Argo AI and Ford have announced the launch of their third-generation self-driving test vehicle, the new Ford Fusion Hybrid. 

The vehicles will be deployed in all five cities that Argo AI and Ford are operating in, which now includes Detroit.

The vehicles are equipped with new technology that’s a step closer to production specification, as well as modifications that are designed to make sure that they operate safely in a variety of conditions.

The vehicles are also equipped with a significantly upgraded sensor suite, which includes new sets of radar and cameras with higher resolution and higher dynamic range.

The new fleet also features a brand-new computing system  that offers a great deal more processing power than in the companies’ previous cars, with improved thermal management systems that generate less heat and noise inside the vehicle. This results in a smarter vehicle that is also quieter and more comfortable to ride in, according to Peter Rander, president, Argo AI.

In an effort to ensure that the vehicles continue operating safely in the event that something unexpected occurs, the vehicles now feature redundant braking and steering systems, which help maintain vehicle motion control in the event one of the units stops functioning.

“These types of redundant systems are included to help ensure the safe deployment of self-driving vehicles, granting them the ability to detect faults and preserve their ability to safely stop or pull over as needed,” Rander says.

By testing the vehicles in Detroit, Argo AI and Ford will have the opportunity to learn how the vehicles operate in a new type of environment. 

“Every city represents a unique opportunity to make our self-driving system smarter because of the exposure to different road infrastructure design, driving behavior and even traffic light placement,” Rander says. “The collective knowledge we’re gaining by operating in five very different locales is a big part of the reason why we’re making great progress.”

For Rander, one of the benefits of testing the vehicles in Detroit is that the city offers roads that don’t have a singular defining feature. For instance, some Detroit streets are wide and can often have unmarked lanes, so the vehicles will be tasked with the challenge of having to reason through how to navigate while predicting what other drivers may do, so that they don’t cause unnecessary congestion.

Other residential streets are narrow two-lane roads with cars parked on either side. This, combined with overhanging tree branches, “which we don’t often see in other urban environments,” Rander notes, creates a “very dynamic situation.” Throw in pop-up construction that’s occurring across the city and “you’ve got a diverse, condensed training ground that really informs our development efforts,” Rander adds.