Ford has announced the availability of ‘surveillance mode’, first introduced on 2014 Ford Police Interceptor, to competitive vehicle manufacturers and for use in military applications to encourage expanded adoption and to help protect law enforcement officers and military personnel.

Ford’s ‘surveillance mode’ uses a rearview camera and radar to detect a person approaching the vehicle from behind, and automatically sounds a chime, rolls up the driver’s side window, locks all doors and flashes exterior lighting.

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Ford and InterMotive worked together to develop, manufacture and provide the surveillance mode system for use on Ford Police Interceptor beginning with 2014 vehicles. InterMotive, based in Auburn, California, specialises in vehicle control systems for various applications, including law enforcement.

The system uses the existing rearview camera and radar to detect a person approaching the vehicle from behind and then automatically sounds a chime, rolls up the driver’s side window, lock all doors and flashes exterior lighting. While officers write reports, monitor their in-car computer or radar and perform other tasks sitting in their vehicles, surveillance mode gives them an extra set of eyes to help protect against threats, Ford says.

“We want to assist with and improve the security of all police officers – whether they are using a Ford Police Interceptor or a competitive vehicle,” said Randy Freiburger, Ford police and ambulance special vehicle engineering supervisor. “Combining existing Ford technologies with the development of a new control module and software has created an innovative system that improves security for police officers while they are in their vehicles.”

For those wishing to license the technology from Ford, it and other technologies are available through Ford’s corporate Technology Licensing Portal: http://corporate.ford.com/innovation/innovation-detail/fgtl

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