Ford, ADT Form JV to Protect Pickups from Theft

Ford and security company ADT have formed a joint venture with the goal of helping businesses protect vehicles and equipment from theft.

An AP report picked up by the Philadelphia Inquirer says the first product from the venture called Canopy is a system that uses cameras, radar, global positioning, and artificial intelligence to spot a potential thief and notify ADT, which will monitor the feeds and notify the customer or authorities if needed.

The system will be offered as accessory on Ford and other top-selling vehicles starting next year. The company expects to integrate it in factory vehicles and offer it to other manufacturers over time.

The first cameras will be available in the U.S. and the U.K., including Ford pickups and commercial vans. The systems also can send smartphone alerts to customers of criminal activity including breaking glass, metal cutting sounds, or suspicious motion near vehicles, the report says.

The artificial intelligence component is designed to distinguish true threats from animals or other benign events, the companies said. Read the story here.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer