Ford Wants Its Cars to Detect Pets, Open the Door, and Adjust Temperature Automatically

A recently filed patent describes how such a system could work. Ford explains that vehicle cameras could use pet recognition software to perform tasks like automatic air conditioning adjustments.

The system works by recognizing pets with a quick gait or bone structure analysis. Once it determines the pet and if it's inside or outside, Ford's technology tries to determine its position.

Assuming the pet is the cabin, the feature conducts additional analysis to determine what it tries to do. If the pet stands by the door and wants to go out, the car can automatically open the door. Ford explains that vehicles must sport power doors to operate without human input.

If the system determines that the pet is just laying down and trying to get out of the car, it assumes the inside temperature is too high. As a result, it adjusts the air conditioning system (or turns it on if it's not running) and cools down the cabin.

If the analysis detects the pet is standing outside the car and trying to get inside, the car can automatically open the door to let it in. The vehicle can close the door when it detects that the pet safely got inside, starting a new monitoring phase of its condition in the cabin. The system can conduct other operations based on the pet's behavior.

Ford explains the feature lineup can expand with new capabilities powered by the onboard hardware. For example, a pet monitoring system with multiple cameras installed in the cabin can determine whether your furry companion feels stressed or comfortable. The carmaker says the system can compare the collected images with photos of known uncomfortable or stressed pets. The analysis result could indicate an urgent need for temperature adjustments, as a stressed condition might indicate an overheated cabin.

All these features would run with pre-configured authorization. Car owners fully control how the system works, so they can register new profiles to allow automatic door opening and temperature control. Only authorized pets would get access to the vehicle. If another pet tries to jump inside the car, the vehicle can notify the owner, possibly via a companion app to their mobile device.

Ford's technology is currently in the patent stage, and considering companies sometimes patent their ideas just in case it takes off, you'd better not hold your breath for this idea to reach the mass production stage. On the other hand, with autonomous vehicles rapidly gaining traction, an automatic pet detection system would make more sense, mainly because our furry friends would travel safer and more comfortably.