One ongoing concern about the new self-driving cars is the ability of these vehicles to get stuck at times. The necessity of public safety has driven Google to patent a new “sticky” technology aimed at keeping pedestrians safe. This mechanism would be in action if, at any time, they get stuck by Google’s self-driving cars.
This new patent was given on May 17 and provides for a sticky adhesive layer to be present on the foremost end of the Google self-driving vehicles. This adhesive layer is hoped to minimize the damage that can occur when a pedestrian is hit by a Google self-driving car. Pedestrian accidents often involve people being flung into the surrounding area as well as into other vehicles. This sticky layer is designed to hold on to the person that has been hit, keeping them in one place instead of flinging them on to more dangerous areas. “Ideally, the adhesive coating on the front portion of the vehicle may be activated on contact and will be able to adhere to the pedestrian nearly instantaneously,” says the patent description.
Photograph: United States Patent and Trademark Office
This will allow the pedestrian involved to remain adhered in position until the vehicle brakes can be activated. “As such, both the vehicle and pedestrian may come to a more gradual stop than if the pedestrian bounces off the vehicle.”
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This patented technology is geared towards the self-driving community of cars. However, it could be useful for all vehicles. Many car manufacturers have taken steps to make accidents less damaging, as well. Land Rover and Volvo have put airbags on the outside of some of their cars. These will inflate if a pedestrian is involved in an impact. Jaguar and Citroen have a device that allows for a cushion between the surface that will be crumpled and the denser engine block. This is accomplished by raising the bonnet of the vehicle by 6.5 cm when an impact occurs.
There is still, however, the concern of any secondary impact. This could occur if the car then impacts another surface while the pedestrian is in tow.
The future implication of this patent on the Google cars is unknown at this time. Many ideas make it to the patent stage and are never used. The company must continue to research and decide what is best for their products, over time.