Ford Pro Trailer Hitch Assist Uses AI To Do Its Thing

Ford has been rolling out new tech features that help make towing and hauling easier for years now, with the latest being Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, which is available in the 2023 Ford F-150, the all-new 2023 Ford Super Duty, and the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning. Now, The Blue Oval is giving us a more detailed look at this new feature – which is officially called Ford Pro Trailer Hitch Assist – and how it works, as well as revealing the fact that it uses artificial intelligence to make hitching up a trailer as easy as pushing a button.

While many seasoned truck owners have no problem performing this basic task, others tend to struggle with it, whether or not they have a spotter to help guide them in the right direction. That’s precisely where Ford Pro Trailer Hitch Assist comes into play, however – it utilizes the rear camera and corner-mounted radar sensors to align the truck’s hitch with with the trailer coupler. While it’s doing that, the system is also capable of controlling the truck’s speed, braking, and steering, to boot, while the ultrasonic reverse parking aid system alerts the driver in the event that an obstacle might be in the way.

Activating the system is as easy as it gets, requiring only the push of a button, which the user must continue to hold down while the system is operating. From there, they can monitor their progress via the truck’s infotainment screen. But what’s particularly interesting about Ford Pro Trailer Hitch Assist is the fact that the system is capable of figuring out the best path to follow by using advanced machine learning technology and computer vision, which can detect the hitch ball, trailer, and coupler at distances of up to 20 feet.  Additionally, this tech can be improved moving forward by using over-the-air updates.