Ford has patented a method for controlling your off-road vehicle while standing: the images depict the feature implemented in a Bronco SUV. The main idea is that you need as much visibility as possible, Carscoops comments.
On challenging terrain, being able to see every crease and every pothole plays a far greater role than on a well-paved road. Modern vehicles come equipped with surround-view cameras and some additional features to combat limited visibility, but in some cases, nothing beats being able to survey the surroundings with your own eyes.
Ford is proposing the simplest solution: the higher your point of view, the better your viewing angle, hence, standing up in a car should give you a significant advantage. Of course, it only works in cars with a hatch in the roof or a removable top. Thus, the driver must unbuckle when standing up and rise above roof level. This inevitably means that they are no longer protected by any kind of roll cage and are critically vulnerable in case the car rolls over.
The patent application explicitly states that there is no second set of car controls like the steering wheel and the pedals. First, the driver must select a desired drive mode from the standard list (ACC, hill climb/descent assist, automatic parking etc.). When finished, they need to stand up and drive from this position using a special set of buttons near the top of the car.
The way it looks, the invention doesn’t seem likely to ever make it into mass-market cars – largely due to the dangers it exposes the driver to.