Marko Ramius would have been a good spokesperson for this!
Stellantis has applied for a patent on a Vehicle Underwater Detection System that could make it safer to drive its vehicles through water.
Jeeps, especially the Wrangler, are designed to operate in pretty deep water, with the Wrangler Rubicon rated to ford 33.6 inches without issue.
One of the problems is that there’s no way of knowing what the terrain looks like below the surface.
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The system incorporates several sensors, including sonar and lidar, that can detect when the vehicle has become submerged, monitor the depth of the water and look for objects around the vehicle. A water flow sensor can be added to collect additional real-time data.
The application describes how the system can then use this information to determine if the vehicle is within its operating parameters and offer navigational feedback to the driver. It also suggests that the system could be used to take over the driving itself.
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Jeep wouldn’t be the first with a depth sensing system, as Land Rover has offered one for years without the advanced navigational capability.
Jeep hasn’t publicly announced any plans to launch the system, but electric vehicles like its upcoming Recon can potentially operate in even deeper water than internal combustion engine vehicles, as they do not require any air to operate, so the feature could become even more useful as new models are released.