Google patented a sticky 'glue' for self-driving cars to catch pedestrians
Google's self-driving cars haven't hit many things since they first took to the roads in 2015, but its collision avoidance technology isn't perfect. Now, it appears Google is working on some safety provisions in case one of their vehicles hits a pedestrian.
Google has patented a unique solution that puts a glue-like adhesive on the front end of the self-driving car. The patent, first seen by The Mercury News, describes the sticky covering as a way to catch pedestrians in case of a collision in order to minimize harm.
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Sticking someone to the front of a car when they're hit may not seem like the most convenient or safest way of handling a collision, but it limits the damage of the impact. When people are hit by cars, they can be thrown over the car, off to the side, or onto the ground. By sticking to the hood, people only have to deal with one impact instead of multiple.
The adhesive layer is described in the patent as being similar to flypaper or double-sided duct tape.
By sticking to the hood, people only have to deal with one impact
This sticky solution would probably only work with self-driving cars because having a person stuck to the hood of your car could obscure your vision and create an even worse situation for both the driver and the pedestrian.
If you're thinking an adhesive front might get covered in things like road debris, leaves and bugs, Google already thought of that. The adhesive portion is coated until needed -- when the car hits someone, the coating is broken to expose to sticky part.
While Google may not necessarily use this unique safety solution in its self-driving cars, it's an interesting concept. This is the first time a car manufacturer has devised a setup that prevents multiple impacts for pedestrians.
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