Electronics and Semiconductors

New Ultra-Luxury, Autonomous Electric Vehicle Sports Sophisticated AI Systems to Surround Users in Comfort and Safety

09 January 2017

The Faraday Future FF 91 could represent the future of mobility.The Faraday Future FF 91 could represent the future of mobility.

CES 2017 has shown us extensive advances in artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and vehicle communications systems this week in Las Vegas, Nevada. The new Faraday Future FF 91 (pronounced “nine-one”) incorporates all of these systems into its new production vehicle. The FF 91 premiered the day before CES and is expected to go into production in 2018. It is on display at CES booth #5616, North Hall, Las Vegas Convention Center.

New Technology for Enhanced Luxury and Reliability

This electric car offers everything consumers expect from an ultra-luxury vehicle, including precise handling, superior acceleration and reliable safety.

The proprietary Variable Platform Architecture (VPA) is a flexible powertrain system in which the chassis and body are a single form. The FF 91 also includes the company’s patented FF Echelon Inverter, with an original inverter architecture that reduces the number of transistors and other components to enhance the inverters stability and dependability, while reducing manufacturing costs and complexity.

Retractable 3D Lidar for Enhanced Safety

Perhaps most noteworthy to the tech-savvy CES audience, however, are the vehicle’s autonomous capabilities. The FF 91 is hailed as the first production vehicle to possess retractable 3D lidar, a complex sensor system that aids in autonomous vehicle functionality. The system includes 10 high-definition cameras, 13 long- and short-range radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors, more than other vehicles of this type. Powerful computing capabilities enable the vehicle to quickly extract data from the onboard sensors to make correct driving decisions and compensate for human driving errors.

 The vehicle’s side view mirror contains cameras to capture images that help create a seamless display inside the vehicle, giving a wider field-of-view and virtually eliminating blind spots. The vehicle’s side view mirror contains cameras to capture images that help create a seamless display inside the vehicle, giving a wider field-of-view and virtually eliminating blind spots.Instead of a standard rearview mirror, the FF 91 has a high-definition display, which combines the live feed from the side mirrors and the rearview camera to produce a seamless, comprehensive view of the vehicle’s surroundings, producing a wider field-of-view and virtually eliminating blind spots.

Driverless Valet

The FF91 can park itself in private parking lots and on roads, as driving laws allow, with its Driverless Valet feature. The FFCTRL app lets drivers schedule a time and location for pick up or use the app to request immediate pick up at a specific location.

The Car That Recognizes Its Driver

FF 91 engineers went to great lengths to create a personal connection between the driver and the vehicle. Through Arrival Interface, FF’s advanced facial recognition technology, a camera installed between the front and back seats identifies the user’s face and opens doors automatically and independently to greet the driver and passenger. The rocker panel’s lights shine as it confirms the vehicle’s owner is approaching; the capability calls to mind a dog greeting its master.

A close-up of an FF91 sensor, part of its sophisticated lidar display that aids in autonomous driving.  A close-up of an FF91 sensor, part of its sophisticated lidar display that aids in autonomous driving. The lighting system also uses intuitive patterns to communicate messages, such as the vehicle’s charging state, and to indicate when the vehicle is driving autonomously.

Inside the vehicle, facial recognition technology recognizes users and automatically adjusts interior settings to their preferences, from vehicle temperate to seat position. The FF 91 doesn’t just know who you are—it reads facial expressions to gauge your mood and creates an experience to match, choosing music, temperature, scent, content, seat massage, and more.

The Future of Mobility?

Oh, and yes—it’s fast. The motor delivers 783kW of power, equivalent to 1050 HP, enabling the FF 91 to go from 0 to 60 in 2.39 seconds.

Does the FF 91 represent the future of transportation technology?



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