Future Ford Vehicles Could Help Owners Minimize Walking

Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a system and method to minimize walking in a multi-level parking structure that may be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.

The patent was filed on June 12^th, 2023, published on December 12^th, 2024, and assigned serial number 0412633.

The Ford Authority Take

Ford has published a few patents in recent years that are aimed at making the act of parking simpler – or, at least, more automated. That includes filings for ideas such as an active parking assistant that that’s capable of taking over the parking process completely, which includes steering and throttle control, as well as the transmission, and the automaker also launched a service with Vodafone called Parking Space Guidance a few years ago that relies on connected vehicle tech to aid in that process. Now, this newly published patent introduces us to another similar idea, this time, for a system and method to minimize walking in a multi-level parking structure that may be used in future Ford vehicles, too.

As Ford points out in the patent, drivers that are looking to park their vehicle typically look for the first open spot they see, rather than take the time to find one that’s closer to their intended destination. Oftentimes, this means that they have to walk further than they might have otherwise, which isn’t always necessarily a bad thing – exercise is good for us, after all. However, this new patent aims to cut down on the distance one might need to walk in a multi-level parking structure.

This system would accomplish that by first determining where unoccupied parking spots are located within the structure, and then notify the driver if there’s an open space closer to the exit, stairs, or elevator doors, no matter what floor it might be on. It’s an interesting idea, and one that may come in handy for those that are in a rush, or simply don’t want to play the game of trying to find an open parking spot in a parking garage at all.