DEARBORN, Mich., June 28, 2013 – Ford engineers are pioneering thermal imaging technology – similar to what law enforcement agents use to track down criminals – to find and eliminate air leaks in vehicle cabins. The result is less wind noise and a quieter ride, which is key to customer satisfaction with vehicle quality.
Thermal imaging is the use of cameras to photograph heat in the environment. Thermal imaging cameras capture the radiation present that appears as an infrared image. In Ford tests, air leaks show up as hot spots when heated air escapes a vehicle.
Data from Ford’s U.S. Global Quality Research System show the 2013 Ford Fusion earned a 67 percent approval rating for interior quietness compared to 58 percent for the 2012 Toyota Camry.