Ford has patented a system for predicting the wear and tear of car parts
Ford Motor Company plans to make cars even smarter. The company has registered a patent in the US for a system that will be able to predict the remaining life of parts. The application was filed on 1 September 2021 and published on 7 January 2025 under the number 12189383.
Here's What We Know
Modern cars already know how to remind you to change the oil or pump up the tyres. But Ford wants to go further - towards predictive maintenance. This concept relies on monitoring the health of components via sensors in the car or through a cloud-based vehicle health monitoring system.
The idea is to constantly track wear and tear on parts and alert the driver to the need for replacement or repair before a breakdown occurs. Even more interestingly, the system will collect data from other vehicles of the same model, analysing wear patterns under different conditions. This will allow it to more accurately determine when a component is nearing the end of its life.
Why it's needed
This technology can help avoid sudden breakdowns, reduce downtime for fleets and even reduce repair costs. Drivers will appreciate the convenience, and companies that operate fleets will have the opportunity to optimise vehicle performance.
Usually, patent registrations don't mean that companies are 100 per cent committed to actually implementing the technology. However, Ford CEO Jim Farley has already hinted at such innovations when speaking at the automaker's Q2 2023 report presentation. So this time, it looks like the patent will become a reality.
Source: Ford Authority
