Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for an advanced door control system that may be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on March 11th, 2021, published on May 21st, 2024, and assigned serial number 1988032.
The Ford Authority Take
Over the past year or so, Ford has filed a pair of patents revolving around ways a vehicle’s doors may function in the future – one, for doors that may automatically open for drivers and passengers, and another, for a system capable of closing doors for people passing by. Now, this newly filed patent takes those concepts a step further with yet another new idea – this time, for an advanced door control system that may be used in future Ford vehicles, too.
The design in this patent revolves around liftgates, in particular, which would utilize an array of sensors and a controller to determine when a recognized user is nearby. The system would also be able to measure the speed at which that person is approaching the vehicle and whether or not they’re carrying something. If that is the case, the system would be able to automatically open the liftgate and/or the side door, making it easier to load that item in the vehicle.
The system would use something like a smartphone or key fob to determine whether or not the user is authorized, and could detect if there’s a stranger nearby. If that’s the case, it could even emit an alert asking them to move out of the way, and if they don’t, perhaps even open the door away from them. In any event, this is certainly an interesting and potentially useful idea that may very well make its way into future Ford vehicles.
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
I am a advanced EMT and first responder with the local volunteer fire department. One thing that would be nice is if the doors would automatically unlock in the event of an accident. I don’t know if anyone does that but in a motor vehicle accident where the ocupient is unconscious we would know that the doors are unlocked and not stuck closed. This would prevent us from having to use the jaws to extract the patient.
Pretty sure ONSTAR unlocks and calls 911
Only if you pay for it
What will happen if the vehicle has no power? Can the doors open or close manually?