Your car could soon betray you if you’re speeding: Ford patents camera system that reports vehicles to police if they’re speeding

Science
By William
  • Ford is working on a way to have your car warn you if you are driving too fast
  • READ MORE: Electric Vehicle Owners Say Their Cars Are Making Them Sick

By Melody Fletcher for Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

From the Ford Mustang to the Ford Focus, Ford has some of the most popular cars in the world.

But Ford drivers should be warned: your car could soon turn on you.

This is evident from a new patent, which shows that Ford is working on a way to warn you via your car if you are driving too fast.

‘Traffic police typically face several types of challenges when dealing with speeding violations. One of these challenges is the need to quickly and accurately identify a speeding vehicle and take responsive action,’ the patent description reads.

‘It is desirable to provide systems and methods that support traffic police and/or other law enforcement officers in carrying out such tasks.’

Ford drivers take note: Your car could soon turn on you, according to a newly discovered patent that suggests Ford is working on a way to have your car tell you off if you’re speeding.

The patent was first noticed by Motor Authorityshortly after it was published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on July 18.

A system is described in which cars can be equipped with camera systems that allow them to monitor each other’s speed on the road.

For example, if your car sees a car nearby that is exceeding the speed limit, it can take a photo of that vehicle and send the photo directly to the police.

“The image may be evaluated to determine at least one identifying characteristic of the second vehicle,” Ford explains in the patent.

‘A record can then be generated.

The patent was first spotted by Motor Authority shortly after it was published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on July 18. It describes a system in which cars could be equipped with camera systems that would allow them to monitor each other's speed on the road.

The patent was first spotted by Motor Authority shortly after it was published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on July 18. It describes a system in which cars could be equipped with camera systems that would allow them to monitor each other’s speed on the road.

If your car sees a car nearby that is exceeding the speed limit, it can take a photo of that vehicle and send the photo directly to the police

If your car sees a car nearby that is exceeding the speed limit, it can take a photo of that vehicle and send the photo directly to the police

How would that work?

  1. Ford cars could be equipped with camera systems that would allow them to monitor each other’s speed on the road.
  2. If your car sees a car nearby exceeding the speed limit, it can take a photo of that vehicle and send the photo directly to the police.

The report may include the speed measurement, the image and the first identifying feature.

‘In some cases, the report can be forwarded to another police vehicle to pursue the second vehicle and/or to a roadside IoT unit to track the second vehicle.’

Unfortunately, there is still uncertainty about how the system could work further and where and when it could be implemented.

However, the news has already caused a stir on social media.

A user wrote on X (formerly Twitter): ‘Another reason to never buy a Ford vehicle again?’

Another added: ‘Has Ford gone mad?!?!?!’

And someone joked, “They should call it… KAREN.”

A Ford spokesperson told Motor Authority: “The patent explicitly states that this idea is specifically intended for use in law enforcement vehicles, such as the Ford Police Interceptor, and that it is a system that would automate a capability that law enforcement vehicles already have, but would do so using the vehicle’s built-in system and sensors.

‘This patent does not state that driving data from customers’ vehicles will be shared with law enforcement, as some media have incorrectly reported.

“And remember that patent applications are intended to protect new ideas, but are not necessarily indicative of new business or product plans.”

Self-driving cars ‘see’ using lidar, cameras and radar

Self-driving cars often use a combination of regular two-dimensional cameras and depth sensors (LiDAR) to recognize the world around them.

Others use cameras that use visible light and capture images of the roads and streets.

They are trained with a wealth of information and huge databases containing hundreds of thousands of clips, which are processed using artificial intelligence to accurately identify people, signals and hazards.

In LiDAR (light detection and ranging) scanning, which Waymo uses, one or more lasers emit short pulses that bounce back when they hit an obstacle.

These sensors continuously scan the environment for information and act as the ‘eyes’ of the car.

While the units provide depth information, their low resolution makes it difficult to detect small, distant objects without the aid of a regular camera attached to them in real time.

In November last year, Apple announced details of its self-driving car system, which uses lasers to detect pedestrians and cyclists at a distance.

According to the Apple researchers, they were able to achieve “very encouraging results” when spotting pedestrians and cyclists using only LiDAR data.

They also wrote that they were able to outperform other approaches for detecting three-dimensional objects that use only LiDAR.

Other self-driving cars typically use a combination of cameras, sensors and lasers.

An example is Volvo’s self-driving cars, which rely on some 28 cameras, sensors and lasers.

A network of computers processes the information and, together with GPS, generates a real-time map of moving and stationary objects in the environment.

Twelve ultrasonic sensors around the car identify objects close to the vehicle and support autonomous driving at low speeds.

A wave radar and camera on the windshield read traffic signs and the curvature of the road. Objects on the road, such as other road users, can also be detected.

Four radars behind the front and rear bumpers also locate objects.

Two long-range radars on the bumper are used to detect fast-moving vehicles approaching from far away. This is useful on highways.

Four cameras – two on the exterior mirrors, one on the grille and one on the rear bumper – monitor objects near the vehicle and lane markings.

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