Ford tests driverless car parking

Chris Woodyard | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Amazing car tech advances about to hit showrooms The cars of the future will not only be able to park themselves, but they'll also be able to talk to each other. Ford has been showing off new automated technology, which it hopes to install in its vehicles of tomorrow. (Oct. 9)

Ford is experimenting with two new gee-whiz technologies, one that allows a car to park itself without a driver inside and another that automatically turns the steering wheel to avoid hitting a pedestrian.

The trials are going in Belgium and there are no plans to market either in the U.S. anytime soon, but both point to how automakers are gradually moving toward self-driving technology in cars.

With Ford's Fully Assisted Parking Aid, a driver can be standing outside their car to push a button and watch it park itself. The technology could pay off in Europe, where parking is at a premium.

Ford already has a parallel parking assist feature in its cars, but it requires drivers to sit behind the wheel and keep a foot on the brake pedal.

"Parking in today's cities can be stressful and difficult," said Barb Samardzich, a Ford of Europe vice president, in a statement. "We want to make it as easy, efficient and accurate as possible."

While systems that automatically brake cars when they detect pedestrians in front of them are becoming more common, Ford's system is unique because it can steer the car out of the way.

Ford says its "obstacle avoidance" technology issues warnings first if it detects slow-moving objects, stationary obstacles or pedestrians in the same lane ahead. If the driver fails to steer or brake following those warnings the system will then automatically steer and brake to avoid a collision.

The system uses three radars, ultrasonic sensors and a camera to scan the road ahead.