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Drive On: Ford says cars will only get smarter

USA Today -- How smart are cars getting? Ford says the new Fusion sedan has 70 on-board computers. It was only about five years ago that a Lexus executive boasted to us that their latest model had more than 30, then, the the cutting edge.

It's not just computers. If those are the brains, the eyes and ears of the 2013 Fusion are its 145 actuators, 4,716 signals and 74 sensors.

They are what make the car's radar, sonar, cameras, accelerometers and temperature readings operate. They also can detect moisture for the rain-sensing wipers or tell the car how further back it can go when automatically backing into a space.

Together, those sensors produce more than 25 gigabytes of data per hour. Sounds like that is only the start.

"So far we've just scratched the surface of what is possible," ...

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Submitted Dec 23, 2012 By: brbaritone

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,610 Points:1,608,545 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 9:10:13 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse blu: one ring to rule them all....?
blupupher Champion Author Houston Posts:3,545 Points:747,070 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 9:46:20 AM Ignore blupupher Report Abuse why so many computers? Why not just one to control everything?
TruthMatters Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,520 Points:533,985 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 6:05:00 AM Ignore TruthMatters Report Abuse Can't say the same about drivers, can we?
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,610 Points:1,608,545 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 4:59:58 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse Merry Christmas to All!
jrs4125 Champion Author Indiana Posts:2,753 Points:590,770 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 4:22:16 AM Ignore jrs4125 Report Abuse Good luck tracking down tech problems.
52MPG Champion Author Dayton Posts:7,262 Points:1,741,705 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Dec 24, 2012 10:00:35 PM Ignore 52MPG Report Abuse Cars are already smarter than the texting and drunk driver.
1006 Champion Author Birmingham Posts:1,105 Points:1,354,315 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Dec 24, 2012 2:46:04 PM Ignore 1006 Report Abuse can be helpful, but can be distracting
doctorindyj Champion Author Santa Fe Posts:3,448 Points:839,585 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Dec 24, 2012 7:45:16 AM Ignore doctorindyj Report Abuse And proportionately the drivers are getting dumber. All that stuff makes you more careless and costs more money.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,610 Points:1,608,545 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Dec 24, 2012 4:26:32 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse just what we need. vehicles that are smarter than the people driving them....
KhelbenArunson Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,441 Points:717,640 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Dec 24, 2012 3:31:21 AM Ignore KhelbenArunson Report Abuse Awesome. We want them to get smarter.
abacus44 Champion Author Toms River Posts:3,475 Points:747,515 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Dec 24, 2012 2:03:01 AM Ignore abacus44 Report Abuse OK
ClarkSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:3,078 Points:1,011,405 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Dec 24, 2012 1:31:06 AM Ignore ClarkSC Report Abuse And more expensive.
StArrow68 Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,252 Points:1,360,265 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: Dec 24, 2012 12:49:52 AM Ignore StArrow68 Report Abuse Then try having an intermittent short. Cable connections are at risk, took me a year to track one down. The author is only a little confused about what is a sensor.
alterman156 Champion Author New York Posts:7,485 Points:1,556,775 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 10:52:41 PM Ignore alterman156 Report Abuse Soon, cars will be able to drive themselves.
skb69sa Champion Author San Antonio Posts:3,482 Points:710,400 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 10:12:59 PM Ignore skb69sa Report Abuse What if one of it gets defective? Car will get cranky and you what's going to happen next...
CVA19 Champion Author Salem Posts:2,393 Points:608,700 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 10:07:01 PM Ignore CVA19 Report Abuse This is true--cars are getting smarter. Unfortunately, drivers are getting dumber at a faster rate.
BEGTWO Champion Author Maryland Posts:1,937 Points:723,315 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 9:23:54 PM Ignore BEGTWO Report Abuse COOL
KrsnaDragon Champion Author Montreal Posts:2,407 Points:530,550 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 9:04:31 PM Ignore KrsnaDragon Report Abuse Very interesting.
SkooterG Champion Author Phoenix Posts:1,359 Points:328,585 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 9:04:19 PM Ignore SkooterG Report Abuse I can't figure out if all this new technology is neat or scary.
cheaper0ON All-Star Author Ontario Posts:978 Points:397,080 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 9:02:23 PM Ignore cheaper0ON Report Abuse Who cares???
dastard57 Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,200 Points:624,975 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 9:00:44 PM Ignore dastard57 Report Abuse OK, whatever...
