Ford Motors applies for a new patent for future pickup trucks that may be equipped with ground-penetrating tailgate sensors

According to foreign media reports, Ford Motor Company has applied for a patent for a ground-penetrating tailgate sensor from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), which may be used in future Ford pickup trucks. The patent was filed on January 28, 2022 and published on November 12, 2024, with serial number 12140663.

Image source: USPTO

In the competitive pickup truck space, Ford and other automakers have redefined the humble tailgate in a number of ways in recent years, giving it more functionality. In recent months, Ford has patented ideas such as various tailgate attachments, different types of Pro Access tailgates, and a power tailgate with an ID system. Now, this newly published patent introduces the idea of ​​a ground-penetrating tailgate sensor.

The patent describes a method for a ground-penetrating tailgate sensor system. The system can use an ultra-wideband transceiver installed in the tailgate of a vehicle to send a signal to an underground location below the tailgate. The system can also use the ultra-wideband transceiver to receive echo signals from objects above the vehicle when the tailgate is in a closed position.

Image source: USPTO

If the patent is realized, future Ford pickups could be equipped with ground-penetrating radar systems, which are currently used for a wide range of purposes, such as locating buried utility lines, pre-construction inspections, finding hidden wear and tear on roads or bridges, and law enforcement scanning crime scenes. Typically, such systems are operated by a trailer attachment or portable cart, which is manually operated and emits high-frequency radio waves into the ground, but such systems are expensive and cumbersome to use.

So Ford has come up with this tailgate-based alternative, where the user simply lowers the tailgate panel and then drives around the area they want to inspect for whatever purpose. Additionally, the system can scan upwards to help detect situations in that direction if needed. It's certainly an interesting idea, and perhaps one that could be used for other purposes in the future.