Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Christopher Harrison

Ian Salsbury

Yasmin Jawad

Benjamin Moffatt

Nicholas James Brown

Jake Larsson

Rob Anthony Richardson

Joseph Hornby

Bahareh Saboktakin Rizi

Simon J W Hurr

Cheok Man Chu

The disclosure relates to simplifying the integration of a peripheral with a vehicle. The complexity of modern vehicle electronics means that integration of a peripheral with a vehicle requires a reconfiguration of the vehicle electronics in order for the resultant upfitted vehicle to function as desired by the user. This restricts the set of users and enterprises which are able to successfully integrate a new peripheral with a vehicle. To make the task more approachable, a software application is described which presents a user with a graphical user interface enabling them to specify, at a high-level, rules of behavior for the upfitted vehicle. From the user's inputs via the graphical user interface, the application creates configuration data to be applied to the vehicle electronics in order to produce the desired behavior in the upfitted vehicle.

Vehicle configuration for integration of an accessory

A vehicle apparatus has a controller, a first key reader disposed in a cabin of the vehicle, and a second key reader disposed external of the vehicle, such as on an auxiliary equipment. The controller is configured to actuate an engine control unit upon receipt of an authenticated signal. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the first key reader when the vehicle apparatus is operable in a first mode, and the controller is configured to receive a signal from the second key reader when the vehicle apparatus is operable in a second mode.

Remote starting and stopping engine

Growing community of inventors

Hornchurch, United Kingdom

Christopher Harrison