Future Ford Vehicles May Automatically Adjust Air Vents

Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for automatically adjusting air vents that could be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.

The patent was filed on December 11^th, 2020, published on January 9^th, 2024, and assigned serial number 11865896.

The Ford Authority Take

Ford has filed quite a few patents pertaining to automatically-adjusting features over the last few months, a list that includes ideas for a fully automatic seat positioning system, automatic heated and cooled seats, an automatic window control system, and auto adjustable seats based on rear occupancy. Now, this newly filed patent keeps the trend going by revealing yet another similar idea – this time, for automatically adjusting air vents that could be used in future Ford vehicles, too.

Air vents have been used in vehicles for eons at this point, and serve a pretty simple purpose – they provide a vessel for air flow from the HVAC system or other sources into the cabin. Vents usually feature some sort of adjustability, whether that be controlled via a button, switch, or other apparatus, and in some newer models, can even be adjusted via the infotainment screen.

In this case, Ford envisions a future in which we don’t need to manually adjust air vents at all, however. Rather, if this patent comes to fruition, those vents may soon position themselves automatically based on the presence of a passenger, as well as their positioning and environmental conditions. The system could then determine the perfect air flow angle, speed, and temperature – also taking into account user preferences – to position itself. It’s an interesting idea for certain, and one that we may very well see used in future Ford vehicles as automobiles in general become more and more automated as the years go by.

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