Toronto, Ontario — Ford Motor Company has filed a patent application for automotive systems and methods that could allow a vehicle to make random movements.
The reason for this patent is to serve as a potential deterrent against automotive theft.
Specifically, the patent—which was filed on March 16, 2021 and published on March 12, 2024—describes a system that would use over-the-air software and self-driving features to direct a vehicle to randomly move itself to another location. The purpose of this would be to convince potential thieves that an owner is home when they are on vacation or not able to monitor the vehicle.
Alongside auto theft prevention, Ford also describes how the software could benefit vehicles that sit for too long by helping to prevent battery drain and flat spots on tires.
While there is no guarantee that this technology will ever make it to the consumer stage, with North American auto theft on the rise, Ford has filed a number of patents in recent years to help prevent crime.
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