Ford has just obtained a patent that allows its future off-road vehicles to feature an exclusive technology capable of “digging holes” in the ground.
The patent, granted to the subsidiary of Ford Motor Company, Ford Global Technologies LLC, on August 5, specifies the “operation of the vehicle in excavation mode with one wheel.”
This feature would allow drivers to “rotate one of the vehicle’s wheels to dig a hole in the ground beneath the spinning wheel” while the other wheels remain stationary.
The system would accomplish this by applying the brakes to three of the four wheels when the feature is activated, and the user could simply press the pedal whenever necessary.
Once the hole is ready, the system could also automatically deactivate the feature and notify the driver, which would also occur if it detects a person nearby.
According to the patent, “the hole can be used to recover another vehicle stuck during recreational off-road activities.” Other uses for the feature include “recreational camping” and creating holes at construction sites.
According to USA Today, the innovation is expected to come to vehicles with off-road capabilities, such as the Bronco Sport and the standard Bronco, as well as some trucks, such as the F-150.
Photo and video: Ford / United States Patent and Trademark Office. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
