Self Repo!

[Synfulz]

https://www.thedrive.com/news/futur...hemselves-and-drive-away-if-you-miss-payments

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[BettaRanga]

Great for them until they have a security breach.

 

[Synfulz]

Great for them until they have a security breach.

Yes, a hack and vehicles be on the run.

 

[AzScorpion]

That's just crazy! Why would Ford, the only company (so far) file a patent for this? If this was to ever get installed no way I'd eve buy another one. This gives them total control over your vehicle.

There would be several warnings from the vehicle before the system initiated a formal repossession. If these warnings were ignored, the car could begin to lose functionality ahead of a repo. The first lost functions would be minor inconveniences like "cruise control, automated window controls, automated seat controls, and some components of the infotainment system (radio, global positioning system (GPS), MP3 player, etc.)" The next level is more serious, and includes the loss of things like "the air conditioning system, a remote key fob, and an automated door lock/unlock system." Likewise, an "incessant and unpleasant sound" may be turned on "every time the owner is present in the vehicle."

If all of that is endured by the car's owner and payment still has not been received, they could get locked out of their car. The patent application states that "the repossession system computer may disable the door lock mechanism, thereby placing the vehicle in a lockout condition and preventing a person from entering a cabin of the vehicle." There are several caveats to go with this, such as locking out the owner only on weekends or allowing for vehicle use in emergency situations. Indeed, the patent explicitly notes that if somebody is suffering from something like a heart attack—it uses the heart attack situation several times in the document—then the car could be unlocked. It says the vehicle's onboard camera could be used alongside a "neural network" to determine if the emergency situation is legitimate.

 

[Synfulz]

That's just crazy! Why would Ford, the only company (so far) file a patent for this? If this was to ever get installed no way I'd eve buy another one. This gives them total control over your vehicle.

Yes Ford (new one) would be a no.

 

[AzScorpion]

There's enough tech and things that go wrong in vehicles now this is just another accident waiting to happen. I can see it now it's pouring rain, cold etc... and you're trying to get into your vehicle and it locked you out by mistake. Then you're on the phone trying to get ahold of tech support.

 

[Dereku]

I bet that would be fun to watch for those who park inside a garage.

 

[Jason B]

Sometimes a company will come up with a crazy idea and file for a patent for something that they never intend to implement, just to keep other companies from doing it. But I'm not sure of Ford's true intentions here. Frankly, I'm surprised Tesla hasn't done it with their autonomous EV's.

 

[FordFreak]

First it was "I'm never buying another new car at a dealership", and now I think I'm done buying cars at all. I'll just walk when my vehicles break down

 

[Blmpkn]

That's just crazy! Why would Ford, the only company (so far) file a patent for this? If this was to ever get installed no way I'd eve buy another one. This gives them total control over your vehicle.

Ford has a rich history of being 'down' with total control.

 

[MountainGoat]

Great for them until they have a security breach.

Oh yeah the possibilities are endless. Set your buddies house as the repo and send a different car to block his driveway every morning. Hack all the Fords on a lot and drive them to a Chevy dealer. Hack all the cop cars and drive them to Al Sharpton's house. Also "Gone in 60 seconds II" would be a pretty boring movie, just be some guy in China or Russia sitting behind a desk.

 

[gwhalin]

Sometimes a company will come up with a crazy idea and file for a patent for something that they never intend to implement, just to keep other companies from doing it. But I'm not sure of Ford's true intentions here. Frankly, I'm surprised Tesla hasn't done it with their autonomous EV's.

This is exactly what is happening. Having worked at a large and very well know tech company, we would have a required quarterly meeting with legal to brainstorm ideas they could patent. The patents were primarily for defensive purposes against possible patent troll companies.

Intellectual patent law is kind of nuts IMO.

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

I bet that would be fun to watch for those who park inside a garage.

Oh, it can open your garage door, baby. (So never program it!)

It's also programmed to roll down the windows and play "George Thorogood - Bad to the Bone" at max volume as it accelerates at full capacity to the speed limit. And then call you a block down the road with nothing but B2TB playing on the other end.

 

[OrangeStreak]

I will miss the old school repo. evasion tactic...

 

[Wytchdctr]

They can't make sync work right all the time..... ... ... ... and they will get that working?

(That said... after that last update it hasn't acted dumb yet)

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