Ford Has A New Patent For A ‘Drive-in’ Entertainment System
It seems like Ford is looking far into the future – a future where autonomous vehicles drive us humans about and do the on-road thinking and decision-making for us. In fact, self-driving cars aren’t a thing of a distant future as most of the technology is already available. What’s holding it up has more to with the legal and regulatory framework than anything else. But once that’s sorted, Ford might make true its recently-received patent for a retractable projection screen.
The patent is for an “Autonomous Vehicle Entertainment System” which features a drop-down projection screen that covers the car’s windshield and a ceiling mounted projector, hence the need for self-driving cars to become reality first. Rather than going to a ‘drive-in movie theater’, you’re practically ‘driving the theater’.
The patented concept does allow for manual override of the autonomous vehicle, in which case the screen will retract and the movie will play on a conventional dashboard display. The autonomous system will include sensors and provide alerts to imminent dangers and put the car to manual mode. However, it looks like the front seats are removable so it will be interesting to know how manual control works.
There are many pertinent questions to ask about having a system like this in a car, the most important ones being:
- Can I hook up a console and play Need For Speed?
- Does the car include a popcorn maker?
Self-driving cars will happen in due course. But as we know, many patents don’t. But if this one does, it looks like the notion of looking out the window and enjoying the scenery can be tossed out the window.
