.PNG)
Ford has unveiled drone vehicle communication technology designed to enable rapid United Nations action in disaster-hit emergency zones. At the same time, the company invited developers from around the world to create the equipment's operating software, based on the Ford F-150 pickup and its SYNC AppLink multimedia system, or the Open XC open platform.
The challenge, called “DJI Developer Challenge”, was launched at the opening of CES 2016, the world's largest innovation fair, in Las Vegas. It is promoted in partnership with DJI, the global leader in professional drones, and will award the winner a prize of $100,000.
The aim is to create a system of inspection of emergency zones inaccessible to vehicles for use in the United Nations Development Programme. The technology would allow first responders to quickly send drones to areas hardest hit by earthquakes or tsunamis for surveying and mapping, based on an F-150.
“At Ford, we pursue innovation in all areas of our business to make people's lives better,” says Ken Washington, vice president of Research and Advanced Engineering at Ford. “Working with DJI and the United Nations is an opportunity to make a big difference, with vehicles and drones working together for the common good.”
The challenge is part of Ford Smart Mobility, a plan developed by the company to reach a new level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, consumer experience and data analytics.
Ford F-150 as a drone base
The challenge for developers is to create software that allows communication between the F-150 and the drone in real time. The United Nations emergency rapid survey system would work like this:
• In a disaster, an emergency team would drive an F-150 as close as possible to the emergency zone caused by an earthquake or tsunami.
• Using the Ford SYNC touchscreen, the driver could identify a target area and launch a drone, accessing an application via the Ford SYNC AppLink. The drone would follow a flight plan over the area, recording video and creating a map of survivors, with enlarged images of each.
• Using the driver's smartphone, the F-150 would establish a real-time link between the drone, the truck and the cloud so that information could be shared. The drone could be instructed to return to the truck at a new destination, allowing for its mobility.
Developers will be able to use vehicle data available from SYNC AppLink or the OpenXC platform to create an integrated drone-to-vehicle communication experience. While the challenge has a specific focus, the software could also be applied in agriculture, forest conservation, construction, bridge inspection, search and rescue and other work environments where there are limited space, height or terrain for vehicles.
More information is available at http://developer.dji.com/challenge2016.
The challenge, called “DJI Developer Challenge”, was launched at the opening of CES 2016, the world's largest innovation fair, in Las Vegas. It is promoted in partnership with DJI, the global leader in professional drones, and will award the winner a prize of $100,000.
The aim is to create a system of inspection of emergency zones inaccessible to vehicles for use in the United Nations Development Programme. The technology would allow first responders to quickly send drones to areas hardest hit by earthquakes or tsunamis for surveying and mapping, based on an F-150.
“At Ford, we pursue innovation in all areas of our business to make people's lives better,” says Ken Washington, vice president of Research and Advanced Engineering at Ford. “Working with DJI and the United Nations is an opportunity to make a big difference, with vehicles and drones working together for the common good.”
The challenge is part of Ford Smart Mobility, a plan developed by the company to reach a new level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, consumer experience and data analytics.
Ford F-150 as a drone base
The challenge for developers is to create software that allows communication between the F-150 and the drone in real time. The United Nations emergency rapid survey system would work like this:
• In a disaster, an emergency team would drive an F-150 as close as possible to the emergency zone caused by an earthquake or tsunami.
• Using the Ford SYNC touchscreen, the driver could identify a target area and launch a drone, accessing an application via the Ford SYNC AppLink. The drone would follow a flight plan over the area, recording video and creating a map of survivors, with enlarged images of each.
• Using the driver's smartphone, the F-150 would establish a real-time link between the drone, the truck and the cloud so that information could be shared. The drone could be instructed to return to the truck at a new destination, allowing for its mobility.
Developers will be able to use vehicle data available from SYNC AppLink or the OpenXC platform to create an integrated drone-to-vehicle communication experience. While the challenge has a specific focus, the software could also be applied in agriculture, forest conservation, construction, bridge inspection, search and rescue and other work environments where there are limited space, height or terrain for vehicles.
More information is available at http://developer.dji.com/challenge2016.
EN 
PT 
