Ford files patent for animal detection to aid pets, wildlife
Ford patent details an animal detection system for pets and wildlife
Ford files patent for animal detection to aid pets, wildlife
Ford files a patent for an in-car animal detection system that spots pets and wildlife, predicts paths, and can alert owners with photos and locations.
2025-10-30T13:07:56+03:00
2025-10-30T13:07:56+03:00
2025-10-30T13:07:56+03:00
Ford Motor has filed a patent application for an animal detection system that could be used in future Ford vehicles.In recent years, Ford has released a number of animal-related patents. Most recently, the automaker published a patent focused on detecting large animals, helping identify the presence of deer and similar wildlife, projecting their likely path and preventing a collision.The latest published filing builds on that idea with a broader take on animal detection. The system is being developed to recognize virtually any animal near the vehicle—from household pets to wildlife. Using embedded sensors and cameras, the car would register an animal nearby and immediately relay the collected data to the company’s central server. The concept reads as a pragmatic step: treating everything from a cat to a deer as part of the safety picture makes sense as driver-assistance tech matures.Particular emphasis is placed on helping owners of lost pets. If the system detects an animal close to the vehicle, it would send the pet’s owner a photo along with the last known location, enabling a quick response and a more focused search. On paper, it’s a humane use of existing hardware that could turn everyday cars into quiet helpers when it matters.
Ford patent, animal detection system, wildlife detection, lost pets, driver-assistance, vehicle safety, sensors and cameras, collision prevention, predictive path, connected car, photo alerts
2025
Michael Powers
news
Ford patent details an animal detection system for pets and wildlife
Ford files a patent for an in-car animal detection system that spots pets and wildlife, predicts paths, and can alert owners with photos and locations.
Michael Powers, Editor
Ford Motor has filed a patent application for an animal detection system that could be used in future Ford vehicles.
In recent years, Ford has released a number of animal-related patents. Most recently, the automaker published a patent focused on detecting large animals, helping identify the presence of deer and similar wildlife, projecting their likely path and preventing a collision.
The latest published filing builds on that idea with a broader take on animal detection. The system is being developed to recognize virtually any animal near the vehicle—from household pets to wildlife. Using embedded sensors and cameras, the car would register an animal nearby and immediately relay the collected data to the company’s central server. The concept reads as a pragmatic step: treating everything from a cat to a deer as part of the safety picture makes sense as driver-assistance tech matures.
Particular emphasis is placed on helping owners of lost pets. If the system detects an animal close to the vehicle, it would send the pet’s owner a photo along with the last known location, enabling a quick response and a more focused search. On paper, it’s a humane use of existing hardware that could turn everyday cars into quiet helpers when it matters.
