Ford is so serious about its push into driverless car technology that it is one of the very first automakers to test a car prototype in a fake city built especially for automated cars in Michigan, HNGN previously reported. However, a recent patent application filed by Ford revealed its plan to give the A.I. behind the wheel with a personality. Here, passengers can select from several choices that include "eco-friendly" and "sport," among others.
Each A.I. personality is distinguished according to driving styles based on habits on braking, acceleration and the volume of revving engine, the Daily Mail reported. For example, if a passenger would like to race in a closed track, then he or she could select the racecar driver. The "chauffeur mode" provides a smoother and more luxurious drive while the "sport" personality makes sharp turns and stops.
The car's personality can also be reflected in the A.I.'s voice and interior aesthetics. Once a mode is selected, the color scheme, lighting and design elements changes as well, Jalopnik reported.
"The autonomous mode controller commands one or more vehicle subsystems to operate in accordance with characteristics associated with the driving mode selection," the patent application explained. "Examples of characteristics can include how aggressively the vehicle accelerates or decelerates, a minimum distance from the vehicle to a front vehicle, how frequently the vehicle changes lanes... among others."
