Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a system that could collect media during road trips that may be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on February 23rd, 2023, published on August 29th, 2024, and assigned serial number 0289701.
The Ford Authority Take
Ford has filed several patents over the past few months that revolve around the concept of using vehicles for more social-related purposes, including ideas for a video communication link that would enable video calls with people outside of a vehicle, an augmented reality system with sharing capability, a photography assistant, and a selfie button for vehicle cameras with a flash, to name just a few. Now, this newly published patent expands that list by providing us with an idea for a system that could collect media during road trips that may be used in future Ford vehicles, too.
As Ford points out in this patent filing, many people these days use their vehicles for rideshare purposes, which can be a good way to generate extra revenue or even make for a suitable full-time job. In the case of apps like Turo, owners can even rent their vehicles out to make extra cash, but there are obviously concerns related to renters using those vehicles in a manner that isn’t exactly ideal – whether that be racing or taking vehicles to places where they shouldn’t.
As such, this system aims to provide vehicle owners with a little peace of mind by relaying data to them that confirms the vehicle is being used in an appropriate manner. The system would provide real-time feedback in the form of video upon request as well, which would be streamed directly to the owner’s mobile device. It’s an interesting idea for sure, and one that makes perfect sense given some high-profile incidents that have occurred on third-party apps in recent years.
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 comprehensive Ford news coverage.
Comments
Ford wants rolling surveillance machines for both inside and outside. Everyone and thing is monitored. The driver, passengers, people outside the vehicle. Big Brother is taking a lot of steroids. This is just creepy @$$ bullstuff.
Perhaps they are preparing for the time when personal ownership of vehicles is priced out of reach for the average person, who will then have to depend on the rideshare/public/Uber transport system to move around. They would like to own a piece of that action whether it comes from selling vehicles or managing fleets of rentals via proprietary software they also sell to other companies. Helps to have the software and data gathering electronics built in the vehicles they do end up selling. But Privacy Issues? No problem, there is a disclaimer every time you get in the car, right there on the center console, right? In large print, “OK if we monitor, record and sell all data this car can collect while driving – or parked?” I’m sure that will be standard procedure within the next two or three generations of our 4 wheel computers. Nothing to worry about!