Case Study: SYNC™

Ford SYNC™ is a popular and award-winning in-car connectivity system that was introduced on selected 2007 model year vehicles. SYNC integrates portable electronic devices (e.g., cell phones, MP3 players) with the vehicle's electrical architecture, enabling the driver to operate those devices through voice commands alone, or via buttons located on the steering wheel or radio. Numerous studies demonstrate the safety benefits of hands-free device use compared to hand-held or manual use. The benefits are seen in improved or more cautious driving performance as well as object and event detection.

For example, NHTSA sponsored a recently completed, 100-car, naturalistic driving study that underscores how important it is to keep one's eyes on the road while driving. This study collected 43,000 hours of driving data and recorded 82 crashes and 761 near-crashes as they occurred. The researchers found that almost 80 percent of all observed crashes, 93 percent of all observed rear-end crashes and 65 percent of observed near crashes involved the driver looking away from the roadway just prior to the onset of the conflict. In a separate risk analysis, researchers found that manually dialing a hand-held device (a visual-manual task) was measurably riskier than driving without conducting any secondary task. By contrast, listening or talking on a hand-held device (an auditory-vocal task) was found to be not measurably riskier than driving without conducting a secondary task.

Other studies have shown the safety benefits of hands-free voice interfaces compared to visual-manual interfaces for command or data entry. These results suggest that SYNC's voice interface offers safety benefits to drivers who would otherwise look away from the road to complete visual-manual tasks. While drivers are always responsible for ensuring that they drive in a safe and careful manner, SYNC provides a way for drivers to operate their cell phones and use their MP3 players more safely, because they can do so while keeping their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel.

Starting with 2009 model year, SYNC will also be offered with additional, all-new emergency and vehicle diagnostic communications capabilities. Beginning with the all-new Ford Flex and Lincoln MKS, which will launch in the summer of 2008, SYNC-equipped 2009 model year vehicles will have 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Reports. These voice-activated features also will be available to customers with 2008 model year SYNC-equipped vehicles through a dealer-installed software update. (The ability to add functionality and update the system to work with new devices makes SYNC unique in the industry at present. It is a strategy that will benefit Ford customers over time by ensuring that their systems do not become outdated, hardware permitting.)

In the event of a crash, the ability to directly contact the local 911 emergency operator could be critical, for both the vehicle occupants and first responders. While any cell phone alone could be used in an emergency situation, SYNC will be ready to assist in placing a call to a local 911 emergency operator – when a phone is properly paired, turned on and connected to SYNC and where the system and cell phone remain powered and undamaged – should a crash with an air bag deployment or fuel shutoff switch activation occur.

The key advantage of SYNC 911 Assist is speed, as calls are placed directly to local 911 operators. A SYNC-assisted call should reach 911 operators faster than competitive systems, as there are no handoffs and no need to speak to a call-center operator. Further, there is no additional monthly fee for this feature, as SYNC utilizes a customer's existing mobile phone.

Once the call is connected, 911 operators can respond to the situation exactly as hey would with any 911 call. Emergency services can even determine the medical priority and dispatch the appropriate emergency assistance based on the situation. If necessary – if vehicle occupants are non-responsive, for example – the location of the vehicle can be determined through voice-signal triangulation or, on some phones, the GPS location feature.

Another new SYNC feature – Vehicle Health Reports – will help drivers properly maintain their vehicles, which will save owners time and money and improve their ownership experiences. Using the SYNC Web site (www.syncmyride.com), customers will be able to set up personal preferences for Vehicle Health Reports. Once established, a report can be requested at any time, using simple voice commands.

In creating a health report, SYNC will gather relevant information from the major vehicle control modules and send that information to Ford via a toll-free number using the customer's paired and operable mobile phone. The whole process, which in some vehicles will include a routine check of more than two dozen systems, takes a matter of minutes.

Once sent, the information is automatically analyzed by Ford, and a complete report is created. Notification is then sent via text message or email, based on customer preference. Reports will be accessible through www.syncmyride.com and will use simple, customer-friendly language, suggest next steps and, when appropriate, allow customers to schedule service online. Reports can also be printed or emailed as necessary. Owners who need reminding about vehicle maintenance will be able to have SYNC prompt them to run a report at mileage intervals consistent with Ford's maintenance schedule.

Ford SYNC was launched in the fourth quarter of 2007 and is now available on 12 vehicles from Ford, Lincoln and Mercury. During 2008, SYNC will become available on the all-new 2009 Ford Flex and F-150, as well as the 2009 Ford Escape, Escape Hybrid and Expedition. The 2009 Lincoln MKS will be launched later this year with SYNC as standard equipment, and SYNC will be added to the 2009 Lincoln Navigator. For Mercury, SYNC will be added to 2009 Mariner and Mariner Hybrid.

By the end of 2008, nearly every Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle will be available with SYNC – either standard or as an option – and by early 2009, 1 million SYNC-equipped Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles should be on the road in the U.S.