Ford Motor Company Offers Award-Winning Surveillance Mode Technology to Encourage Expanded Adoption

• Ford announces availability of surveillance mode, first introduced on 2014 Ford Police Interceptor, to competitive vehicle manufacturers and for use in military applications to encourage expanded adoption and to help protect law enforcement officers and military personnel around the globe
  

• Ford has received the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executive’s Award for development and offering of surveillance mode technology, which gives law enforcement officers added situational awareness and a first line of defense from potential assailants
  

• Surveillance mode uses a rearview camera and radar to detect a person approaching the vehicle from behind, and automatically sounds a chime, rolls up the driver’s side window, locks all doors and flashes exterior lighting
  

Ford Motor Company is announcing the availability of its multi-patent-pending surveillance mode technology to other vehicle manufacturers and for use in military applications. Award-winning surveillance mode – available on Ford Police Interceptor – was developed to warn law enforcement officers of unexpected approaches from behind the vehicle. It is being made available by Ford and through InterMotive Inc. to expand adoption of the system to help protect law enforcement officers and military personnel around the globe.

Ford and InterMotive worked together to develop, manufacture and provide the surveillance mode system for use on Ford Police Interceptor beginning with 2014 vehicles. InterMotive, based in Auburn, California, is known for providing innovative vehicle control systems for various applications, including law enforcement.

The system uses the existing rearview camera and radar to detect a person approaching the vehicle from behind and then automatically sounds a chime, rolls up the driver’s side window, lock all doors and flashes exterior lighting. While officers write reports, monitor their in-car computer or radar and perform other tasks sitting in their vehicles, surveillance mode gives them an extra set of eyes to help protect against threats. When the system is activated by the officer, it provides added situational awareness and a first line of defense from potential assailants.

“We want to assist with and improve the security of all police officers – whether they are using a Ford Police Interceptor or a competitive vehicle,” said Randy Freiburger, Ford police and ambulance special vehicle engineering supervisor. “Combining existing Ford technologies with the development of a new control module and software has created an innovative system that improves security for police officers while they are in their vehicles.”

Ford recently earned the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executive’s Award for development and offering of Surveillance Mode technology and its significant contributions toward improving officer security. The award was presented at NOBLE’s 38th Annual Conference and Exhibition.

“We are honored to receive this prestigious award from NOBLE and hope to expand adoption of the innovative technology throughout the industry,” said Chris Danowski, director of technology commercialization and licensing, Ford Global Technologies LLC. “Since surveillance mode technology is also applicable to military use, Ford and InterMotive are showcasing it to various governmental agencies as well.”

“Working with Ford, we have been able to bring creative solutions to the market for many years,” said Greg Schafer, president of InterMotive. “Working with Ford on this project has been especially gratifying because of the increase in officer security surveillance mode provides – officers immediately understand just how much this product can help them in the field.”