Fords Focus<\/p>\n
The spare tire stashed in your cars trunk for emergencies might soon be joined by a drone.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, the U.S. Patent and Trademarks office published a patent application submitted by Ford Motor Company subsidiary Ford Global Technologies. It seems the American automaker is developing a system that would allow drivers to deploy and control a drone stored in their cars trunk.<\/p>\n
According to the patent application, drivers would use a vehicles onboard computer to deploy and control a quadcopter-style drone. The idea isnt to have a drone following your car around all the time like an animal companion in a video game, though Ford envisions drivers typically deploying the drone in emergency situations.<\/p>\n
If a vehicle runs out of fuel or gets involved in a crash, for example, the driver could deploy the drone and direct it to shine a spotlight on the car while sounding an alarm. This could make the vehicle easier for first responders to locate and other drivers to avoid. The drone could also stream real-time footage of a vehicle straight to its owners phone if theyre forced to abandon the car.<\/p>\n
The system in the patent application, filed in 2016, has the potential to make roads safer for everyone on them.<\/p>\n
However, countless inventions never make it further than the patent stage, so only time will tell whether Fords drone system actually makes it into any of the automakers vehicles.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Ford Patenting a Drone You Can Deploy from Your Cars Trunk [Car and Driver]<\/p>\n
More on drones: This Strange Solar-Powered Drone Could Save You in a Disaster<\/p>\n
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Ford Patents Drone That Pops Out of a Car's Trunk - Futurism<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Fords Focus The spare tire stashed in your cars trunk for emergencies might soon be joined by a drone. Continue reading