Own your very own K.I.T.T.: Ford and Intel’s Project Mobii is the future of cars

Project Mobii, or Mobile Interior Imaging, is a collaborative effort by Ford and Intel that allows car owners better control over their vehicles, both from the inside and from a distance. It consists of a system of interior cameras that will contribute to some of the most high-tech cars yet (aside from the Batmobile, of course). 

Project Mobii is first and foremost a research project. Paul Mascarenas, chief technical officer at Ford Research and Innovation said that, “Our goal with the Mobii research is to explore how drivers interact with technology in the car and how we can then make that interaction more intuitive and predictive. The use of interior imaging is purely research at this point; however, the insights we’ve gained will help us shape the customer experience in the long-term.”

Despite the research nature of the project, it already has many potentially practical uses that will probably greatly appeal to customers. For example, if you try to type a destination into the map application on the screen while driving, Mobii will remind you to keep your eyes on the road, and ask you to speak your destination.  It can also use its interior cameras to help you look at the inside of your car with your smartphone in case you think you left something in the car.

Mobii can also prevent anyone from using your car that you would prefer didn’t. If someone tries to start the car that Mobii doesn’t recognize, it will send a picture of the new driver to your smartphone and ask for your approval. If you deny access, the car will not start until an approved driver turns it on. You can also approve drivers, but give them limited access to Mobii’s functions. For example, they could be prevented from viewing your maps or music settings or even from exceeding a certain speed. Furthermore, if you are driving with your personalized settings displayed on the screen and a passenger gets in, Mobii will lock the screen on privacy mode until you tell it that it can unlock. 

While it can’t drive the car for you, Mobii can definitely improve your overall driving experience by tailoring your car to you and your personal preferences.

By MaryElizabeth Koepele