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Google car: Pedestrian-protecting external airbags in development

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  • Google car: Pedestrian-protecting external airbags in development

    Google has filed a patent outlining airbags for protecting pedestrians who may walk out in front of an approaching car






    Google's self-driving car could come with external airbags to protect pedestrians, according to a patent filing made by the search giant.

    A pod-like autonomous car with no conventional controls has been in development at Google's California headquarters for several years, but now the patent filing takes Google's attention beyond self-driving and into car safety.

    Awarded on 24 March, the patent outlines a system where external airbags integrated into a car's bumpers deploy outwards when the car detects an unavoidable collision with a pedestrian or other vehicles. As is usually the case with patent filings, few specific details are given but Google describes the material used as "visco-elastic."

    This is thought to be similar to the material of ear plugs and memory foam, which would absorb an impact but not bounce back and risk pushing the pedestrian back into the road. Although its self-driving cars are believed to have had just two incidents during thousands of miles of testing and development, Google has an uphill struggle on its hands to convince drivers that autonomous cars are safe.

    A study conducted in early 2015 found almost half of British adults would not be happy to be a passenger in a self-driving car, with the majority of these refusing because of concerns over the safety of other drivers. More than 40% of those asked said they would not trust a car to drive safely without a driver and 16% said they were "horrified" by the autonomous concepts being pushed by car companies.

    A worry over insurance implications is shared by 35% of the population, who expect the introduction of self-driving cars to increase their premiums; a quarter believe any accidents involving autonomous cars should be blamed on the manufacturer, rather than themselves or other road users. Almost one-in-five would hold the driver responsible, no matter if the car was controlling itself in an autonomous drive mode or not.

    Google is not the first company to develop external airbags. Volvo already has pedestrian-sensing airbags on some of its cars, but they don't include the memory foam-like material mentioned by Google.
    WRX


  • #2

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    • #3
      Taking it a step further, people need air bags too, in case of a unavoidable collision with a car. Sense danger, DEPLOY!


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      • #4
        Bring on the safety foam for interior too.
        .

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        • #5
          sigpic

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          • #6
            It looks happy.
            .

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            • #7
              Waymo—formerly the Google self-driving car project—makes it safe and easy for people & things to get around with autonomous vehicles. Take a ride now.




              Google says it is testing driverless cars in Austin, with safety drivers on board
              Associated Press


              AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Google Inc. has selected Texas as the latest testing site for its self-driving car project, the company announced Tuesday.

              A modified Lexus SUV has already been seen on Austin roads, with safety drivers on board, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

              The driverless car will operate a few square miles north and northeast of downtown Austin, Google said in a statement. Google did not say exactly where the driverless cars would be tested. The company is also testing several dozen self-driving cars on streets in Mountain View, California, where Google is based.

              Google in 2013 announced the company had picked tech-savvy Austin for wiring homes with ultra-fast Internet connections as part of Google Fiber.

              "We loved how much Austin embraces innovation," said Jennifer Haroon, head of business operations for Google's self-driving unit, told the American-Statesman. "From technology to music to food. We feel like that matches the spirit of both Google and the self-driving car project."
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              All of the vehicles use special software and sensors, which can detect objects as far as two football fields away in all directions.

              "It's important for us to get experience testing our software in different driving environments, traffic patterns and road conditions — so we're ready to take on Austin's pedicabs, pickup trucks and everything in between," according a Google statement. "Keep it weird for us, Austin, and visit our website to let us know how we're driving."

              The testing fleet in California includes Lexus SUVs and also prototype vehicles. All self-driving vehicles in California and Texas have safety drivers on board. Google has "self-driven" more than 1 million miles, according to the company's website.
              WRX

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              • #8
                The technology has been there for the last 10+ years. Making it all functional via software, mechanics and extreme testing is "all that's left."
                Originally posted by MR EDD
                U defend him who use's racial slurs like hes drinking water.

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