Ford Patent Filed For Trash Management Collection System

Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a trash management collection system that may be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.

The patent was filed on December 28^th, 2020, published on April 9^th, 2024, and assigned serial number 11952212.

The Ford Authority Take

Vehicles are used for far more than basic transportation needs, as most are well aware, serving in the commercial space by completing tasks ranging from keeping roads clear to delivering packages of all sorts. These tasks also include trash collection, of course, and that’s something that this newly filed Ford patent aims to make a bit more efficient in the future, if its idea for a new type of trash management collection system ultimately comes to fruition.

For most, trash collection is a weekly chore that involves rolling cans to the road, after which a truck comes along and collects that trash before taking it to a landfill or recycling center. However, this is an imperfect process, as those trucks run on predetermined schedules, meaning that if one has an overflowing can, they may be stuck looking at hauling additional trash to the dump themselves. This can also lead to the presence of rodents, whether it be in a residential or commercial setting, such as a restaurant.

Thus, the system outlined in this Ford patent would be able to automatically determine when a trash can or dumpster is full, then relay that information to the company that collects it. An autonomous trash truck would then arrive to pick it up, even if that collection occurs outside of the normal scheduled service date and/or time. It’s an interesting idea for certain, and one that may potentially prove useful for both residential and commercial customers at some point in the future.

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 ongoing Ford news coverage.