Ford Motor Co. and optical-scanner maker Microvision Inc. plan to develop systems to project transparent maps or other images on car and truck windshields. Terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed. Microvision and Ford will initially work on a system to let drivers view displays that may include road maps and vehicle speed during the day and at night, Microvision spokesman Matt Nichols said. The system will be similar to those used in military and commercial aircraft, projecting an image on the windshield that appears to float in mid-air in front of the driver. The move comes as automakers compete to provide more features such as Internet access and global-positioning systems. Microvision, based in Bothell, WA, said displays can be used in various cars. The system will be designed to keep a driver’s eyes focused in the direction of the road in an effort to make it less hazardous than dashboard displays or handheld maps, Nichols said.