New patent filings suggest the Blue Oval has figured out how.
Towing is what trucks are for. Well, at least, that’s one thing they can be used for. Ford, being one who makes trucks, has filed patents to make towing a little easier. The patent was filed back in September of 2019 and was published on May 17 this year. In short, Ford is expanding its current repertoire of trailer-oriented driver assists to include sideswipe avoidance. We’re expecting it to be available via software updates or as options from the factory on trucks like the F-150 Lightning.
That will join features like Ford’s Trailer Reverse Guidance system, which uses a truck’s suite of cameras and sensors to help drivers get around while they’re towing, as well as warning them if jackknifing will occur. This latest patent sounds like it’s geared more towards the safety end of the scale than the convenience one, unlike the brand’s guidance system.
The patent filing states the system will use “a sensor system configured to detect objects in an operating environment of the vehicle.” To us, that sounds like the system will use existing blindspot sensors to make sure you don’t hit something with the trailer, or more likely, that someone doesn’t hit your trailer. The patent goes on to say that the system will “determine whether an object detected in the operating environment of the vehicle is in the travel path of the towed trailer.”
It’ll then figure out how long you have until you get pasted, and if necessary, execute avoidance maneuvers for you. Basically, this is like a combination of lane-keep assist, which moves the wheel for you should you begin to drift, and blind-spot monitoring, which warns you of an impending collision. Neat.
That said, it remains unclear where these sensors will need to be to make all this work. It’d be easiest for Ford to use existing sensors on its trucks, of course. But we also can’t rule out the addition of sensors onto a trailer itself. If that’s the case, it’ll likely hook into the brake light wiring found on many existing trailers. We’ll just have to wait and see.
A whole lot of wild patents usually don’t see the light of day. However, given its serious safety applications, we’re confident this one will. How it’ll surface remains to be seen.
