Ford uses the Wi-Fi technology on its assembly lines

Ford is the first automaker to use the tehnologie WI-FI on the assembly line to add the SYNC software to vehicles

• Ford installs ® access points Wi-Fi on its assembly lines to add wireless SYNC ® software to new vehicles equipped MyFord Touch ™ as they are built.

• Download software on the assembly line allows Ford to use a common computer each vehicle SYNC module thus reducing the complexity and costs, while improving quality.

• The assembly plant in Oakville, Ontario, which produces the all-new Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX 2011, will be the first to use the Wi-Fi technology on the assembly line. The Chicago plant, which will produce the new 2011 Ford Explorer and other Ford plants around the world will follow soon not.

Ford is the first automaker to use the Wi-Fi network on the assembly line to add wireless SYNC software to vehicles equipped with the new technology MyTouch connectivity while they are built.

This new practice eliminates the need to manufacture and store multiple SYNC hardware modules, thus reducing the complexity and costs of production.

According Sukhwinder Wadhwa, director, global platforms Sync: "By installing wireless software through a Wi-Fi network, we can store only one type of SYNC module for MyFord technology with basic package. And we eliminate about 90 individual part numbers, each of which must be updated whenever a change occurs - this system really improves the quality control. "

Earlier this year, Ford announced that the next generation SYNC system that powers MyFord Touch would be equipped with a receiver integrated Wi-Fi. Now, Ford put more about the limitless possibilities of the wireless connectivity revised to realize the communication between the vehicle and the assembly line.

The assembly plant in Oakville, Ontario, which produces the all-new Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX 2011, will be the first to use wireless access points for software installation. Thus, the Edge and MKX vehicles has become the first to install their infotainment software through a Wi-Fi network as they are built.

This is the project of a global scale. Ford also plans to use this new practice has its Chicago assembly plant that produces the new 2011 Ford Explorer. Other plants around the world, including those that produce the Ford Focus 2012 will follow soon not .

In late July, hundreds of pilot vehicles had managed to cross the point of Wi-Fi access to the Oakville plant. Mr. Wadhwa added: "The employees of the Oakville plant we have many aids to operate effectively such process Fi It was quite a challenge to transform an assembly plant - with steel beams and high voltage cables everywhere, anything that could cause harm to a radiosignal - into an access point that could operate successfully in 100 percent of cases.

The Oakville plant is our model for what we will do soon in Chicago and then in Europe for the new Focus. "

Proposal wireless

For Ford, the installation of software by wireless can solve the mounting complexity and potential quality problems, as more and more features and services are added to SYNC across multiple lines of vehicles on different continents .

Mr. Wadhwa continues: "During the development of different levels of MyFord connectivity technology, there was concern about the increasingly growing number of different computer configurations that we had to use.

While engineers proposed individual SYNC hardware modules for each vehicle configuration as possible - with as result more than 90 individual part numbers - by installing Wi-Fi network now allows storing these different configurations in software on a server universal, then install the wireless module basic common SYNC while the vehicle is built. "

Thanks to the Wi-Fi connectivity, SYNC options offering up to 300 megabytes of data can be installed and configured wireless including:

• The addition of the optional SYNC with Traffic, Directions and Information in U.S. markets.

• The language has adapted to each step commands and prompts a voice activation.

• graphics and icons, according to the various options for navigation, information systems and screens to the dashboard.

• Clean colors each system to MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch.

• settings of units of measurement for fuel economy, speed and distance.

Implementation? PIECE World

Mr. Wadhwa concludes: "Given the dual challenge of implement technology advanced connectivity as MyFord Touch and bring this technology to the world market, the Wi-Fi network was essential for the rapid globalization of the SYNC system?.

Ford develops and implements techniques of world-class production that are just as sophisticated as the vehicles they used to build and we adapt them to be used anywhere in the world. "

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