Google patents adhesive layer for its self-driving cars that sticks pedestrians to the hood

[midian182]

All evidence points to autonomous vehicles being safer than those with humans behind the wheel, but accidents still can happen. Google wants to lessen the chance of collisions between its self-driving cars and pedestrians proving fatal by using a unique solution: an adhesive substance that sticks people to the hood of the car in the event of a crash.

When a person is struck by a moving vehicle, it’s often the secondary impact – flying off the hood and hitting the roof, road, or into the path of another car – that causes the most severe damage. While Google’s method won’t reduce the force of the initial collision, it should stop pedestrians and cyclists from suffering extra harm.

Google was awarded the patent for this form of human flypaper two days ago following the original filing in 2014.

“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,” states the patent description.

“This instantaneous or nearly-instantaneous action may help to constrain the movement of the pedestrian, who may be carried on the front end of the vehicle until the driver of the vehicle (or the vehicle itself in the case of an autonomous vehicle) reacts to the incident and applies the brakes.”

To stop everyone and everything sticking to the hood of the car as it drives about, an “eggshell”-like coating is placed over the adhesive, meaning the stickiness is only activated when this layer shatters at the point of impact.

While the patent states this method is aimed at self-driving cars, it does note that it could be applied to any vehicle.

Many car manufacturers have come up with innovative ways of protecting people from collisions with vehicles. Citroen, Jaguar, and Nissan all use devices that slightly raise a car’s hood in the event of an accident to provide a cushion for impact; and other companies, such as Land Rover and Volvo, have developed outside airbags.

Like every patent, there are no guarantees that this technology will ever become a reality. Google rolled out the usual statement when asked to comment: “We hold patents on a variety of ideas. Some of those ideas later mature into real products and services, some don’t.”

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https://www.techspot.com/news/64890-google-patents-adhesive-layer-self-driving-cars-sticks.html

 

[deemon]

OH how many many bugs and birds will be stuck to google's cars

 

[davislane1]

OH how many many bugs and birds will be stuck to google's cars

I'm just waiting for someone to hit a pedestrian they don't like, get them stuck to the hood, and respond maniacally, "I've got you now!"

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

I checked the date, it's not 1 April so I'm wondering why this article was posted now. Just make the Goddamned vehicle out of foam instead.

 

[Lurker101]

So how long till we see a car driving past with a pile of corpses stuck to the hood like some sort of b-movie horror?

 

[risc32]

Genius. This is comedy gold. This is also a mod that a game like gta would really benefit from.

 

[Nima304]

Sounds like a great way to capture people and transport them to wherever you want.

 

[Capaill]

Aw, no more hit and runs. Now we have to drive somewhere quiet, peel his body off the hood/bonnet and dump him somewhere. Reminds me of a CSI episode.

 

[Thrackerzod]

I'm not sure if that headline is supposed to be hilarious but it is. First thing I thought of was Carmageddon.

 

[IAMTHESTIG]

Thanks Google... I can't stop laughing. Good Friday joke!

 

[lou707]

An update to the old elephant joke....................................

what do you get when you cross a pedestrian with a car?
a predestrian that sticks to the hood of your car.

 

[captaincranky]

You can literally patent, "the first thing that pops into your head", these days.

For example: “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,” states the patent description.

If I read correctly, they don't even have a clue as to what they're going to use as the glue, but yet they're being issued a patent?

So how long till we see a car driving past with a pile of corpses stuck to the hood like some sort of b-movie horror?

Nah, Mel Gibson will pinch it for the next "Mad Max" movie.

Besides, after Google gets the adhesive perfected, after a day or so, the bodies will fall off by themselves. Come to think of it, I'm surprised that wasn't mentioned in the statement of concept.

An update to the old elephant joke....................................
what do you get when you cross a pedestrian with a car?
a predestrian that sticks to the hood of your car.

Heretofore, I thought the elephant joke was, "how do you get an elephant on the ceiling", (ans.) "screw him up". How do you get an elephant off the ceiling, (ans.), "jerk him off". No?

On a more serious note, if you were to hit a pedestrian going at a high rate of speed, all you'd likely have stuck to the hood, would be his or her clothes. After which, I'm sure 911 would be inundated with reports of, "naked flying pedestrians".

 

[mailpup]

You can literally patent, "the first thing that pops into your head", these days.

Yes, companies clearly need to edit themselves and these ideas that come to them.

On a more serious note, if you were to hit a pedestrian going at a high rate of speed, all you'd likely have stuck to the hood, would be his or her clothes. After which, I'm sure 911 would be inundated with reports of, "naked flying pedestrians".

And what if the pedestrian was only wearing light clothing like a bathing suit? How much skin will rip off? Seriously, who would buy a vehicle if they knew it had this "feature?"

 

[Someone8MyPosts]

3M's going to be even richer after this one.

 

[Someone8MyPosts]

Next development will be teflon coating to solve the problem of getting all the blood and skin off the car.

 

[captaincranky]

...[ ]...And what if the pedestrian was only wearing light clothing like a bathing suit? How much skin will rip off? Seriously, who would buy a vehicle if they knew it had this "feature?"

I had been thinking this was an adjunct to Google's self driving cars, enabling them to hunt humans, while "googleanalytics.com" tracked the car to keep score....

Next development will be teflon coating to solve the problem of getting all the blood and skin off the car.

It would have to be transparent Teflon, since the car would drive through the splatter. (Given the fact the car would ostensibly be moving forward through the impact zone). I suppose if they can't get, "transparent Teflon" worked out before this goes "live", (so to speak), you could always use "Rain-X" in a pinch...(y)

 

[N.Taylor]

Great place to put the kids on a long journey.