Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a selective drive mode enablement system that may be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on September 15th, 2021, published on November 19th, 2024, and assigned serial number 12147230.
The Ford Authority Take
Ford has published a handful of patents aimed at making various improvements to drive modes as of late, which makes sense given how increasingly common those features have become in modern vehicles. That list includes ideas for a system capable of automatically switching drive modes, as well as an automatic drive mode lighting system. Now, this newly published patent keeps that trend going with an entirely new idea – this time, for a selective drive mode enablement system that may be used in future Ford vehicles, too.
As Ford notes in this patent filing, drive modes can be used for a variety of purposes – whether that be to better suit a vehicle for track-based performance, or to simply enhance traction in rain, snow, ice, mud, sand, or other elements. However, users also change drive modes for different reasons – some more skilled drivers may prefer less traction in certain situations, while those that aren’t quite as skilled may instead wish to help compensate for little experience. Thus, this patent aims to tailor drive mode selections based on the person behind the wheel.
In this case, a selective drive mode enablement system could come in handy for people such as parents of teenagers, who may not want them engaging something like track mode or drift mode in a vehicle. As such, the system could be programmed to determine the identity of the person behind the wheel and then limit their drive mode selections if called upon, though that could also be overridden by entering a predetermined security code. It’s an interesting idea for sure, and one that expands upon current technology such as Ford’s MyKey, which allows users to limit things like top speed for younger drivers.
No Comments yet