Home security is a significant concern nowadays, and Ford has a concept to involve your vehicle in the mix. The automaker recently unveiled a patent for a vehicle-based security system, but it doesn't just watch over the vehicle. Instead, the vehicle watches over you, utilizing a drone to cover areas beyond the street or driveway.
The patent, filed in 2022 and titled 'Systems and methods for providing a vehicle-and-drone-based security service,' reveals that the vehicle can range from a sedan to a truck, equipped with 'at least one drone.' This setup isn't just for carrying and launching the drone; it acts as the command center for all monitoring activities. The vehicle owner sets and prioritizes monitoring areas, after which onboard systems take charge using a variety of technologies, including radar, infrared cameras, ultrasonic detectors, and capacitive sensors.
In essence, the vehicle becomes the primary surveillance unit, stationed in a driveway or on the street, monitoring the front of the house. To cover other areas, it can deploy 'at least one drone' to monitor predetermined zones that the vehicle itself can't see. Ford even outlines flight paths for the drone, akin to a sentry on patrol.
If this sounds like a scene from a Terminator movie, it gets even more intriguing. The patent also mentions autonomous vehicles being 'configured to move along vehicle-accessible pathways to ensure constant communication' with the drone. This is both impressive and slightly unsettling.
As with many patents, there's no assurance this will become a reality. The language in the patent suggests it could be aimed at security firms to assist human operators in patrolling commercial properties. However, nothing prevents a vigilant neighbor from purchasing an autonomous truck with drones to keep watch over their property.
As long as Ford doesn't name this system Skynet, we should be safe. Probably.
Source link: https://www.motor1.com
