Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a tool allocation system that may be used in future Ford service vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on August 16th, 2022, published on March 18th, 2025, and assigned serial number 12254445.
The Ford Authority Take
Ford has been exploring the idea of tool tracking technology for some time now, having revealed a Ford Pro tracking tool for the German market way back in 2022, after which it published a patent for a tagged object tracking system in July 2023. Now, with Ford’s mobile service experiencing tremendous demand and growth, the automaker has published a new patent that presents us with an idea for a tool allocation system that may be used in future Ford service vehicles, too.
This proposed system would keep an inventory database of tools that are located on a specific vehicle, with technicians having the ability to request a tool from that list. If the needed tool isn’t present in that particular vehicle, the system would request one from nearby locations, which could confirm its availability. If that tool is indeed in stock, an autonomous vehicle could even deliver it to the service vehicle’s location, then open the door and present them with that part. It’s certainly an interesting idea, and as mobile service continues to blossom, it may wind up coming to fruition one day, too.
“Submitting patent applications is a normal part of any strong business as the process protects new ideas and helps us build a robust portfolio of intellectual property,” Ford said in a statement. “The ideas described within a patent application should not be viewed as an indication of our business or product plans. No matter what the patent application outlines, we will always put the customer first in the decision-making behind the development and marketing of new products and services.”
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