Ford and security giant ADT are investing in a new joint venture to combine security monitoring with Ford’s artificial intelligence (AI) video camera technology to help fight against vehicle theft.
The joint venture will be called Canopy and the first product will be a multi-sensor security system with professional monitoring that will launch in 2023.
The products will initially be sold in the U.S. and the U.K. for high volume commercial and retail pickups and vans including the Ford F-150, F-150 Lightning, transit vans and E-transit vehicles.
The company cites FBI estimates that suggest about $7.4 billion worth of work equipment was stolen in 2020 in the U.S. The organization said this is likely underestimated due to bad stolen vehicle reports.
Canopy said it will begin integrating camera security solutions in Ford vehicles next year for protection inside and outside vehicles.
“Thieves have been even more active during the pandemic and know business owners store valuable equipment in vehicles, often hauling more than $50,000 of gear,” said Franck Louis-Victor, vice president of Ford’s New Business Platform.
Security system
The smart security system will use acoustic sensors for vans, onboard cameras, radar, LTE cellular connection and GPS with the initial product mounted in either a van’s cargo area or on a pickup facing the bed. The AI technology then relays and reports threats while reducing false alarm signals.
Additionally, the technology:
- Allows customers to connect to the system through livestream video and get notified of suspicious activity.
- Triggers a smartphone alert of any indication of potential criminal activity such as breaking glass, metal cutting or motion or sound around the vehicle.
- Allows customers to warn potential thieves they are being watched by speaking through a smartphone app.
- Distinguishes between real threats and activities such as a cat jumping into a truck bed.
- Alerts ADT monitors if it detects someone loitering in the area or breaching a vehicle.
