2015 Edge Sport Lane Assist

[built2prfctn]

For some reason all the alerts are turned on but I dont get an alert or vibration when crossing out of a lane like i did test driving another sport. Anyone know whats up?

[Rextang]

Take a look on the end of the turn signal stalk. There is a button. Press this to turn on or shut off the system. Since its a black button on the end of a black stalk and you might not even know you pressed it. Similar to the right hand stalk button for the rear wiper.

[WS6Fury]

This is the first thing I shut off. In NJ the lines on the road are all over the place. Steering wheel constantly vibrating.

[cv27]

Lane assist is only useful I guess on extended drives on highways.

 

One thing I'm curious about. One of the many 'review' videos submitted on this forum seems to allude to the fact that lane assist will actually try to gently steer back into the lane; this is beyond vibration. Any comments on this?

[WingNut]

I don't remember it trying to steer me back in to the lane. Just the vibrations.

[omar302]

Yes, it does steer you back if the setting is set accordingly.

[cds71]

yes it does, but you have to go into the menu and select the option to have active assist....from the factory it is set to vibration/alert only.

[cv27]

Thanks guys, good to know.

 

It seems we're seeing the gradual introduction of building blocks to "driver-less assist". Just when you thought the car would become a beige commodity, here comes technology to spice things up.

[built2prfctn]

Take a look on the end of the turn signal stalk. There is a button. Press this to turn on or shut off the system. Since its a black button on the end of a black stalk and you might not even know you pressed it. Similar to the right hand stalk button for the rear wiper.

Got it ! Thanks!

[TheWizard]

Really people? If one can't handle staying in their own lane because they're texting, reading, eating, putting on makeup, shaving, or just plain feeble then they should put away the keys and take a cab or a bus.

 

</rant>

[cab2g]

Really people? If one can't handle staying in their own lane because they're texting, reading, eating, putting on makeup, shaving, or just plain feeble then they should put away the keys and take a cab or a bus.

 

</rant>

I really think the issue is micro-sleeping while on the highway during trips. There are very few people, even responsible drivers that haven't done this before. If there's one technology that you should rant about, it's perpendicular park assist. If you can't park in a parking lot without a computer, then you need to go back to driver's ed.

[TheWizard]

Actually, what really scares me is something I saw on the news last night. Apparently Mercedes Benz has created a test tractor-trailer with cruise control that has automatic lane positioning. Once the truck enters the freeway, the cruise control can be set and the truck will maintain speed and lane position (including adjusting for other vehicles) allowing the driver to be completely hands (and feet) free.

 

Does anyone really want truck drivers doing something else (even sleeping) while their 80,000 pound truck rolls down the highway at 65 mph?

[WingNut]

Actually, what really scares me is something I saw on the news last night. Apparently Mercedes Benz has created a test tractor-trailer with cruise control that has automatic lane positioning. Once the truck enters the freeway, the cruise control can be set and the truck will maintain speed and lane position (including adjusting for other vehicles) allowing the driver to be completely hands (and feet) free.

 

Does anyone really want truck drivers doing something else (even sleeping) while their 80,000 pound truck rolls down the highway at 65 mph?

 

This is one of those things where I am unsure of what is better. Having a human in control? Or having a computer in control?

 

So I look at a situations. Computer is controlling truck and a human controlled vehicle cuts over in front of the truck, who responds faster? The human? Or the computer? And how does the computer respond? By just jamming on the brakes possible making the car lose control? Would the human do a better job in this situation?

 

I think the only way it works like they want it to is to have most, if not all, vehicles on the road be controlled via computer. Then everything just flows in line. There isn't road rage. There is constant speed. There isn't passing. Mixing computers with humans could be bad.

[cv27]

The technology we're talking about is currently in its infancy. I personally get overly excited with this stuff, but in 2015 I think of it as an assistant to my driving, not a substitute. Reliability is not there yet.

 

Even with my low reliance of these technologies (for now), I sure wish they existed when I drove 1000 miles every year to South Carolina and back. I can remember the last few 100 miles, usually around 2:00 in the morning, where I would stop every 30 minutes to shake it up. But still, I would go through those micro-sleeping mentioned by cab2g before realizing I needed to stop. In my case, lane assist would have been great.

 

Better get used to it: in a few decades, maybe longer, cars will be so computer controlled that they'll get you to through a 1000 miles on I-95 while you're napping.

[TheWizard]

The autonomous vehicle is still a long way off partly because there are some things the computer simply can't do. For example, in a busy city intersection making a turn can be tricky because pedestrians will take every opportunity to walk in front of you. A human can move the car forward forcing the pedestrians to stop and wait but a computer would just sit there unable to move. There are numerous other examples of the computer being unable to function because it wouldn't take "human" chances due to its "cause no harm" programming.

Edited May 13, 2015 by TheWizard

[TheWizard]

The technology we're talking about is currently in its infancy. I personally get overly excited with this stuff, but in 2015 I think of it as an assistant to my driving, not a substitute. Reliability is not there yet.

 

Even with my low reliance of these technologies (for now), I sure wish they existed when I drove 1000 miles every year to South Carolina and back. I can remember the last few 100 miles, usually around 2:00 in the morning, where I would stop every 30 minutes to shake it up. But still, I would go through those micro-sleeping mentioned by cab2g before realizing I needed to stop. In my case, lane assist would have been great.

