Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for doors that may automatically open for drivers and passengers on future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on September 9th, 2021, published on March 9th, 2023, and assigned serial number 0077123.
The Ford Authority Take
Last September, Ford filed a patent for for power side doors that would be able to automatically open and close, using sensors to detect when occupants are approaching the vehicle and then act accordingly. This new patent is somewhat similar, yet but it also includes some interesting updates, such as the ability for vehicles to talk to one another to prevent possible collisions from occurring.
Doors that open and close themselves are nothing new, and in fact, are already present in some capacity on a number of new vehicles. However, this new patent outlines a more complex system that could be utilized in future Ford vehicles, albeit one that takes into account the location of not only the user and other vehicles – but also other people that might be in close proximity to the vehicle, as is the case in parking lots and other similar places.
The idea is to use sensors to determine when that is the case, as well as when a user is approaching the vehicle and might want to gain entry to it. This system would use transceivers to communicate with other vehicles, determining the distance from it at the same time, then either granting or denying entry based on the information that it receives back.
If a user or another vehicle is close enough that a door might hit one of the two, the system would automatically delay opening the door until a safe distance is achieved. Such an idea seems rather important if automatic opening/closing doors are to become a common feature on future Ford vehicles, which seems quite likely at this point in time.
We’ll have more on this and all Ford patents soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford patent news, Ford business news, and continuous Ford news coverage.
Comments
People can’t afford vehicles anymore, a depression is on the horizon, and they keep coming up with things to add to the cost. WTH?
Pursuit of profits is the new Ford mantra. Customers be damned.
Really??? Wow! Pretty soon, we won’t be able to do anything for ourselves. What about offering a “call” option that summons the car to where ever you are so you don’t have to walk to it! Oh wait, maybe that option already exists too!?
Here is an original “better” idea for Ford; Make a vehicle that doesn’t need a transmission rebuild after 80,000 miles. Bet they can’t do it.
Again, more stupid sh*t = more stupid sh*t that will break.