needs and find a vehicle that fits into their lifestyle. We call that The North Brothers Difference. Stop by for a test-drive today! North Brothers Ford, located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185, is proud to be one of the premier dealerships in Southeast Michigan committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at (888) 806-7163, our knowledgeable sales team will be happy to help!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

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