A new Ford patent application has been published for a removable steering wheel and pedals.
Ford is aiming to offer self-driving cars by 2021, and the American automaker plans to not have a steering wheel or pedals in those cars. But until then, they’re necessary for testing purposes as Ford continues to develop its self-driving tech.
The company’s patent application for a removable steering wheel and pedals is interesting because it accounts for the fact that driver-side airbags are in the steering wheel. For safety purposes, especially during testing, removing the steering wheel means there’s no longer a driver-side airbag. Ford’s patent application addresses the issue by using a filler module that includes an airbag when the steering wheel is removed.
SEE ALSO: Ford Aiming for Self-Driving Cars by 2021 with No Steering Wheels or Pedals
Although the patent application seems targeted towards test vehicles where a human may need to intervene, Ford does mention the idea that “some vehicle owners may prefer the familiarity of being in a vehicle having a steering wheel,” suggesting that Ford may offer the option of manual control with its first-generation of self-driving cars.
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