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2 months ago
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From the Ford Mustang to the Ford Focus, Ford has some of the most popular cars in the world.
But Ford drivers be warned - your car could soon turn against you.
That's according to a newly discovered patent, which suggests Ford is working on a way to allow your car to snitch on you for speeding.
'Traffic police typically face various types of challenges when dealing with speeding violations. Among these challenges is a need to quickly and accurately identify a speeding vehicle and take responsive action,' the patent description reads.
'It is desirable to provide systems and methods that assist traffic police and/or other law enforcement officers perform such tasks.'
Ford drivers be warned - your car could soon turn against you. That's according to a newly discovered patent, which suggests Ford is working on a way to allow your car to snitch on you for speeding
The patent was first spotted by Motor Authority, shortly after it was published by the US Patent and Trademark Office USPTO) on July 18.
It details a system in which cars could be fitted with camera systems that allow them to monitor each other's speeds on the road.
So, if your car spotted a nearby car breaking the speed limit, it could photograph that vehicle and send the snap directly to the police.
'The image may be evaluated for determining at least one identifying feature of the second vehicle,' Ford explains in the patent.
'A record may then be generated.
The patent was first spotted by Motor Authority , shortly after it was published by the US Patent and Trademark Office USPTO) on July 18. It details a system in which cars could be fitted with camera systems that allow them to monitor each other's speeds on the road
If your car spotted a nearby car breaking the speed limit, it could photograph that vehicle and send the snap directly to the police
How would it work?
- Ford cars could be fitted with camera systems that allow them to monitor each other's speeds on the road.
- If your car spotted a nearby car breaking the speed limit, it could photograph that vehicle and send the snap directly to the police.
'The record can include the speed measurement, the image, and the first identifying feature.
'In some cases, the record may be transmitted to another law-enforcement vehicle for pursuing the second vehicle and/or an Internet-of-Things (IoT) road-side unit for tracking the second vehicle.'
Unfortunately, further details on how the system might work, as well as where and when it could be implemented, remain unclear.
However, the news has already drummed up a stir on social media.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), one user wrote: 'Giving yet another reason to never purchase a Ford vehicle ever again?'
Another added: 'Has Ford lost its mind?!?!?!'
And one joked: 'They should name it…. KAREN.'
A Ford spokesperson told Motor Authority: 'The patent explicitly states this idea is specific for application in law enforcement vehicles, such as the Ford Police Interceptor, and it's a system that would automate a capability that law enforcement already have in use today, except this would utilize the built-in system and sensors in the vehicle.
'This patent does not state that driving data from customers' vehicles would be shared with law enforcement, which is what some media have incorrectly reported.
'And note, patent applications are intended to protect new ideas but aren't necessarily an indication of new business or product plans.'
SELF-DRIVING CARS 'SEE' USING LIDAR, CAMERAS AND RADAR
Self-driving cars often use a combination of normal two-dimensional cameras and depth-sensing 'LiDAR' units to recognise the world around them.
However, others make use of visible light cameras that capture imagery of the roads and streets.
They are trained with a wealth of information and vast databases of hundreds of thousands of clips which are processed using artificial intelligence to accurately identify people, signs and hazards.
In LiDAR (light detection and ranging) scanning - which is used by Waymo - one or more lasers send out short pulses, which bounce back when they hit an obstacle.
These sensors constantly scan the surrounding areas looking for information, acting as the 'eyes' of the car.
While the units supply depth information, their low resolution makes it hard to detect small, faraway objects without help from a normal camera linked to it in real time.
In November last year Apple revealed details of its driverless car system that uses lasers to detect pedestrians and cyclists from a distance.
The Apple researchers said they were able to get 'highly encouraging results' in spotting pedestrians and cyclists with just LiDAR data.
They also wrote they were able to beat other approaches for detecting three-dimensional objects that use only LiDAR.
Other self-driving cars generally rely on a combination of cameras, sensors and lasers.
An example is Volvo's self driving cars that rely on around 28 cameras, sensors and lasers.
A network of computers process information, which together with GPS, generates a real-time map of moving and stationary objects in the environment.
Twelve ultrasonic sensors around the car are used to identify objects close to the vehicle and support autonomous drive at low speeds.
A wave radar and camera placed on the windscreen reads traffic signs and the road's curvature and can detect objects on the road such as other road users.
Four radars behind the front and rear bumpers also locate objects.
Two long-range radars on the bumper are used to detect fast-moving vehicles approaching from far behind, which is useful on motorways.
Four cameras - two on the wing mirrors, one on the grille and one on the rear bumper - monitor objects in close proximity to the vehicle and lane markings.
