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Advancements in automotive technology continue to evolve, offering an array of features from hands-free driving to in-car entertainment. While not every driver utilizes these innovations, many can be incredibly beneficial when the need arises. Ford’s recent patent introduces a system aimed at addressing a situation most would rather not contemplate—an AI-generated scenario frequently discussed on social media.
First reported by Motor1, Ford files a cutting-edge cargo detection technology in late 2023, designed to prevent individuals from unknowingly becoming “blind mules,” a term that refers to people who unintentionally transport drugs across borders.
In March 2023, Ford submitted a patent that was published on September 19, detailing an “unknown cargo detection and evidence collection system” aimed at protecting vehicle owners from being exploited as “blind mules” for drug traffickers. Blind mules are individuals who are caught at border crossings with drugs they were unaware of, a strategy commonly employed by traffickers to smuggle contraband into the United States without implicating themselves.
This system utilizes various sensors and cameras to assess the vehicle’s weight and detect any suspicious individuals nearby. Should any anomalies be identified, the technology would document the data and surroundings of the vehicle as potential evidence.
But is such technology truly necessary? The answer isn’t straightforward. A report from inewsource discusses several cases involving innocent individuals who have been exploited as unknowing drug couriers, yet specific statistics are lacking. Government assumptions generally lean towards the belief that most caught traffickers were aware of their activities, as supported by a recent ruling by the Supreme Court. With fentanyl smuggling increasing nearly 1000 percent since 2017, the potential implementation of Ford’s patent could be valuable in future vehicle designs.
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