Mystery of the Ford F-150: What are these invisible flashing lights in the passenger compartment? Fox News Autos investigation



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The new 2021 Ford F-150 has plenty of new features including elongated seats and a built-in desk, but one of the most important is in plain sight.

If you check one of the pickup trucks in a few weeks when they arrive at the dealerships, you may notice a small black panel on the driver’s side door pillar. Here is what it looks like:

It is part of an optional prep package for Ford’s new Active Driver Assist feature. So what does he do?

Well, it covers one of three sensors used to monitor the driver to make sure they keep their eyes on the road in an emergency. The other two are hidden under the black plastic on either side of this row of buttons at the top of the infotainment system screen:

A Ford spokeswoman told Fox News Autos that there was a camera to the left of the buttons, while the right one and the door are sensors that use invisible infrared light to see through sunglasses and make sure your eyes are open. Don’t you believe it? Check out this video we shot that reveals them at work:

Cadillac’s similar Super Cruise hands-free system uses an assortment of sensors grouped together in a module on the steering column behind the wheel, while Tesla’s autopilot currently has no visual monitoring and technically requires a continuous driver. to touch the steering wheel to prove it does. alert.

TEST DRIVE: THE FORD F-150 POWERBOOST HYBRID 2021 LIVES IN ITS NAME

Active Drive Assist is launched on the F-150 and Mustang Mach-E and is expected to be ready to roll on the highway alone in the second half of 2021.

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