Want to Become an Auto Mechanic? Explore Ford BlueCruise Hands-Free Driving

Ford has taken assisted driving technology to the next level with its new software, BlueCruise. Unlike Tesla’s Auto-Pilot, BlueCruise has hands-free capability and starts at a much more affordable rate than GM’s Super Cruise. At $600 CAD, it’s four times cheaper. It can steer, accelerate, and stop a vehicle based on traffic and road conditions. The software only functions on the 200,000 km of pre-programmed highways, called Blue Zones, and there is likely more on the horizon.

If you’re striving to become an auto mechanic, you’ll want to stay up to date on the latest automotive technology to understand the changing demands of the industry and get a sneak peek of the types of vehicles you’ll be servicing. Let’s take a close look at Ford’s BlueCruise, how it works, what it’s like to use it, and what other advancements we can expect from it and other assisted driving software. 

How Does BlueCruise Work? 

Ford’s BlueCruise is quite similar to GM’s Super Cruise; however, they function differently. Supercruise uses red and green lighting to communicate with drivers – the green light means that the software is active, and a red light indicates that the driver should take steering control immediately.  BlueCruise communicates with drivers in a completely different, more inclusive way, allowing those with colour blindness to use it through text and blue light cues to indicate that the system is active. It uses biometrics such as eye-gaze monitoring and head position to ensure driver attentiveness. It has built upon Co-Pilot360 technology, which includes adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and speed sign recognition to create more convenience for drivers with truly hands-free assistance.

What’s Ford BlueCruise Like on the Road? 

As you’ll learn when you become an auto mechanic, automotive tech features don’t always deliver the exact experience they promise. Testing a feature is the only way to capture the experience that comes with it. Luckily, in what Ford calls the ‘Mother of all Roadtrips’, 10 different vehicles set out across the United States and Canada for over a month to test the effectiveness and useability of BlueCruise technology. During this test, it was noted by multiple engineers that the process of long-distance driving became much less mentally taxing. Though drivers must remain alert at all times, which Bluecruise makes sure of, all they have to do is press the adaptive cruise control button, press the lateral support button on the steering wheel, keep their eyes on the road, and let the system work.

What Other Assisted Driving Advancements Can You Expect During Your Professional Mechanic Career 

Throughout your professional mechanical career, you’ll see many more technological advancements in assisted driving software. Ford intends to add more roads to BlueCruise in addition to more features like Lane Change Assist and Predictive Speed Assist, which will automatically adjust the speed for road curves and roundabouts. In the future, Ford is planning for mapping updates to keep BlueCruiseusers up to date on changes.

With auto mechanic training at ATC Cambridge, you’ll learn essential skills like how to service engines, brake systems, wheel alignment, the fundamentals of electrical vehicles, and more. You will be fully equipped to explore any branch of the automotive industry that interests you, and perhaps that involves automotive tech like Ford BlueCruise! 

Ready to enroll in automotive courses? 

Contact ATC Cambridge for more information!