Anyone Tried the Ford PTBA?

rhagfo wrote:
So next time you are traveling by air, don't assume the pilot knows how to fly the plane when Auto Pilot fails!

The Air France plane that crashed into the Atlantic did so because the pilot didn't know how to fly the plane manually and correct for a stall. There are several other crashes due to this also.

I personally know a United Flight trainer and the above mention of Air France would not apply at least to United but most likely all of the US Domestic carriers. I'm not pro-United BTW as they have a lot of other customer facing issues that need a lot of attention... just wanted to mention fact versus speculation.

So next time you are traveling by air, don't assume the pilot knows how to fly the plane when Auto Pilot fails!

The Air France plane that crashed into the Atlantic did so because the pilot didn't know how to fly the plane manually and correct for a stall. There are several other crashes due to this also.

I also believe there is a recall for some F150's with auto braking systems, that can interpret a semi in the next lane as an object in front and apply the brakes.

When we are all over 90 and they come for your license ,tell em 'keep it ' and hop into your self driving car.

I for one look forward to the day insurance companies become obsolete .

I learned how to trailer using a little 4x8 with 10" wheels (owned it for 14 years). Everything since seems simple compared to my first.

This thread is semi-automatic, but still has the driver controlling that knob...

BenK wrote:
Just the first of an upcoming explosion of these and the 'kids'
will continue to play games with these...

OBTW...many of the interns we hired were working on black badge
programs mentioned in the first youtube...


Sample #1 Digital Carjackers Show Off New Attacks
Hacker autohackers autohack autonomous


Sample #2 Digital Carjackers Show Off New Attacks


Firewall the auto WiFi....well, if you have a cell phone with you
and turned on the Blue Tooth to monitor the engine/tranny/etc...well
you may have just compromised your fire walled auto WiFi...or just
plug it into the diagnostic port to read codes...

Or...you replace something and got the parts from any brand automotive
supply store...if it has any potential connection to the various
computers or the vehicle network...it can have something embedded
in it's PROM that will allow anyone who has the code...to take
over your vehicle...

PS...buyers have pretty much asked for all of these bells and
whistles...plus to have them 'Highly Integrated'...be careful of
what you ask for...

and

BenK wrote:
went and found that Volvo YouTube...

Volvo Self Stopping Car
autonomous selfdriving


There should be many others as more and more autonomous vehicles
come on line for the folks who think it is a GREAT idea...like the
key-less fob, remote starting, lane change warning ding-ding, self
parallel parking, self reversing into a camp site, etc, etc

IdaD wrote:
I don't worry too much about people becoming too reliant on technology just cause of something that helps them back up a trailer. That's a pretty small niche.

If you want to talk about more widespread automation, like fully automated cars, now you've got my attention. I don't necessarily doubt the claims you hear about reduced traffic congestion, reduced crashes, fewer fatalities, and etc. But they raise a host of concerns, and loss of driving skills probably isn't even the biggest one. For example, if the programmer's goal is really to minimize fatalities, that might mean purposely piloting your car off a bridge in certain instances for the greater good. That's a pretty good ethical pickle.

Might as well not own a vehicle with automated driving...it will be PRT
system...basically horizontal elevators. Get in, push some buttons
and/or load your destination. Sit back, open the laptop/etc or read
the paper

Personal rapid transit
PRT personalrapidtransit

For me, boils down to allowing the robot to make decisions. Not the
how close to follow, when to brake stuff...but shall I stay behind this
slow poke or pass...or the current problem with them not being able
to make the decision to move forward when someone is too close to
the corner...someone moving there, but not going to cross...the computer
won't go...or move/stop/move/stop cycling

The biggest issue is how well they designed the fail safe (redundancy,
master/slave decision tree, etc)

Computers do crash from total to portions of it's system...AKA Brain Fart...


On backing up or any maneuver...know where your pivot points are (they
are the tires/axles), the over hang and where you wish to get to.

I always get out and walk around checking where I want my trailer tires
to pivot at and where the end/overhang will swing into...that rock,
that 4x4 post, etc

gijoecam wrote:
I had a similar problem with my F150 and a single-place jet ski trailer. With the jet ski on it, I could see the handlebars over the tailgate, but with no ski on the trailer it's impossible to see. It took a $6 bicycle flag and a stainless steel bolt and wing-nut to solve the problem. The flag was trashed after about two years, but the fiberglass pole still served as a good guide when backing the empty trailer down the ramp.

I like that idea as I have a flatbed 2 position ATV trailer that is very hard to see without my ATV on it. I also have a couple of unused 4' fiberglass reflective poles bought at a big box hardware store used on my driveway for when there is too much snow. Just need a couple of mounting brackets for those, no flag and already has reflective tape when the reverse lights are on at night... perfect. Thx.

mkirsch wrote:
I would challenge it to back up this little 4x8 enclosed trailer that I have.

The problem is being able to SEE the trailer to back it up. With the trailer straight behind you, it cannot be seen in the side view mirrors no matter where you adjust them. If you can see it in a sideview mirror, it is too late; you're jackknifed.

LOL! :B

I despised backing, our two horse trailer bumper Pull with our 79 Long Bed Clubcab F250! :S

It seemed as soon as the truck was in reverse the trailer was jackknifed!!! I at least could see the wheels in the mirrors.

With the 5er, it is as simple as placing my hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and pushing the direction I want the trailer wheels, or tail to go! I palm the wheel so as not to confuse with hand over hand movements. That is the same principle as PTBA, backing up with a trailer is not Rocket Science, but many equate it to it.

No I am NOT perfect, I do have those moments when it all seems to not work as planed.

mkirsch wrote:
I would challenge it to back up this little 4x8 enclosed trailer that I have.

The problem is being able to SEE the trailer to back it up. With the trailer straight behind you, it cannot be seen in the side view mirrors no matter where you adjust them. If you can see it in a sideview mirror, it is too late; you're jackknifed.

Ford is working on a solution to that problem too. One solution has been out there for a while in the form of a back-up camera on the tailgate. I know several people who have/use them and they're helpful for smaller trailers.

I had a similar problem with my F150 and a single-place jet ski trailer. With the jet ski on it, I could see the handlebars over the tailgate, but with no ski on the trailer it's impossible to see. It took a $6 bicycle flag and a stainless steel bolt and wing-nut to solve the problem. The flag was trashed after about two years, but the fiberglass pole still served as a good guide when backing the empty trailer down the ramp.

I would challenge it to back up this little 4x8 enclosed trailer that I have.

The problem is being able to SEE the trailer to back it up. With the trailer straight behind you, it cannot be seen in the side view mirrors no matter where you adjust them. If you can see it in a sideview mirror, it is too late; you're jackknifed.