People with disabilities are always left behind when new technology is introduced to the public. Accessibility support on smartphones for example is only better now when it was launched over 15 years ago. At Ford they realized that people with mobility disabilities have problems charging their vehicles. Therefore a robot that helps with charging has been developed.
Ford collaborated with Dortmund University in Germany to produce the charging robot above. On the charger head there is a camera that identifies the charging port on the Mustang Mach-E car. The robot arm will then ensure that the charger is connected to the charging port automatically.
This robot project is still just a prototype that has been tested. Ford says it can be parked in disabled parking spaces, as well as in homes owned by disabled users. It will be the basis of Ford's fully automated system in the future where the car can be directed to automatically find a parking space and then automatically charge itself as well.
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CYBER LIFE