 

Better get used to it: in a few decades, maybe longer, cars will be so computer controlled that they'll get you to through a 1000 miles on I-95 while you're napping.

 

In a few decades (if I live that long), I'll probably be so feeble I'll appreciate someone else doing the driving. I was hoping I would be rich enough to have a chauffeur but I'll settle for a computer.

[Tacyon]

This last weekend due to micro sleep at ~2:00am on my way from Chi-town to Ga. .... I took a 70 mph, cruse controlled trip into the center medium. No guard rails, bridge abutments, river openings, etc. The guard rails started about 5 minutes later. Scarry as sh*t !

 

Lane assist would have been a welcome technology addition.

 

I've got I'm sure million miles or more under my belt over 45 years of driving so I don't tend to panic. You don't jam on the brakes, you don't yank the steering wheel back towards the road. Not sure a computer would know not to do these things but it might not have allowed me to get there in the first place.

 

in the 15 seconds worth of ditch driving, my fast thought process was, I'm not where I'm suppose to be, why am I not slowing down? My foot is not on the gas. Nothing appears to be in my direction of travel but that won't last. Lets slow down and head towards the road." Pulled over and examined the drive train ... besides weeds and field grass, it looks ok. Could have been MUCH worse !

 

I know collision avoidance has saved me a few times while I was checking out the "driver" in the car next to me. but with this being said, there are times when it bitches at me because it doesn't know that the quickly approaching car in front of me won't be there by the time I get there. And in some cases, will even hit the brakes because its so upset over this fact. Point being, its not able to reason like a focused human and right now, doesn't have all the facts at hand.

 

I am 100% sure that if there is active lane assist, with cruse control, that there will be drivers fully dozing (err .. sleeping)(me?) off. So when does the auto pilot say, "ummm, my human has checked out ...I need to pull over, put my flashers on and place myself in park ?

 

we've got a ways to go. (check out the Tesla auto pilot config )

[omar302]

I have tried the Active lane assist on a 2013 Explorer, it does NOT drive for you, but will nudge you back to the lane (steer you back) but after you touch the lane. It does not drive the vehicle you between the lanes. So, in theory, if you don't do anything, the car will swerve left & right between the 2 lanes. Hope you understand what I mean. Also, if you keep your hands off the steering wheel or pass the lanes a few times, it will sound a chime to alert you & remind you to hold the steering wheel.

[cv27]

You guys are all right. As I said, "The technology we're talking about is currently in its infancy". It does not 'replace', but rather 'assist'; it also depends on the human driver to compensate when it skews up. Here we go beta testing again

[rockymtnsport]

Hi All,

 

I'm new here and just got my Edge Sport. Loving it so far! It's plenty roomy, great looking, super quiet, and hauls butt!

 

As far as the LKA, I first experienced this new technology on the Autobahn in a rental Mercedes, and now in my Edge. I have to say that this is a feature I turned off right away and here is why...What's to stop the car from 'correcting' you and your loved ones right back into something you are attempting to steer around?

 

In Germany, I had someone drift into my lane while cruising at about 100mph- enough that I needed to swerve slightly over the left lane markings, and sure enough the smart 'state of the art' car tried to 'nudge' me back into 'my lane'?

 

This seems to be a dubious technology at best, and while it 'seems' like a good idea, I can think of plenty of situations where I do not want a mindless electronic box steering at all on my behalf. I can't imagine there won't be a lawsuit surrounding this feature sooner or later.

 

Anyone else?? I'm no lawyer but it just seems there are just as many 'cons' and there are 'pros' to this feature.

[cv27]

Although I understand your concern, my point of view is that these technologies are currently a complement to the driver's responsibility to control his vehicle.

 

The 'nudge' provided by the LKA is relatively mild and can easily be overridden by the driver.

 

It seems to me that many think of these technologies as a way to feel less responsible for their driving. Those technologies may one day be able to 'take over' responsibility for getting us from A to B, but right now they're 'alpha' versions. Let's take the opportunity to get familiar with these technologies and adjust as they mature.

[omar302]

Hi All,

 

I'm new here and just got my Edge Sport. Loving it so far! It's plenty roomy, great looking, super quiet, and hauls butt!

 

As far as the LKA, I first experienced this new technology on the Autobahn in a rental Mercedes, and now in my Edge. I have to say that this is a feature I turned off right away and here is why...What's to stop the car from 'correcting' you and your loved ones right back into something you are attempting to steer around?

 

In Germany, I had someone drift into my lane while cruising at about 100mph- enough that I needed to swerve slightly over the left lane markings, and sure enough the smart 'state of the art' car tried to 'nudge' me back into 'my lane'?

 

This seems to be a dubious technology at best, and while it 'seems' like a good idea, I can think of plenty of situations where I do not want a mindless electronic box steering at all on my behalf. I can't imagine there won't be a lawsuit surrounding this feature sooner or later.

 

Anyone else?? I'm no lawyer but it just seems there are just as many 'cons' and there are 'pros' to this feature.

From my test drive with the LKA on an Explorer Limited, if you were holding the wheel, the nudge is only an annoyance & will not overtake your lane change. This is with system turned to alert + assist. Also, if your swerving out lane at a high rate such as an emergency change or turning, the system will not steer you back. Finally, you can simply turn off assist & keep the alerts.