Ford adds AEB tech to supermarket trolley

No, it's not a late April's fool, Ford has actually gone ahead and created a supermarket cart that automatically brakes for both people and obstacles.

The next-gen supermarket trolley, designed, developed and engineered by Ford engineers is said to have been adapted to incorporate the same autonomous emergency braking its passenger cars come equipped with.

The trolleys work by gathering data that actively seeks and detects potential obstacles like vulnerable ankles, or an unscathed front fender in the car park.

If the trolley thinks a collision is imminent, the sensors and electronics kick in, applying the brakes before an impact occurs.

While adding the AEB tech, Ford also redesigned the familiar wire mesh trolley, adopting an angular plastic loading bin that's attached to a metal frame.

It's beneath the load bay where all the pre-collision assist tech lives, neatly hiding all the sensors, electronics and mechanical gubbins needed to monitor and then apply the stoppers when danger is detected.

According to Ford, the decision to reinvent a safer trolley was made to highlight how useful the technology has already become in its road vehicles.

Sadly, there's no word on if, or when, Ford's state-of-the-art trolley is scheduled for production but the high cost of the technology means it's unlikely.

For now, at least, your angle and innocent parked car remains at risk of reckless out-of-control trolleys at a supermarket near you.