Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a living being sensing system that could be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on April 13th, 2021, published on January 23rd, 2024, and assigned serial number 11878654.
The Ford Authority Take
As it aims to automate more and more processes and routines associated with vehicles, Ford has filed patents for ideas such as a parental control and child detection system, a vehicle operator identification system, a proximity alert system, a system designed to estimate the speed of a pedestrian, and an advanced occupant detection system, to name just a few. Now, this newly filed patent keeps that trend going, albeit in a different direction – this time, with a living being sensing system that could be used in future Ford vehicles, too.
The idea behind this patent is to make better use of the rear cargo area in vehicles like crossovers and SUVs, specifically, at least as it pertains to accommodating pets. In that vein, Ford proposes adding a rear gate assembly to that area, one that can pivot downward automatically if it detects the presence of a living being nearby – whether that be a pet or a person.
In addition to sensors, this system would also be able to determine the identify of living things and choose whether or not it needs to open or close the apparatus as well, which would prevent strays from entering the vehicle. It’s an interesting idea for certain, and one that plenty of pet owners – or those with arms full of groceries – might just find useful if it winds up being used in future Ford vehicles.
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Comments
Not very progressive, I’d say!! What about vegans that identify as trees, or those that identify as fire hydrants hoping for a goldenshower?
And they pay people to come up with these (useful) ideas!