Ford's New Radar Technology Based On Open Source

zakkie writes "Ford is releasing new safety-enhancing radar equipment for its 2010 Taurus sedan. The radar itself is based on F22 fighter radar, but interestingly, it's claimed that the software is built from open source. What that may mean, in the vague, waffling context of the article, is unclear, but it's interesting simply because they've gone to the effort of stating it in those words. Clearly, 'open source' is being thought of outside the IT world as a good thing, and that surely is itself a good thing. The purpose of the radar device is to help 'avoid crashes by sounding an alarm and flashing red lights when the driver gets too close to another car.'"

Detection

[Tokerat]

The purpose of the radar device is to help 'avoid crashes by sounding an alarm and flashing red lights when the driver gets too close to another car.

...as well as annoying the crap out of any driver with a radar detector you happen to be driving behind ;-)

I hope it's written in Python or similar

[Anonymous Coward]

That way, if my radar doesn't detect I'm closing in on the car ahead I can fix the source code without a recompile and link.

Re:Detection

[David Gerard]

Sounds good to me - nicely Darwinian for dealing with speeding idiots before they could hurt someone else!

"Hyurk, I'll drive at 100mph, no radar in sight ... oh shit, blue lights."

Re:Is it "green" too?

[martas]

it's a green, open-source, biofuel-based, alternative energy producing, solar power using, multitouch, next-generation, web 2.0, HTML5, social networking, streamlined, going forward, ajaxian, podcasted, virtualized, cloud-based, immersive car.

Re:Detection

[Ihmhi]

Scene: a future episode of Cops

Suspect: 142 mph? Fuck yeah, HIGH SCORE! Take THAT, CT Route 67!