Ford has been researching auto technology that could allow a car to recognize its driver in the near future.

Called "interior imaging," the face recognition software would alert the car's owner if the driver is unfamiliar, Edmunds.com reported. Ford has teamed up with Intel for the research project, which also includes a mobile app feature that would let drivers look in their cars remotely.

"The use of interior imaging is purely research at this point," said Paul Mascarenas, Ford Research and Innovation chief technical officer and vice president, in a statement quoted by Edmunds. "However, the insights we've gained will help us shape the customer experience in the long term."

The joint project, which is named "Project Mobil," involves sending a photo to the primary car owner's smartphone if the driver isn't recognized. Project Mobil users could customize the technology with different permissions and features, such as parents putting a seatbelt restriction and a limit on speed for teenage drivers.

"The Mobii research examines new applications for interior cameras, including driver authentication," Ford said. "The use of facial-recognition software offers improved privacy controls and enables Project Mobil to identify different drivers and automatically adjust features based on an individual's preferences."

Mobile phone use and radio volume could also be restricted within the app's settings, and the system would include gesture-recognition software to switch on air conditioning or open a sunroof.

Ford is additionally working to develop software that would let owners view their cars remotely to see what items were left in the car or who is driving the vehicle.

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