Iconic automaker Ford has filed a patent application which gives a car the ability to ‘repossess’ itself if its buyer misses loan repayments.
If put to use the technology would give the vehicle the ability to lock owners out and drive away.
The ‘Systems and Methods to Repossess a Vehicle’ patent application published by Ford Global Technologies on February 23 also has a number of other disturbing features.
The software will ‘punish’ those who fall behind on their loan by disabling cruise control, automatic windows, air conditioning and even the radio, to ensure the driver is both uncomfortable and aware of the situation.
Then what is described as an ‘incessant and unpleasant sound’ would persist every time the driver gets in the car.
Iconic automaker Ford has filed a patent application which gives a car the ability to repossess itself if its buyer misses loan repayments
If the debt continues to pile up the owner would then be locked out of the vehicle.
‘In one example situation, the repossession system computer may enforce the lockout condition during weekends and to allow the use of the vehicle during weekdays,’ the application states.
Once a decision has been made to repossess the car, the semi-autonomous vehicle will leave the owner’s garage or driveway to either be sold or scrapped.
‘If the market value of the vehicle is below the pre-determined threshold price, the repossession system computer may cooperate with the vehicle computer to autonomously move the vehicle from the premises of the owner to a junkyard,’ the patent application states.
The application then goes on to say that if the owner attempts to halt this from occurring the car could call the police ‘by evaluating images provided by cameras’.
The software will ‘punish’ those who fall behind on their loan by disabling cruise control, automatic windows, air conditioning and even the radio, to ensure the driver is both uncomfortable and aware of the situation
The ‘Systems and Methods to Repossess a Vehicle’ patent application was published by Ford Global Technologies on February 23
Ford engineers argue that owners who miss payments are often argumentative when contacted and that the technology is a solution that could improve safety.
Social media erupted with posts blasting the idea and questioning the future of society if this practice becomes normalised.
‘A car driving itself to the junkyard just seems so sad,’ one person wrote.
‘Cue the endless procession of Ring videos showing Ford products bursting through garage doors,’ another said.
‘We’re on the precipice of a car hacking black market boom,’ a third wrote.
Ford Australia says there is no plan to deploy the technology and the submission of patents on new inventions is ‘normal’.
Original Article
