Ford has filed several interesting patents over the years. There’s one that allows drivers to operate the vehicle while standing up, and one with a roof-mounted portable battery pack for on-the-go battery swaps.
More recently, the American automaker filed a patent that can protect its owners from a different kind of threat. Now wanting its customers from becoming accidental mules for contraband.
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In other words, the system warns the owners of any drugs or other illegal items planted or stashed within the vehicle. Officially, Ford calls it the “unknown cargo detection and evidence collection system.” ‘Blind mules’ have become an increasing problem in border crossings, with drug dealers and distributors victimizing innocent motorists.
At this point, you’re probably wondering how it works. It mainly relies on the vehicles cameras, microphones, and sensors. These then all work together to detect any changes in the vehicle (such as weight), as well as monitor any suspicious activity around it. If the system thinks the vehicle has been tampered with, the on-board cameras can record what transpired and store the video as evidence.
It’s a clever bit of kit, a noble one at that. But as for its implementation, that’s a different hurdle altogether.
