Ford Patent Shows How You Could Drive A Car With Your Brain

Everyone who drives a vehicle uses their brain to safely navigate the streets and highways of the world. However, our brain controls the arms and legs to physically maneuver the vehicle. What if you could ditch the appendages altogether and fairly? think about the way to the store?

Indeed, that’s an exaggerated view of this very strange and interesting thing patent application recently released by Ford. The patent title sounds like pure science fiction: Prediction of chassis input intent via brain engine interface and driver monitoring sensor fusion. The first sentence in the Claims section goes even further down the rabbit hole, specifically saying it’s a “method to control a vehicle using a Brain Machine Interface (BMI) device….” Before you imagine a future of motionless zombies destroying humanity using a Mustang that telepathically controlled, know that the technology isn’t too extreme.

In short, the patent proposes monitoring brain wave activity to help vehicle systems predict what drivers will do. For example, it can recognize brain wave activity associated with the muscles of the hands and arms flexing to turn the steering wheel. Detecting those brain waves before movement occurs, the interface signals the car to take the appropriate action to prepare for the turn. It’s not like an active steering or suspension system that makes hundreds of adjustments per second based on real-time data. It’s just that this data will be few in front of time.

How does it work? We’re not deep tech geeks by any stretch of the imagination, but from what we’ve seen in the patents, this involves multiple computers, sensors, driver assistance system integration, and drivers putting some sort of neural interface pad on their noggins. The patent description outlines all kinds of parameters for functionality, mainly reference data acquisition systems, nervous systems, training systems, and possibly computations for balancing the space-time continuum. The conclusion is that this proposed system will serve as enhancement with the physical act of driving, does not replace it completely.

Whether such a thing ever becomes a reality is likely a question that won’t be answered any time soon. If we have a neural connection to cars someday, make sure you don’t stare too long at the adorable dog on the sidewalk. You don’t want the car to misinterpret your thoughts.