Ford launches Innovate Mobility Challenge

The worldwide challenges kicked off on 15 July in Lisbon, Portugal, Los Angeles, United States, and Mumbai, India, and will open to developers in South Africa in August. It will also run in Delhi and the Chennai region in India, Shanghai, China, and across Argentina.

"Reaching out to local stakeholders lets Ford more effectively address the diverse mobility challenges around the world," said Paul Mascarenas, Ford's chief technical officer and vice president, Research and Innovation. "Launching our Innovate Mobility Challenge Series in eight different regions will bring global and local players together in the pursuit of one goal, which is a smarter and more efficient transportation network for the future."

For each competition, Ford will partner with local authorities and experts to address different issues in each location. The competitions will be judged by a panel of Ford executives involved in researching mobility solutions, as well as by local experts selected for each competition.

Blueprint for Mobility

Ford's Blueprint for Mobility, which was originally announced by executive chairman, Bill Ford, outlines what the company believes transportation will look like in 2025 and beyond, and the technologies, business models and partnerships needed to get there. With a growing population and a worldwide trend of urbanisation, personal mobility as well as efficiency in the transportation sector will only become more important.

Using new technologies to address mobility challenges will be crucial for customers globally, which is why partner-based projects like the global challenge series will remain an integral part of Ford's plan going forward. A smarter, more connected mobility landscape will encourage efficiency, increase safety, reduce traffic congestion and contribute to environmental improvements as well as shaping personal mobility in a more effective way.

Each challenge was designed to address a specific issue facing the diverse needs of cities around the world. For full details on all of the challenges, visit the Innovate Mobility Challenge Series landing page, fordsvl.com/innovatemobility.

OpenXC programme

Ford's OpenXC programme is a non-production, open-source, software and hardware platform designed to encourage top developers to experiment with do-it-yourself projects using real-time vehicle data. Developers can use OpenXC data like any other data source in a smartphone, tablet or web app. The Innovate Mobility Challenge Series encourages developers to integrate this real-time vehicle information into apps that relate to sustainability and mobility issues, whether by incorporating the data into existing apps or creating new apps from scratch.

"The OpenXC platform gives developers access to more than 15 types of vehicle data, including those related to vehicle speed, engine speed, fuel-level, and things like whether or not the windshield wipers are on or if a door is open," said K. Venkatesh Prasad, senior technical leader, Open Innovation at the Ford Motor Company. "With these challenges, we're reaching out to the best minds in the developer community, because we know that no single company or individual holds the answer. Local problems need local solutions, and we want to encourage that."

A good example of the potential of OpenXC comes from a Ford engineer, Zac Nelson, who used the open-source platform to design an app-cum-accessory concept - a manual transmission shift knob that gives haptic feedback to the driver. Using real-time engine data and a 3D-printed shift knob he designed with an embedded Xbox 360 actuator, he created an app that instructs the shift knob to pulsate at the optimum shift points. The app can be programmed for high performance driving, ride comfort or fuel efficiency depending on driving style.

Ford's online OpenXC portal has all the information developers and accessory makers need to get started, including an OpenXC overview, tools for developing software without any vehicle related hardware, and information about how to get started building or buying OpenXC vehicle interface hardware.