bearzz Champion Author California Posts:1,427 Points:418,695 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:57:57 PM Ignore bearzz Report Abuse It seems to me that sometimes all these "smarts" dumbs down the driver.
dvrm9 Sophomore Author Alberta Posts:147 Points:122,270 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:57:06 PM Ignore dvrm9 Report Abuse More thing to go wrong!!
davenles Champion Author Texas Posts:3,196 Points:717,910 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:55:41 PM Ignore davenles Report Abuse Soon you will need the geek squad to work on you car.
abacus44 Champion Author Toms River Posts:3,475 Points:747,515 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:54:30 PM Ignore abacus44 Report Abuse 70 computers or 70 chips and programs running in the conputer?
leraar2 Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:3,759 Points:786,705 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:54:05 PM Ignore leraar2 Report Abuse and drivers more incompetant.
fuel2use Champion Author Seattle Posts:3,483 Points:732,350 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:49:18 PM Ignore fuel2use Report Abuse Hope they do not burp.
goodbuy Champion Author Michigan Posts:7,663 Points:1,421,605 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:48:47 PM Ignore goodbuy Report Abuse And more expensive.
gargensnarfles Rookie Author San Jose Posts:13 Points:1,002,190 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:44:18 PM Ignore gargensnarfles Report Abuse They had better out of sheer self defense.
blazerbob91 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:6,140 Points:1,882,695 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:41:05 PM Ignore blazerbob91 Report Abuse Big brother is watching
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,852 Points:1,612,250 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:38:09 PM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse “. . . Fusion sedan has 70 on-board computers.” That sounds like at least 69 too many and probably 70 too many. I want to be in charge of my vehicle, not have it doing its own thing.
Amtrgas Champion Author Oakland Posts:2,678 Points:1,620,820 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:37:32 PM Ignore Amtrgas Report Abuse Cars are getting to the point, were they can drive themselves.
bvrbill Champion Author Eugene Posts:3,217 Points:517,775 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:36:42 PM Ignore bvrbill Report Abuse Gotta love technology.
MG_Sputnik Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:7,305 Points:1,960,405 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:34:22 PM Ignore MG_Sputnik Report Abuse Does that mean drivers are getting dumber?
carloco75 Champion Author Richmond Posts:3,716 Points:600,365 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:32:46 PM Ignore carloco75 Report Abuse No way...
flyank Veteran Author Miami Posts:358 Points:267,150 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:32:19 PM Ignore flyank Report Abuse Is this because drivers are being more careless?
hamdriver Champion Author Lansing Posts:3,479 Points:1,377,375 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:31:12 PM Ignore hamdriver Report Abuse Good
GigHarborHound Champion Author Tacoma Posts:2,532 Points:487,515 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:29:42 PM Ignore GigHarborHound Report Abuse Is that always good?
mrbee Champion Author Little Rock Posts:3,753 Points:2,465,610 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:27:16 PM Ignore mrbee Report Abuse Ok
Vette1967 Champion Author Albany Posts:5,962 Points:1,275,025 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:23:40 PM Ignore Vette1967 Report Abuse I want to be the Master of my car.
Dragnet Champion Author Arizona Posts:15,406 Points:2,908,760 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:23:12 PM Ignore Dragnet Report Abuse Well, you can't do anything about STUPID and that's what most drivers are.
drewsworld Sophomore Author Los Angeles Posts:240 Points:19,205 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:21:30 PM Ignore drewsworld Report Abuse and yet drivers get into accidents
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,066 Points:1,731,235 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:17:03 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse except GM
ot4kidz Champion Author Cleveland Posts:1,565 Points:783,780 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:15:22 PM Ignore ot4kidz Report Abuse And drivers will get dumber thinking that the car will do it for them. ugh.
granitestater Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,824 Points:1,430,750 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:14:54 PM Ignore granitestater Report Abuse Seventy things that can break and leave you stranded...
BREW9 All-Star Author Tampa Posts:881 Points:2,911,980 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:13:44 PM Ignore BREW9 Report Abuse ok
pcwhiz5385 Sophomore Author Georgia Posts:113 Points:51,460 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:11:59 PM Ignore pcwhiz5385 Report Abuse cars can already parallel park on their own. before long, nobody will ever need to actually touch a steering wheel again.
Tiernan Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,475 Points:818,850 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:10:42 PM Ignore Tiernan Report Abuse More to go wrong.
Marson Champion Author Scranton Posts:8,942 Points:2,077,185 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:10:31 PM Ignore Marson Report Abuse Much more computing power than the space shuttles had.
Pointtx Champion Author Austin Posts:3,236 Points:724,330 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:09:58 PM Ignore Pointtx Report Abuse Good.