Nine out of ten Ford Motor Company cars in the US will have a park assist system by 2012 which takes the hard work out of parellel parking.
The company's new Active Park Assist system automatically maueuvres a vehicle into even the tightest parking space.
The driver activates the system by pressing an instrument panel button, which activates the ultrasonic sensors to measure and identify a feasible parallel parking space.
The system then prompts the driver to accept the system assistance to park.
The steering system then takes over and steers the car into the parking space hands-free. The driver still shifts the transmission and operates the gas and brake pedals.
A visual and/or audible driver interface advises the driver about the proximity of other cars, objects and people and provides instructions.
While the steering is all done automatically, the driver remains responsible for safe parking and can interrupt the system by grasping the steering wheel.
